ATTENTION SHOPPERS! THINGS ARE CHANGING! TALK TO HISTORICAL FIGURES WITH AI CHATBOTS 10 COMMON FACEBOOK SCAMS DISNEY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS The World’s #1 Internet Magazine SPRING 23 WebsiteCompass Rev Up Your Internet See inside. Compliments of United Communications and TurtleMountain Communications
WebsiteCompass 1 8 Contents WebsiteCompass 18 Website Compass™ is a publication of Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. 4815 Caravelle Drive Fort Collins, CO 80526 970-818-5012 ISSN 1525-951X No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, electronic, photocopying, recording, mechanical, or otherwise without prior written permission of the publisher. Website Compass™ is a trademark of Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. Copyright© 2023 by Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. TRADEMARKS – All brand names and product names used in this publication are trade names, service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Website Compass magazine is an independent magazine and is not affiliated with, nor has it been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation, Google, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook. All screen shots are the property of their respective owners. ADVERTISERS – To obtain advertising information, contact: Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. 4815 Caravelle Drive Fort Collins, CO 80526 970-818-5012 INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS – To obtain additional information about distribution of Website Compass magazine to your internet subscribers and a free customized online version of Website Compass, contact: Shane Petersen Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. 4815 Caravelle Drive Fort Collins, CO 80526 970-818-5012 shanep@cornerstonenow.com Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. (the Author and Publisher) as well as any participating Internet Service Provider Partners hereby disclaim all warranties relating to Website Compass magazine or its website, whether expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warrantied of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Although the Author and its ISP Partners believe the information provided is accurate, neither party claims responsibility for any damage or loss of data to a user’s computer caused by utilizing this information. The Author and its ISP Partners will not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect, or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason when utilizing information/tutorials from Website Compass magazine or its websites. In no event shall the Author or ISP Partner be liable for any damages, regardless of the form of the claim. The person using the information contained in Website Compass magazine bears all risk as to the use of the information provided. Cornerstone Group is not responsible for the quality, performance, or reliability of third-party tools or software. 2 10 16 13 FEATURE STORY 2 Attention, Shoppers! Things are Changing! You now have options you couldn’t have dreamed of as a child INTERNET CONNECTIONS 8 Is Social Media Your News Source? If you answered “yes,” you’re in the majority of United States adults SOCIAL MEDIA BASICS 10 10 Common Facebook Scams What they are, how they work, and ways to avoid becoming a victim BACK TO BASICS 13 Disney Celebrates 100 Years Find a park, museum, or website to be part of this magical journey BEYOND THE BASICS 16 Talk to Historical Figures with AI Chatbots Have a chat with anyone from Cleopatra to Elvis Presley FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 18 Ask Dr. Webbie Answers to your internet questions A TO Z 19 Internet Glossary Words and definitions Tutorials in This Issue 12 How to Recover a Hacked Facebook Account You Can Access 12 How to Recover a Hacked Facebook Account You Can’t Access
2 WebsiteCompass You now have options you couldn’t have dreamed of as a child These numbers reflect the dramatic shift toward online shopping in recent years—a trend that started before the pandemic but was strengthened by it. The change is no surprise, given the convenience, selection, and pricing of ecommerce options. It’s important to note that online shopping has its drawbacks, such as the potential for fraud or stolen packages. But, for many consumers, the pros far outweigh the cons. From groceries to clothing to furniture, consumers are discovering ever-changing ways to get the items they need. In the following sections, we delve more into what shoppers like and dislike about the online shopping experience, as well as look at evolving trends such as fun subscription services, changing consumer and retailer habits both online and off, and ways to protect yourself from the dangers of today’s ecommerce environment. Keep your device and credit card handy, because these pages are sure to give you some great ideas for your next online purchase. Source: https://financesonline.com/number-of-digital-shoppers/ Source: https://www.insiderintelligence.com/content/ worldwide-ecommerce-forecast-update-2022 In 2023, over 265 million U.S. shoppers are estimated to buy online. Further, the percentage of worldwide sales resulting from online purchases is expected to rise from 18.8% in 2021 to 20.8% in 2023, and to reach 24.0% by 2026. FAST FACT: Nearly 9 out of 10 consumers buy from brands they follow in social media. ATTENTION, SHOPPERS! THINGS ARE CHANGING! Source: https://sproutsocial.com/insights/index/
WebsiteCompass 3 While the pandemic was instrumental in forcing more people to shop online, the practice had already been increasing for many years prior. Here are a few of the reasons why. There’s So Much to Like About Shopping fromHome Convenience Ecommerce offers numerous advantages over traditional shopping at brick-andmortar stores. You can place orders from anywhere, easily compare products from different stores, and get your items delivered right to your doorstep— sometimes the next day. Selection The selection of items available for purchase online is virtually limitless, which means finding the specific product you want is as easy as a few clicks. Plus, you can consider all the possibilities without pushy salespeople looking over your shoulder. Money Management The ability to easily shop around helps you find the best deals, while digital coupons, loyalty programs, and social media promotions enable even greater savings. Free shipping is often an added bonus, as is the ability to spread out payments over time. Painless Returns Many online retailers make it more appealing to shop online with perks including painless returns. Third-party services like Happy Returns (happyreturns. com) make these transactions even simpler, allowing customers to drop items off at a return center—no packaging required. Easy Gifting Need to buy a gift for someone? It’s never been easier. If you know what you want, you can have it gift wrapped and shipped to their home. If you don’t know what you want, you can perform a search based on the person’s age, gender, and interests. Don’t Forget There are Downsides While the benefits of shopping online are well known, they’re not the whole story. Here are a few things shoppers dislike about the experience. • 24/7 availability. The “always-on” nature of ecommerce can be considered a benefit. But, for those with a tendency to overspend, it can be dangerous. • Lack of assistance. Unlike at a traditional store, there’s often no one around to answer questions you may have about the products. • Complicated websites. Not all ecommerce sites are created equally. Some are difficult to navigate, don’t provide adequate product descriptions, or have a clunky checkout process. • Solitary nature. Online shopping is typically done alone, so you miss out on getting together with friends or even just seeing other shoppers in the physical world. • Uncertain quality. Without being able to touch or test products, you can’t be sure the quality is up to your standards. One of the biggest challenges of all is that some ecommerce sites aren’t what they seem. They may look like normal shopping sites but end up being scam operations that take your money without sending you anything in return.
4 WebsiteCompass Take Advantage of the Latest Trends Online shopping not only enables us to easily discover what’s trendy in things like fashion, it also drives trends in howwe access new product information sources, how companies are communicating with us, and how we pay for our purchases. Social Commerce Social commerce, which involves buying directly from social media platforms such as Pinterest (pinterest.com), is highly convenient. When you see an item you like on your favorite social channel, you can purchase it without leaving the platform. International Purchases The number of purchases made outside of shoppers’ own countries is growing. According to a recent Forbes Technology Council post, customers appreciate global shopping for the lower prices, access to items unavailable locally, and discovery of new and interesting products. More Personalization Machine learning technology is helping the ecommerce sites you visit get to know you better. As a result, you’re likely to see improved search returns and recommendations that reflect your preferences and past purchases. New Payment Options When it’s time to check out, you have more options than ever, including bank transfers, mobile wallets, and cryptocurrency, in addition to traditional credit and debit card purchases. You can even pay for many purchases with an installment plan. A Focus on Loyalty Retailers understand how online shopping has increased the competition and they want to do everything they can to keep your business. One way of doing it is to provide generous loyalty programs that offer increasingly more valuable bonuses—including freebies and discounts —the more you shop with them. Is a Subscription Service Right for You? Whether you need a steady supply of clothes, pet toys, or gourmet snacks, there’s a subscription service out there for you. But are they worth the monthly fee? Everyone’s situation is different, but the answer might be yes if: • You get something you already use, such as Netflix (netflix.com) for TV show and movie fans. • You can afford the splurge, such as having Stitch Fix (stitchfix.com) send you a new selection of clothes every month. • The subscription service can save you money, such as Misfits (misfitsmarket.com), which sends “ugly” (but fresh) produce at a discounted rate. • You’ll save time, such as when you receive microwave-ready meals from Territory (territoryfoods.com). • You’ll improve your quality of life, such as getting wellness items from TheraBox (mytherabox.com) to help you take better care of yourself. Most subscription services offer an initial trial, so you can sample the products and the process to see if the curated shopping experience is something you want to continue. FAST FACT: Consumers purchase almost a quarter of their beauty and personal care products online. Feature Story
WebsiteCompass 5 Technological and social shifts in recent years have changed not just where we shop, but how. We now have many more options for learning about and purchasing products. Savvy Consumers are Shifting Their Shopping Habits Product Research Whether they end up purchasing items online or in a brick-and-mortar store, customers are doing more research in advance. Some online retailers make it even easier with a side-by-side comparison function that lists apples-to-apples features of similar models. Peer Reviews Part of the research process is looking at reviews, which anyone can post. This method enables shoppers to see what actual people think about products in real-life situations. With critical insights such as, “The zipper sticks,” these descriptions are typically much more revealing than a company’s promotional narratives. Mobile Shopping Insider Intelligence predicts that mobile purchases will account for 43.4% of total retail ecommerce in 2023. That figure translates to a lot of people using their mobile phones to shop! And why wouldn’t they, considering the additional layer of convenience that comes with the ability to place an order from anywhere? Hybrid Shopping The pandemic increased the number of retailers that enable customers to do their shopping online and pick up their order at a physical store. This method combines the convenience of online shopping with the immediacy of getting items quickly. Social and Environmental Consciousness More shoppers than in the past are concerned about the social, environmental, and political impact of their purchases. They bring these considerations into their shopping choices, and many are even willing to pay more for items that are guaranteed to meet certain ethical standards. Source: insiderintelligence.com/insights/ mobile-commerce-shopping-trends-stats/ How Online Shopping Has Changed the Brick-and-Mortar Experience Since online shopping was introduced (remember when Amazon just sold books?), brick-and-mortar stores have had to find ways to compete. Fortunately, there are some things that can be done more easily the old-fashioned way. For example, to find a perfect pair of shoes for a new dress, you might start by buying one pair online. But what if it doesn’t work out? Even with generous return policies, it might take weeks of buying and returning to find a pair that looks and fits just right. If you go into a physical shoe store, however, you can accomplish the same thing in about half an hour. Retailers with a physical footprint are also finding ways to draw shoppers away from their online competition with more experiential offerings like tastings, classes, and tech-based events. Such happenings are turning traditional stores into “third spaces,” similar to coffee shops and parks. FAST FACT: Video shopping is when companies use videos to describe and promote their products.
6 WebsiteCompass Feature Story Protect Yourself from Online Shopping Scams Online shopping can be so fun that you may forget it can be dangerous, too. The following suggestions can help you stay safe. Recognize the Threat Because online shopping has become so habitual, many consumers feel entirely secure and therefore don’t follow the other recommendations here. But to be a smart shopper in the online age means knowing what could go wrong. So, the first step to avoiding online shopping scams is to be aware they exist. Study Sites Examine each site thoroughly before you hit the “buy” button. Ask these questions: Does the site address begin with “https,” which indicates it’s using a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate? Does the site offer any contact methods? Does the seller offer thorough information about itself and its policies? In all cases, the answer should be “yes.” Conduct Additional Research Perform online searches like “[company name] scam” and “[company name] fraud.” Confirm the company is listed by the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org). Finally, examine the company’s social media feeds to ensure they’re professional, consistent, and up to date. Use a Safe Payment Method Credit cards are better for online purchases than debit cards because they allow you to dispute erroneous charges. Another option is a one-time-use number that your credit card issuer can provide for single purchases. PayPal (paypal.com) is also a good choice because it provides options if your order never arrives. KnowWhat to Do If You’re Scammed If you find yourself the victim of an online shopping scam, contact your credit card company to dispute the charge. Next, file a report with the FTC (ftc.gov) to help them know about frauds going on. Finally, use your online platforms to alert as many people as you can. Prevent Porch Pirates from Stealing Your Stuff Porch pirates are people who steal packages that have been delivered to the exterior of homes but not yet retrieved. In addition to untold frustration, this type of crime costs Americans billions of dollars per year. Here are some tips for keeping the pirates at bay. • Track your packages so you know when to expect them. • When a package arrives, retrieve it immediately. If that’s not possible, ask a neighbor to pick it up for you. • If available, use an option to have packages left inside your garage. • If available, choose a “signature required for delivery” option. That way, packages won’t get left outside. • Invest in a security system that includes a doorbell video camera to deter would-be thieves. If all else fails, have your packages delivered to work, a post office box, or a package locker such as those provided by Amazon (amazon.com), or consider taking advantage of in-store pickup options. QUICK TIP: For the best shopping experience on your phone, download the retailer’s app.
WebsiteCompass 7 Online shopping is evolving. What seem like amazing developments today may appear basic by tomorrow’s standards. Technologies like AI (artificial intelligence), chatbots, and virtual reality are playing a big role. What’s Next for Online Shopping? More Augmented Reality Augmented reality blends elements of the physical and virtual worlds.With this technology, you can do things like see how a piece of furniture or paint color on an ecommerce site would look in your home, or “try on” a pair of shoes. This added dimension makes shopping more fun and decision-making easier. Enhanced Personalization If you like your favorite online retailer’s suggestions based on your searches and purchases, you’ll love emerging personalization options. AI is helping to make recommendations more targeted, so you’ll only see alerts for things you truly might like to buy. Increase in Voice Commerce If you use virtual assistants like Siri, Google, and Alexa, you already know how helpful they can be in getting weather forecasts, news, and your favorite entertainment. But did you know you can also use this technology to shop? Increasingly, retailers will be improving their online environments for better results. Expanded Use of Chatbots Shopping online means fewer humans available to help with questions. But chatbots are taking their place, helping you with things like finding specific products, providing shipping information, and initiating returns. Greater Trust in Influencers More consumers than ever trust influencers to give them good product recommendations, and this trend is likely to continue. Influencers are more convincing than celebrities because followers feel they “know” them from seeing their videos and posts. Combine the Best of Both Shopping Worlds Ever feel a twinge of guilt when you press the “buy” button on Amazon (amazon.com) for something you know you can get right down the street? It’s completely understandable, given the importance of buying local to support our communities. It’s also understandable why you would choose the convenience of buying online. But what if you didn’t have to choose? In some cases, you don’t. More smaller retailers are getting the message that, to compete with the big guys, they must make shopping at their stores just as simple. They’re doing it with online ordering and apps that enable you to buy your products in the virtual world, then have them delivered or go to pick them up. In some cases, it’s a third party like Grubhub (grubhub.com), which now offers not just restaurant delivery, but stops at 7-Eleven (7-eleven.com) for snacks. So, next time you’re about to buy from one of your usual online stores, see if your local retailer offers an option that’s equally appealing. QUICK TIP: Don’t like chatbots? When they ask what you need, type, “chat with a representative.”
8 WebsiteCompass Internet Connections Interestingly, even though most U.S. adults consume news on social media, not all of them believe in its accuracy. A 2020 Pew Research Center survey indicated that only 39% of people who read updates on social media believe the information is accurate. The majority (59%) think most of the news they read is largely inaccurate or entirely fabricated. FromTraditional to Digital There’s been a significant transition away from the traditional news sources of print, radio, and TV to digital devices and platforms. Digital devices—smartphone, computer, or tablet—are by far the most common way adults in our country now access their news. For example, about half of U.S. adults say they prefer a digital device compared to the 33% who prefer TV, 7% who prefer radio, and 5% who prefer print. News consumption across platforms varies by age and other demographic factors. For example, those under 50 are more likely to turn to digital devices and prefer them for getting news than are those 50 and older. Not surprisingly, the paid circulation of daily newspapers peaked in 1987 when they amounted to over 62.82 million. By 2020, the paid circulation of daily newspapers had fallen to 24.29 million and continues to decline. While digital devices are now the most common way to access news, where people get that news is divided among several digital platforms. They include news websites, apps, search engines, podcasts, and social media. How Social Media Ranks Here’s the breakdown of which social media U.S. adults regularly use to get news: • Facebook outpaces all other social media sites as the go-to source for news. Roughly a third of U.S. adults (31%) say they regularly get news from Facebook. • About a quarter of U.S. adults regularly get news from YouTube. • Smaller shares get news from Twitter (14%), Instagram (13%), TikTok (10%), or Reddit (8%). • Near the bottom of the list are LinkedIn (4%), Snapchat (4%), Nextdoor (4%), WhatsApp (3%), or Twitch (1%). Is Social Media Your News Source? If you answered “yes,” you’re in the majority of United States adults According to the Pew Research Center, more than half of U.S. adults (53%) say they regularly or periodically get their news from social media. Only 21% say they’ve never relied on social media to stay informed.
WebsiteCompass 9 Some platforms stand out as having a greater portion of users turning to the site for news even if their total audience is relatively small. For example, Twitter has the reputation of being the “breaking news” platform and just over half of Twitter users regularly get news from the site. This speaks to the value of timely content that informs users, builds community, and fosters discussion. In many cases, there are demographic differences between the people who regularly turn to each social media platform for news: • Half or more of regular news consumers on Snapchat (67%), TikTok (52%), and Reddit (50%) are ages 18 to 29. • Women make up a greater portion of regular news consumers on Facebook, while the opposite is true for sites like Twitter and Reddit. Reasons for Popularity Why are social media platforms and other online news sources so popular? There are many reasons, some of which are addressed in the “Pro” listings in the sidebar below. But another major appeal of these platforms is that they’re often available at no cost to the consumer. Paying for news found via digital outlets is not yet commonplace in the U.S., with only 21 percent of U.S. consumers in an early 2021 study reporting having paid for online news content in the last year. Clearly, social media as both a source of news and a creator of news is here to stay, since it’s added valuable new dimensions to the experience. However, the role of social media in news also presents challenges to us all, which must be thoughtfully considered as we move forward in the years ahead. Pros and Cons of What Social Media Brings to News The social aspect of news has both positive and negative ramifications, which are important to consider. Citizen Journalism • Pro: Social media enables people to broadcast direct, first-person accounts of events without going through a news organization— especially powerful where individual voices are oppressed or filtered. • Con: Anyone can build a website or post information, and content creators are not necessarily reliable sources of information. Friending, Following, and Commenting • Pro: Social media allows everyone to have a voice in the news through comments and posts. • Con: People tend to friend and follow others who believe the same things they do to the exclusion of other viewpoints. This allows people to virtually surround themselves with others who agree and reinforce their ideas, which can be divisive. Immediacy • Pro: Social media lets people know about current events while they’re happening. When tragedies or natural disasters occur, people can check themselves as “safe” so others won’t worry. • Con: The expectation of immediacy leads to stories being reported before all the facts are known. Sharing • Pro: Sharing on social media exposes people to more news content. • Con: Sharing is so easy that people often don’t check the factual accuracy of what they share. Sources: https://letter.ly/where-do-people-get-their-news/, www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/news-platform-fact-sheet/, www.statista.com/statistics/183422/paid-circulationof-us-daily-newspapers-since-1975/, https://sproutsocial.com/insights/facebook-stats-for-marketers/, https://www.statista.com/statistics/717651/most-popular-news-platforms/
10 WebsiteCompass Social Media Basics 1. Romance scams The scammer initiates an online relationship, building trust with you. They may correspond with you for weeks, revealing what appears to be very personal information. Eventually, they request money for a flight, a visa, or another important reason. Never send money to someone you haven’t met, even if you feel close to them online. 2. Lottery scams An organization will contact you, claiming you’re the winner of a lottery and that you can claim your money for a small fee. Before responding, think carefully about whether you’ve entered any contests lately. Keep in mind that real contests don’t require a fee to claim your winnings. 3. Loan scams Here, the criminals send messages or create posts offering immediate loans at a low interest rate for a small fee. They may draw you in by mentioning things you could use the loan for, such as to pay off student loans or buy a car. But don’t buy it. Legitimate loan sources don’t require a fee. 4. Coupon code scams The trickster will post an offer to a coupon code but will require your personal information before granting access to it. Consider whether saving a few bucks is worth giving away your valuable information. Companies that really want your business will simply list the code for you to use. 5. Job scams Scammers post fake job postings online to try to get your personal information or money. It can be tempting if you’re conducting a job search to follow every possible lead, but no legitimate employer should be asking for those things. 6. Fake medical fundraisers Scammers will send messages or create posts, posing as someone in medical distress and requesting funds to help with doctor bills. This method can work particularly well if the profile is a clone of the profile of someone you personally know. Tugging at your heartstrings is a way of drawing you in. 10 Common Facebook Scams What they are, how they work, and ways to avoid becoming a victim Though many social media users have moved to Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, Facebook is still a prime target for scammers. Read on to find out how they work so you can sidestep their tricks.
WebsiteCompass 11 7. Shopping scams In this case, scammers will create a fake shopping account and publish offers at unusually low prices, requesting your money and sending nothing in return. Be sure to do your homework on any company before conducting business with them on Facebook or anywhere else. 8. Giveaway scams You’ll see an offer on Facebook that talks about giving away a valuable item like an iPad and includes a link that supposedly leads to a form you need to fill out to enter. But that link instead leads to malware. Always think twice before clicking a link from unknown sources. 9. Facebook quiz scams Here you’ll click a link to participate in a fun quiz, only to be asked for access to your profile or for personal information. Discovering your ‘80s pop star spirit animal may sound like fun but, because these quizzes can come from anywhere, it’s best to avoid them altogether. 10. Phishing scams Some scammers will pose as Facebook itself, sending you a message that your account is being disabled and including a link to “help” that leads to malware. Look at the source of this and all messages to verify their origins. It may be hard to remember all these possible tricks, so to stay safe, just keep in mind these general rules: • Be wary of anyone on Facebook asking you to perform any action, even if the request appears to be from someone you know. • Fiercely protect your personal information. • If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. How Facebook Hacking Can Hurt You By now it seems like everyone has been hacked at some point, so you may wonder if it’s really that big of a deal. It is. In using Facebook, you’ve revealed a lot of personal information that may seem inconsequential to you. But to scammers, this information is gold. They can use data like your birthday, anniversary, hometown, and more to break into other accounts. Additionally, they can steal your identity to create financial accounts in your name. Such situations can take years—as well as untold time, money, and heartache—to correct. The hacker can also use your account to send messages to your Facebook friends, encouraging them to click a link that leads to malware. They can clone your account and send out false information about you. They can also find and use your email address to send out unwanted messages and links to malware. The solution? Think twice before posting personal information that could be used against you. FAST FACT: Signs your Facebook account has been hacked include friend requests you didn’t send and posts you didn’t create.
12 WebsiteCompass What to Do If Your Facebook Account Is Hacked Despite your best efforts, you may become the victim of a Facebook scam. Follow the steps here to recover your account. Note: Instructions may differ depending on your operating systemand device. Social Media Basics TUTORIAL How to Recover a Hacked Facebook Account You Can Access You know you’ve been hacked but can still access your account. Here are the steps to take next. 1. Change your password. Log into your account and go to Account > Settings & privacy > Settings > Security and login. In the Login section, next to Change password, click Edit and follow the instructions. 2. Check logins. To learn which devices you’re logged in on, go to Account > Settings & privacy > Settings > Security and login. Under Where you’re logged in, look for any logins you don’t recognize. To the right of the description, click the three stacked dots, select Not you?, and follow the prompts. 3. Alert Facebook. Let Facebook know you’ve been hacked. Go to Account > Help & support > Help Center > Policies and Reporting > Hacked and Fake Accounts. Under Hacked Accounts, click Recover Your Account and follow the prompts. 4. Report the crime. The FBI recommends filing a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. TUTORIAL How to Recover a Hacked Facebook Account You Can’t Access If you’re in the unfortunate situation of being locked out of your account, take the following steps. 1. Go to facebook.com/hacked. You will be prompted for the phone number you used to open the account and Facebook will help you regain access. 2. Use the following strategies to prevent future attacks. • Use a secure password. It should be unique and have at least 15 characters, including lower- and upper-case letters, numbers, and symbols. • Set up two-factor authentication. To do it, go to Account > Settings & privacy > Settings > Security and login. Under Two-factor authentication, next to Use two-factor authentication, click Edit and follow the instructions from there. • Disable connected apps. Go to Account > Settings & privacy > Settings > Security and login > Apps and Websites. Click Remove next to each listed app. • Get suspicious login alerts. To activate this feature, go to Account > Settings & privacy > Settings > Security and login. Under Setting up extra security, click Edit and change your settings to get notifications. • Limit what you share. Don’t share optional information, such as the town you were born in, your birthdate, or your parents’ names. QUICK TIP: Facebook offers a security checkup to help you keep your account secure.
WebsiteCompass 13 In January 2023, Disney kicked off its 100th birthday celebration with the Disney 100 Years of Wonder event at Disneyland Resort. More celebrations are planned throughout the year at various Disney properties across the globe. Disney Celebrates 100 Years Find a park, museum, or website to be part of this magical journey The initial party at Disneyland Resort included new nighttime entertainment, new fireworks, and a new version of World of Color, a nighttime spectacular that celebrates the legendary storytelling of Walt Disney. The Magic Happens parade returned after a pandemic-prompted hiatus and the new ride, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, also opened. Meanwhile, at Walt DisneyWorld, EPCOT got a new fireworks show. At Magic Kingdom, the Happily Ever After show is scheduled to return along with new projections along Main Street, USA. International locations are celebrating the 100th birthday as well, such as Hong Kong Disneyland, where a new statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse will be unveiled. Want to join in the fun? There are multiple ways to do it. You can visit one of the Disney properties, check out the Walt Disney Family Museum, or watch some of the many shows and movies Disney has to offer. The following websites can help you do all these things to honor the relationship you may have had with Disney over the years. Disney (disney.com) This site should be your first stop for discovering all things Disney. It includes sections about Disney parks, Disney news, the Disney fan club, and more. You’ll also find information about the Disney+ streaming service, which is the ultimate streaming destination for entertainment from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. In other words, there’s something for everyone in your household. Check out the offer to bundle with Hulu to get even more shows and movies. In the Disney shop, you’ll find items that express your appreciation of Disney brands like Avatar and Star Wars. They include everything from hats and gloves to watches, sweatshirts, backpacks, luggage, and tech accessories. For young Disney enthusiasts, you’ll find action figures, dolls, games, puzzles, learning toys, and stuffed animals. Back to Basics
Back to Basics 14 WebsiteCompass Disney Parks (disneyparks.disney.go.com) Want to plan your next Disney vacation? This is the place to be! You’ll find sections for each of the Disney parks and destinations, including the iconic Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California, as well as the Disney cruise line and foreign Disney-themed attractions in Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Check the Special Offers section to get package deals on tickets and rooms. Once you’ve booked your trip, visit the Vacation Planning section to ensure you make the most of your experience. You’ll find Q&As, information for groups and visitors with disabilities, a list of shops and restaurants, and important details about each destination including all the not-to-be-missed attractions. Don’t forget to check out the blog for the latest announcements. Disneyland (disneyland.disney.go.com) This site provides everything you need to know to visit the first Disney theme park, Disneyland, in Anaheim, California. Ready to plan your trip? Start with the Build Your Vacation section on the home page. Need more information? Scroll down to the Reservations and Planning Guide, Offers and Benefits, and Can’t Miss Experiences. For more specific information, head to the Places to Stay section to find the right accommodations for you and your travel companions. Use the Things to Do section to get details on what to see, where to go, and how to shop. For an enhanced experience, consider getting a Magic Key, which unlocks special benefits like a variety of admission opportunities, pricing options, and savings on food and merchandise. DisneyWorld (disneyworld.disney.go.com) In addition to Disney celebrating its 100th birthday, Disney World is celebrating its 50th! This site offers tools for planning a trip to the Florida park, including ticket-plus-accommodations packages, planning information, and a shop where you can buy items to help get in the Disney spirit before you go. Disney World features Avatar, Flight of Passage, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Visitors can also check out Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. FAST FACT: The Disney Genie service enables you to plan your best Disney day based on your top interests.
WebsiteCompass 15 Enjoy a Taste of Disney Disney attractions offer plenty of things to see, hear, and do. But what about taste? California Disney locations are cooking up some new eating options: Disneyland • Alien Pizza Planet features a simple but delicious Lemon Tea Cake for dessert. • Blue Bayou Restaurant is offering Celebration Cake to honor 100 years of Disney. • Galactic Grill has created the Platinum Trifle featuring layers of chocolate, cheesecake, and more. • Head to the Hungry Bear Restaurant for a hearty Potato & Cheddar Cheeseburger. • The Refreshment Corner provides snacks like the purple-frosted Violet Pretzel. Disney California Adventure • For unique pizza flavors like French Onion Dip, visit Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta. • Get a candy bar-inspired Snickers Sundae at Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream. • For drinks, head to the Lamplight Lounge, where you can get a Disney100 Cocktail. • Schmoozies is serving a cookies-and-cream-inspired Steamboat Willie Shake assembled to resemble Mickey. Grand Californian Hotel & Spa • GCH Craftsman Grill is offering Walt’s Chili Bread Bowl in Mr. Disney’s honor. • GCH Holiday Cart is serving a festive Disney100 Rice Krispie Treat. DisneyNOW (disneynow.com/all-shows/disney-channel) DisneyNOW is a service that enables viewers to watch programming from Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, and Radio Disney. The application also includes games based on that programming as well as parental controls. DisneyNOW is available on many platforms, including Android, iOS, Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV. Featured shows include Big City Greens, Bluey, Mickey Mouse Funhouse, Moon Girl, Superkitties, and Toon Bops. Viewers can simply watch the available content or create a profile that includes the user’s birthday, emoji, name, channels, and viewing history. This feature is helpful for parents and other caretakers who want to track their kids’ favorite shows. The profile can be deleted at any time. Walt Disney Family Museum (waltdisney.org) If you want to know more about the amazing life and career of Walt Disney, consider visiting the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. Here you’ll find permanent galleries devoted to Disney’s upbringing in Missouri, his early career including the creation of Mickey Mouse, experiments with the new medium of animation, early features such as SnowWhite and the Seven Dwarves, the transition to live-action films, and the development of Disneyland. Temporary exhibitions feature the artistic works of family members and much more. The Education section lists many opportunities for learning, including classes, workshops, films, and special events. The Visit section tells you everything you need to know about how to make the most of your experience, including transportation, accessibility, and lodging. Not able to make the trip? Check out the Virtual Experiences section to get a feel for what the museum has to offer from wherever you are.
16 WebsiteCompass What are Chatbots? Chatbots, also known as “conversational agents,” are software applications that mimic written or spoken human speech for the purposes of simulating a conversation or interaction with a real person. Not all chatbots are AI chatbots, however. There are also rule-based chatbots, often used for simple applications such as customer support livechat service, which provide answers to common, predefined questions. AI chatbots can provide a remarkably authentic conversational experience. You’ll feel like you’re talking with a real human being and can ask questions about a broad range of topics. Interest in AI chatbots is increasing, and companies are developing innovative ways to use this state-of-the-art technology. Hello History App Why limit yourself to just reading history books when you can also talk with the people who were there? Download the Hello History app (www.hellohistory.ai) to have in-depth conversations with your choice of many influential figures including these: • Cleopatra • Albert Einstein • Steve Jobs • Budha • Aristotle • Vincent van Gogh • Thomas Edison • Marilyn Monroe • Sir Isaac Newton • Elvis Presley The Hello History app lets you pose questions to these figures or even get into debates with them, which can help you Talk to Historical Figures with AI Chatbots Have a chat with anyone from Cleopatra to Elvis Presley A common interview question asks, “If you could invite anyone to a dinner party, living or dead, who would it be?” Thanks to AI (artificial intelligence) chatbots, you may be able to experience the next best thing—conversations with chatbot versions of famous people throughout history. Beyond the Basics
WebsiteCompass 17 gain new insights and perspectives. In the process, you’ll enhance your knowledge of art, music, justice, literature, philosophy, science, technology, and more. Plus, since new figures are added regularly, you’ll never run out of interesting people to engage in conversation. Character.ai Website The Character.ai website offers an even wider range of AI chatbots than the Hello History app. In addition to historical figures such as Albert Einstein, Napoleon, and Socrates, you can choose to have chatbot conversations with living figures including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Billie Eilish. You can also chat with popular anime characters or one of your favorite TV personalities. Created by two former Google researchers, Character.ai is currently in beta mode. It’s intended primarily for entertainment purposes, and the homepage clearly explains that these are tech-generated conversations and not to take anything the characters say too seriously. As a community-based site, users can create their own chatbot characters, each of which is linked back to their profile. Reasons for Popularity Although some people may be uncomfortable with AI chatbots and consider them to be a bit “creepy,” they’re growing in popularity and are clearly here to stay. Due to dramatic advancements in machine learning and other underlying technologies such as natural language processing, today’s AI chatbots are smarter, more responsive, and more useful than ever before. These chatbots enable students to talk to historical figures they’re learning about in class, translate ideas from other periods into modern English, expand the user’s knowledge on a variety of topics, and bring historical figures to life. Virtual AI Companions As AI becomes more commonplace, there are now a growing number of virtual AI companions available for online conversations. While smart assistants like Siri or Alexa are useful for carrying out simple tasks or providing basic information, virtual AI companions are designed for ongoing conversations more like what you’d have with friends in real life. Here are a few examples of virtual AI companions, which can be fun diversions or ways for users to overcome feelings of loneliness: Replika (https://replika.ai/) Billed as the AI companion who cares, Replika’s lofty goal is to become your close friend. Kuki (https://www.kuki.ai/) This award-winning AI brain is designed to entertain humans. SimSimi (https://simsimi.com/) Launched in 2002, SimSimi was the world’s first popular chatbot for daily conversation. In the future, AI will undoubtedly become more advanced, and chatbots of all kinds will be more convincing, more educational, and more entertaining. Schools Address Use of ChatGPT for Student Assignments One AI chatbot has been making headlines recently. It’s ChatGPT, the chatbot launched in late 2022 that’s capable of writing essays, solving science and math problems, and producing working computer code. Students are using ChatGPT to quickly complete their assignments, then turning the work in is as their own. This development has caused many educators to panic. Howwill they catch students using ChatGPT to cheat? What impact will ChatGPT have on their lesson plans and on student learning? High schools and colleges have long been wary of plagiarism, which is inevitable if students use ChatGPT for assignments. Plagiarism is a serious offense in the academic world, with some institutions threatening expulsion if students are found guilty. However, not everyone in the education community views ChatGPT as a threat. There are those who believe students and educators can benefit from ChatGPT if it’s used strategically. For example, ChatGPT can help simplify difficult passages for students with lower reading levels or learning disabilities. And since educators often don’t have enough planning time, some of them use the software to help create lesson plans and suggest edits to students’ work.
18 WebsiteCompass FAQs Dr. Webbie Answers your frequently asked questions QUESTION: My bank and some other websites now require Two-Factor Authentication. Why is this becoming more common? ANSWER: Passwords have long been the key to our digital world. However, when used alone, they may not provide enough protection against cyber threats. That’s why more businesses are taking the next step in security with Two-Factor Authentication. Also known as 2FA, Two-Factor Authentication is the procedure of requiring two steps in credentialing for the user to prove their identity and gain access to company data or an online account. The second factor could come from one of the following categories: • Something you know: This could be a personal identification number (PIN), a password, answers to “secret questions” or a specific keystroke pattern. • Something you have: Typically, a user would have something in their possession, like a credit card, a smartphone, or a small hardware token. • Something you are: This category is more advanced, and might include a biometric pattern of a fingerprint, an iris scan, or a voice print. Two-Factor Authentication provides a higher level of security than authentication methods that depend on Single-Factor Authentication (SFA), in which the user provides only one factor—typically, a password or passcode. For example, a user might first be asked to enter their username and password. Then, instead of immediately gaining access, they’d be required to provide another piece of information—such as a unique, time-based login code texted to their phone. Since a criminal is much less likely to have access to the information needed for both steps, Two-Factor Authentication reduces the risk of a breach. QUESTION: Should I use Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) when I send an email to a large group of people? ANSWER: Yes, for security and privacy reasons, it’s best to use the BCC feature when sending an email message to many people, such as the members of a community organization. When you place email addresses in the BCC field of a message, those addresses are invisible to the recipients of the email. Conversely, any email addresses you place in the To field or the CC field are visible to everyone who receives the message. The benefits of using BCC include: • The privacy of email addresses is protected in the original message. Recipients will receive the message, but won’t be able to see the addresses listed in the BCC field. • When an email is forwarded, the addresses of everyone in the To and CC fields are also forwarded along with the message. Addresses placed in the BCC field aren’t forwarded. • If you’ve placed a large list of recipients in the To or CC field, all of them will receive the reply. By placing recipients in the BCC field, you can help protect them against receiving unnecessary replies from anyone using the Reply All feature. • Many viruses and spam programs can sift through mail files and address books for email addresses. Using the BCC field acts as an anti-spam precaution. When you send emails to a large group of people, be responsible and use BCC. Your recipients will appreciate it.
WebsiteCompass 19 Glossary ADDRESS BOOK - A feature of an email program, or a stand-alone application, that stores and organizes a list of email addresses and other contact information a computer user frequently uses. ALERTS - Automatic notifications, often by email, that news on topics you’ve specified is now online. APP - Shorthand for application, app is popularly used to describe software that enhances the usefulness of mobile phones, media players, and social networking sites. AUTO-COMPLETE - Feature that predicts a word or phrase before the user types it in completely. BLOG - (short for Weblog) Writings similar to a journal or diary by individuals that are posted to the internet. Someone who writes a blog is a “blogger.” BOOKMARK - A reference to a file or webpage you plan to frequently visit. Most internet browsers let you maintain and organize a list of bookmarks (also called “favorites” when using Microsoft Internet Explorer) to make it easy to return to them again. BOOLEAN PHRASES - Linking words or symbols in all caps that indicate the relationships of words to each other and refine online searches. BOTNET - A collection of compromised zombie computers running programs automatically under remote direction. BROADBAND - (Broad Bandwidth) A high-speed network connection capable of supporting a wide range of frequencies. BROWSER - A software program that is used to look at various kinds of internet resources. The most popular browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari. BYTE - A group of eight bits that represent a character. Computer memory and disk capacity are measured in bytes. (A bit is the smallest unit of measurement for computer data.) CACHE - The hard drive space your browser uses to temporarily store webpages. When returning to a recently visited page, the browser can get a copy of it from the cache rather than the original server, saving time and network traffic. The larger amount of space you allocate for the cache, the more webpages can be stored. CELLULAR DATA - A way for your phone to access the internet that ’s offered by your mobile carrier. CHATBOT - A computer program that mimics conversations with humans. CHAT ROOM - A system where people can “chat” on a website through their browser. CLIENT - A computer or piece of software that requests information or services from a server. Your computer becomes a “client” when you connect to your ISP for a service such as surfing the internet or using email. COMPRESSION - A method by which data, images, and text can be stored using less disk space. After a file is compressed into a smaller file size, it will require less time to transmit over a network. CONTACT GROUP - A group of email addresses specified by a user. A contact group allows one to easily send a message to multiple recipients by entering the group name in the “To:” field. COOKIE - A piece of information sent by a Web server to be stored by your Web browser. Whenever the browser makes additional requests to that server, the server is able to use the information stored in the “cookie” to customize a response based on data from a previous connection. CROWDSOURCING – Meeting a challenge by asking many people — via the internet—if they can help. CROWDTURFING – Organized, for-pay efforts that hire people to create accounts under false names and post certain reviews or push a brand or website. CSS - (short for Cascading Style Sheet) A specification for the presentation of html documents that allow Web developers to easily control the style and layout of single or multiple webpages. DNS - (Domain Name Server) A computer which translates a domain name into a set of numbers called an IP address. DOMAIN NAME - A “domain name” is a unique name that is used to represent and help locate a specific Web server on the internet. For example, “www.websitecompass.com” is a domain name. Each domain name corresponds to a set of numbers called an IP address. DSL - (Digital Subscriber Line) Allows users to download and upload data over standard telephone lines. It provides a constant internet connection over which users can receive voice and data simultaneously. It isn’t available in many areas because it requires a short distance to the DSL provider’s origin. E-LEARNING - Any kind of learning that is provided through the digital technology used by computers. E-PATIENT - An internet user who looks online for health information. EBOOK - (short for Electronic Book) A book in digital format that can be read on a computer or other digital device. EDU - When these letters appear as the last part of a Web address, it indicates that the host computer is run by an educational institution, usually in the United States. EMOTICON - (or Smileys) Short for emotion icon. Symbols composed of punctuation that help convey how an email message should be interpreted by the reader. Ex. :-) = Happy, :-( = Sad EMOJIS - Icons or small digital images that are used online to express emotions or an idea. E-ZINE - A periodic publication distributed by email or posted on a website. FAQ - Short for Frequently Asked Question. FAVORITE - See Bookmark. FILTER BUBBLES - Process by which websites show you search results and feed items based on your past choices and other factors. FIREWALL - A specially programmed computer that connects networks (usually a local network to the internet) and for security reasons lets only certain kinds of data in and out. FIREWIRE - (Also known as IEEE 1394) A fast type of computer connection–similar to USB 2–that allows for high rates of data transfer. FLASH - A multimedia program for viewing and creating interactive and animated content on the Web. FORUM - A section of a website where users post and read topics of common interest. FREEWARE - Software provided at no charge by its originator. FTP - (File Transfer Protocol) A common method of transferring files between two computers connected over a network. FTP is a way to login to an internet server for the purposes of retrieving and/or sending files. Many publicly accessible internet sites allow their materials to be obtained using FTP. Most FTP sites require a user name and password. GIF - (Graphics Interchange Format) A file format that uses compression for saving and viewing images. GIGABYTE - A measure of computer storage capacity equal to 1,000 megabytes, or 1 billion bytes. GOV - When these letters appear as the last part of a Web address, it indicates that the host computer is run by a government body, probably in the U.S. HACKER - A person who tries to defeat computer security measures and break into websites and computers. HASHTAG - A word or phrase preceded by (#) and used to categorize social media messages. HISTORY - A browser feature which keeps track of Web resources that have been recently visited. HOME PAGE - (or Homepage) Originally, a Home Page was defined as the webpage your browser was set to use when it was started up. The more common meaning now refers to the main webpage for an organization, business, person or simply the main page out of a collection of webpages. HTML - (HyperText Markup Language) A coding language used to create hypertext documents for use on the Web. HTML files contain instructions on how your browser displays text, images, links and etc. HTML files usually end in “.htm” or “.html.” HTTP - (HyperText Transfer Protocol) The standard protocol for moving hypertext files across the internet. HYPERTEXT - Text that contains links to other documents. Words or phrases in the document that can be chosen by an internet user which causes another document to be retrieved and then displayed. INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT) - A collection of unique objects represented and connected virtually. IP ADDRESS - A numeric address which identifies a particular computer or server over a network. ISP - (Internet Service Provider) An institution that provides access to the internet. JAVA - A network-oriented programming language specifically designed for writing programs that can be downloaded to your computer and run. By using small Java programs called “applets,” webpages can include functions such as animations, calculators, chatrooms, games, etc. JAVASCRIPT - A programming language used to add interactive and dynamic features to webpages. It shares some characteristics with Java but is independent. JPEG - (or JPG) Named after the committee that created it, the Joint Photographic Experts Group, this is a file format that uses compression for saving and viewing images. LAN - (Local Area Network) A computer network limited to an immediate area, usually the same building or just one floor of a building. LINK - (short for Hyperlink) A hypertext connection that can take you to another document or another part of the same document. On the World Wide Web, links appear either as underlined text or as pictures/icons. To follow a link, double click on the underlined text or on the corresponding icon.
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