MAKE YOUR HOME SMARTER, ROOM BY ROOM 12 SITES FOR SUMMERTIME LEARNING WATCH OUT FOR FAKE ONLINE REVIEWS PLAN YOUR DIGITAL LEGACY The World’s #1 Internet Magazine SUMMER 23 You set the rules. We’ll help you enforce them. Flip the page to learn how. Compliments of United Communications and TurtleMountain Communications WebsiteCompass
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 Make Your Home Smarter, Room by Room Get equipped for easier and more comfortable living INTERNET CONNECTIONS 8 12 Sites for Summertime Learning Help children develop skills and discover interests SOCIAL MEDIA BASICS 10 Take a Tour of Tumblr Find out what makes this lesser-known platform so enduring BACK TO BASICS 13 Plan Your Digital Legacy Ensure those you leave behind know how to manage your online assets BEYOND THE BASICS 16 Watch Out for Fake Online Reviews Those 5-star ratings could be one big scam to con you 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 Set up a Legacy Contact for Facebook
2 WebsiteCompass Get equipped for easier and more comfortable living There are good reasons for the increase. These internet-connected solutions can help reduce energy consumption and costs (smart thermostats), keep household members safer (smart security systems), help you make dinner (smart cooking appliances), and much more. Making your home a smart home is becoming easier all the time, thanks to products from trusted manufacturers like Amazon, Google, and Apple. Once you have a strong internet connection and a smart speaker/home hub, the possibilities are nearly endless. You can start with practical items like door locks or jump right into something fun like a voice-activated shower. In the following pages, we take you through options for nearly every room in your home. Each section provides an overview of the solutions available for that space, describes the specific devices to consider, and offers suggestions for what to keep in mind as you shop. We also share some of the latest smart home trends, highlight the benefits for parents and kids, and explore whether you need to worry about your smart home spying on you. Get ready to get smarter about today’s smart homes! Source: oberlo.com/statistics/smart-home-statistics Did you know that 60.4 million households are now using smart home devices? That’s double the number from 2018, and one that’s expected to keep rising in the coming years. FAST FACT: A smart plug can be fitted between power cords and sockets to function as a remote-controlled power switch. As such, smart plugs can be used to make “dumb” electrical equipment smart. MAKE YOUR HOME SMARTER,ROOMBYROOM
WebsiteCompass 3 These smart home solutions are useful for your home’s exterior doors, yard, garage, and other outbuildings. Enjoy the Great (and Smart) Outdoors Solutions Smart home solutions available for outdoor areas are generally focused on security. They include things like video cameras, smart locks, and home security systems. Together, these devices help you know what’s happening around your home at all times and send alerts for unusual situations, such as someone attempting to access an entrance at a time of day when occupants are usually away. Devices The following devices are available to create these solutions: • Video cameras that record images of activity in outdoor areas • Smart locks that are accessible through smartphone controls • Home security systems that include a combination of devices to monitor a home for signs of intrusion • Floodlights that can be programmed to turn on when someone enters a set perimeter • Combination devices that serve dual purposes, such as alerting you to a visitor at the front door and enabling you to see who it is Considerations These devices are meant to keep your home more secure. However, you need to ensure the devices themselves are secure as well. Look for products with strong encryption, two-factor authentication, and automatic firmware updates. Additionally, buy devices that are compatible with existing home automation products, such as buying Google products to work well with Google Home. Another concern is privacy. Video cameras and other surveillance devices are meant to capture images of possible intruders, but they can also capture potentially sensitive images of family members, visitors, and neighbors. So, choose devices with strong privacy features such as encryption, cloud storage, and user-defined access controls. Check Out the Latest Smart Home Trends If you’re just beginning the smart home journey, you may feel be a bit overwhelmed. Consider exploring just one or two of these trending categories that are super popular with users. • Home security. See who’s at your door, open locks with your smartphone, and allow access to delivery services or house sitters. • High-tech home health. Devices that can help household members stay healthy include smart scales, air purification systems, and enhanced shower systems. • Smart lighting. In addition to enabling you to adjust the mood, smart lighting can improve home security by making it seem like someone is always home. • Music everywhere. Set up speakers throughout the house and play music over Wi-Fi, even different playlists in different rooms. • Smart blinds. Open and close window blinds remotely or set them to perform actions based on the amount of light coming through. Still unsure? Try a smart speaker to find information, play music, and make hands-free calls.
4 WebsiteCompass Smart Choices for Living Rooms Smart home solutions for living rooms include products for gathering spaces as well as home entertainment areas. Solutions These solutions are generally focused on convenience, comfort, and entertainment. They include TVs, soundbars, smart speakers, smart lighting, and connected thermostats—designed to help you have a cozy evening at home watching a movie with your family. It’s easy to get the temperature and lighting just right, and you can effortlessly control the movie and sound. Devices The following devices are available to create these solutions: • Smart TVs with big screens capable of displaying multiple entertainment sources, including many streaming services • Soundbars that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a shelf near the TV or other audio source • Smart speakers that are activated with voice commands • Smart lighting that can be controlled with a smartphone or other smart device • Connected thermostats that can “learn” occupant habits and take over temperature management in the home Considerations As with all smart home devices, you should ensure any new equipment is compatible with the other devices and systems already in use. Additionally, a strong internet connection is essential to ensure your entertainment system and other devices work reliably. Before setting up any smart home products, check with your internet provider and let them know your plans to make sure you have the right connection. Finally, consider ease of use when selecting devices, especially if children will be operating them. How to Make Your Smart Home Secure Like all internet-connected equipment, smart devices are susceptible to security breaches. To stay safe, be aware of the risks and threats, and take steps to avoid them. Here are a few tips from cybersecurity provider Kaspersky to get you started: • Isolate your smart home network from your other networks. It can be done by setting up a guest network specifically for smart home devices. • Ensure that the individual components of your network are secure, including smart speakers, router, computer, and smartphone. • If you control your smart home through your smartphone, use a virtual private network (VPN) when accessing public Wi-Fi. • For each connected device, use a unique password and change it every six months. Only buy devices from reputable suppliers and research security protection first. • With voice-activated devices such as smart speakers, change the wake word to something only household members know. Creating a smart home can be fun, but don’t forget the serious side of staying cyber-safe. Source: usa.kaspersky.com/resource-center/ threats/how-safe-is-your-smart-home QUICK TIP: Smart home technology is still new, so don’t be surprised if some products require a bit of troubleshooting. Feature Story
WebsiteCompass 5 Bedrooms and bathrooms get lots of use in your home, so it makes sense to take advantage of what smart home solutions can do to improve these spaces. Solutions Smart home solutions available for bedrooms and bathrooms are generally focused on helping you sleep better and starting your day more efficiently. They include smart beds and bedding, air quality units, smart toilets, smart showers, and smart scales. These devices can ensure that two partners can each adjust a bed to their comfort, then have luxury experiences as they perform their personal care routines in the morning. Devices The following devices are available to create these solutions: • Smart beds and bedding that increase your comfort and track your sleep • Air quality units including air conditioners and air purifiers to adjust the environment • Smart toilets with features like automatic opening and closing, heated seats, and deodorization • Smart showers with systems that use voice commands to turn on the water and set it to your preferred temperature • Smart scales that can track your BMI, heart rate, and muscle mass, in addition to your weight Considerations Since bedrooms and bathrooms are personal areas of the home, pay attention to privacy in devices used here. Choose those that prioritize it and have strong data encryption features. Also be aware of how manufacturers are using and sharing your data. Additionally, air conditioners and air purifiers can be noisy and disrupt sleep, even when they’re designed to help it. Look for products that are quiet or serve as white noise that won’t disturb you. Finally, understand that smart devices, especially those used frequently, may require regular maintenance—such as replacing filters for air purifiers—which involve additional costs. Smart Homes Help Parents and Kids There’s no doubt that smart homes make life more convenient for adults. But they can do even more for kids and their caretakers, including the benefits listed below. • Greater safety. Smart devices such as door and window sensors and security cameras can help parents monitor the home environment. • Increased independence. Voice assistants can help kids perform tasks on their own, such as setting timers, checking the weather, or cooking. • Enhanced entertainment. Smart home entertainment systems can be programmed and controlled by adults to offer appropriate movies, TV shows, and music for kids. • More convenience. Smart homes can remove some to-dos fromparents’ lists by automating tasks like turning lights on or off, locking doors, and adjusting the temperature. • Better communication. Smart home systems can help all family members see household schedules, to-do lists, and messages. Smart homes can even help make kids smarter with access to educational content and help with homework! It’s Smart to Get a Good Night’s Sleep
6 WebsiteCompass Feature Story Cook Up Something Smart When purchasing smart home solutions for your kitchen, there’s a lot to consider. Be sure to pay attention to functionality, safety, and price. Solutions Smart home solutions available for kitchens are generally focused on helping you find information about food and beverages and prepare them as efficiently as possible. They include smart displays and appliances such as ovens, air fryers, fast cookers, and microwaves. These devices can help with every step of the cooking process—from meal planning and grocery shopping to playing your favorite music while you prepare food. Devices The following devices are available to create these solutions: • Smart displays are voice-activated devices with small screens that can sit on a kitchen counter • Ovens including app-controlled countertop machines that enable all common cooking functions • Air fryers that are app-controlled cookers to fry food without using oil • Coffee makers that are managed by an app and voice control • Refrigerators with smart features such as automatically adding items to a grocery list Considerations In addition to compatibility with other smart home devices, sufficient internet bandwidth, and maintenance (which we mentioned in previous sections), make sure smart home devices for your kitchen offer the functionality you need. This might be harder than it sounds, given that different types of cooking appliances perform a lot of the same functions. Another important consideration is safety. Some smart kitchen devices, such as ovens and air fryers, can get very hot and pose a fire hazard if not used properly. Choose devices with prominent safety features, such as automatic shutoff. Are Your Smart Devices Spying on You? Smart home setups typically revolve around a central hub that’s based on one of the major voice assistants, including Alexa, Siri, or Google, which you can use to control things like lights and appliances, through a screen or by using your voice. All those voice commands may leave you wondering what else these devices can hear. While voice-activated smart devices can “hear,” they aren’t set up to process your personal conversations. They only begin paying attention after you use the wake phrase, such as, “Hey Siri.” They process and execute your request and then only listen for the wake phrase to be uttered again. It may also be comforting to know that your information is not connected to you personally, just to your other activities to provide better ad and smart device experiences. If you’re not convinced, you can turn off the listening mode on most devices until you really want them to hear. To find out how, research the process for your specific device. QUICK TIP: Robot sweepers do a great job of cleaning floors, and you can program them to do it on a schedule. Hello
WebsiteCompass 7 Solutions Smart home solutions available for home gyms are focused on one thing—helping you stay fit. They include stationary bikes, rowing machines, strength training machines, treadmills, and fitness mirrors. So, whether you love running, stationary biking, rowing, or strength training, you can find the right equipment to help you stay motivated. Devices The following devices are available to create these solutions: • Stationary bikes that simulate bike riding, often with online instruction and customizable adjustments • Rowing machines that include a variety of live streaming workouts for beginning, intermediate, and advanced rowers • Strength training machines which are all-in-one equipment to mimic working out with a personal trainer, sometimes with sophisticated features like rep counting • Treadmills that enable users to walk or run, with streaming live or on-demand instructions • Fitness mirrors with immersive touch screens that allow you to choose from thousands of classes led by real fitness instructors Considerations Home gym equipment, like many of the other devices mentioned in previous sections, requires strong internet connectivity, compatibility with other devices in the home, and considerations for user safety. Additionally, you should look for devices that not only enable you to work out but also offer additional features like professional instruction and fitness tracking (such as heart rate monitoring, distance traveled, or calories burned). These features can help you see your progress and achieve your fitness goals. A home gymmay include a whole room, or simply a corner with space for one reliable exercise machine. Get Smart About Your Workout Routine What’s Next for Smart Homes? Smart homes are getting smarter all the time. Here’s a peek at what to expect from this amazing technology in the next few years. • Increase in voice control. Voice- activated devices are already common, but they’re likely to become even more so in the coming years. Shopping is one big area where voice control will be used much more. • Interoperability. Consumers will be able to buy devices from different manufacturers and use them together as part of a single system without worrying about compatibility issues. • Devices will communicate with each other. For example, your lights and thermostat might be connected to provide an overall boost in energy efficiency. • Rise of ambient computing. Through ambient computing, users will be able to interact with home devices through their smartphones rather than using device-specific controls. • Enhanced security. As with all internet-based devices, smart home equipment is susceptible to interference. Future products will be more security focused. Generally, smart homes will continue to make life more convenient and easier for the people who live in them.
8 WebsiteCompass Internet Connections ABCya.com (abcya.com) This educational site was created and approved by certified schoolteachers. Meant for K-5th graders, it teaches math, language arts, and basic computer skills with engaging and interactive activities. BrainPOP (brainpop.com/at-home) BrainPOP helps children achieve their goals and tackle their biggest learning challenges confidently, by breaking down learning into bite-sized chunks. The secret is putting their interests, humor, and creativity first. Crash Course YouTube Videos (youtube.com/@crashcourse) Crash Course believes high-quality educational videos should be available to everyone for free. This YouTube page offers hundreds of engaging, fast-paced “Crash Courses” on virtually every topic imaginable, and these mini-movies are sure to pique your child’s interest. Funbrain (funbrain.com) Created for kids in grades Pre-K through 8th Grade, Funbrain.com has been the leader in free educational games for kids since 1997. It offers hundreds of games, books, comics, and videos that develop skills in math, reading, problem-solving, and literacy. Google Earth (earth.google.com) Google Earth is the world’s most detailed globe. Children can explore worldwide satellite imagery, 3D buildings, and the terrain for hundreds of cities. They can also zoom into their house or anywhere else, and get a 360° perspective with Street View. 12 Sites for Summertime Learning Help children develop skills and discover interests Learning doesn’t need to stop just because the school year ends. If you have students in your family, help prevent the summer slide—the learning loss children experience when away from the classroom—by encouraging them to visit fun and educational sites as part of their summer routine. There are thousands of options out there. To get started, check out these popular sites.
WebsiteCompass 9 How StuffWorks (howstuffworks.com) This is an award-winning source of unbiased, reliable, easy-to-understand answers and explanations of how the world works. (i.e., “5 Things You Didn’t Know About Your Belly Button.”) Older children will be fascinated by the articles, games, quizzes, videos, and more. LearnWith Smithsonian (si.edu/kids) The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and a National Zoo. Visitors to this site can discover some of the Smithsonian’s most treasured objects, complete digital jigsaw puzzles, explore history through literature and hands-on activities, take a geography-from-space quiz, and more! National Geographic Kids (kids.nationalgeographic.com) Explore the world from home with this interactive site from the National Geographic Society. It’s a great resource for elementary and middle school students to learn about history, science, U.S. states, and more through online games, science activities, funny fill-ins, and videos about amazing animals. Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids (almanac.com/kids) There are plenty of stories and activities to explore here about the moon phases, night sky, time travel, animals and plants, and weather. Children can learn to identify animal tracks and choose one of six simple garden projects to do over the summer. PBS Kids Science Games (pbskids.org/games/science) The entire PBS Kids website is filled with learning fun, but their science section is especially noteworthy. Kids of all ages can play along with their favorite PBS Kids characters to solve mysteries, investigate antibodies, and learn about gardening. San Diego Zoo (kids.sandiegozoo.org) This site allows children to go wild with learning! They can explore the animals through videos, games, activities, and live animal cams as well as read along with “tales and tails” from around the zoo. TIME for Kids (timeforkids.com) From the publishers of TIME magazine, TIME for Kids is a site where school-age kids will find age-appropriate news stories and videos. Its mission is to nurture today’s learners and tomorrow’s leaders with authentic news and the critical-thinking skills that shape active global citizens. So, the next time your children or grandchildren say they have nothing to do, you’ll have this handy list of suggestions. All they need is a device, an internet connection, and a desire to learn! Active Learning Ideas for Unplugged Time Most families strive for a good balance between screen time and other types of activities. Here are some ideas to consider when you’re looking for real-life experiences to foster learning and discovery: Local camps, exhibits, and events – Check with your local department of parks and recreation about camps and other activities. Find out what museum exhibits, events, or concerts are happening in your town over the summer. Creative reading and writing practice – Have your young child help with meals by writing up a grocery list, finding things in the grocery store, and reading the recipe aloud during cooking time. An older child could keep a summer journal about their experiences or write letters to grandparents. Volunteer activities – Kids who participate in community service activities gain new skills, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Look for family-friendly volunteer opportunities in your community. Tending a garden – Planting vegetable or flower seeds and watching them grow can help children learn about soil, insects, weather, nutrition, and more. A neighborhood book club – Team up with other families this summer for a low-key book club. You could meet on a backyard patio and talk about the books everyone’s reading and enjoying —both grown-ups and children.
10 WebsiteCompass Social Media Basics What is Tumblr? Tumblr is a microblogging platform that allows users to post text, photos, quotes, links, music, and videos. It also includes social components, such as displaying content in a feed and the ability to like. It’s this dual functionality that sets Tumblr apart. Typically, Tumblr users either create original content or curate information by re-blogging others’ posts. The platform is known for being highly customizable, with controls that enable users to do things like change the background color and theme of their blogs. A Brief History The platform was started in 2007 by software consultant David Karp. At the time, it competed with longer-form blogging platforms like WordPress and Blogger. In 2013, Tumblr was acquired by Yahoo, a move that was considered risky by some. In the years that followed, Tumblr was acquired two more times and went through phases of surging popularity and relative obscurity (see sidebar). But its unique offering has brought it back into relevance, and Tumblr is among the most-used platforms in 2023. Microblogging Characteristics Put simply, microblogging is creating blog posts limited to no more than 1,000 words. Twitter, another microblogging platform, limits posts to just 280 characters, which is somewhere between 40 and 70 words. This type of expression is best for situations in which you want to use text as a vehicle to present other types of media such as videos, when you want to reach audiences on microblogging platforms, or when you’re not concerned about your posts being found by search engines. Who Uses It Typical Tumblr users are under age 35, from an urban area, and college educated. Countries with the top five highest usage are the U.S., India, the U.K., Brazil, and France. Many celebrities and influencers use Tumblr or have used it in the past. However, the platform doesn’t have any verification system as do Twitter and Instagram, so be aware that if you find one of your favorite actors or musicians there, the account may not be genuine. Take a Tour of Tumblr Find out what makes this lesser-known platform so enduring While you don’t hear a lot about Tumblr, it’s among the most popular social platforms, with hundreds of millions of users worldwide. One reason is its unique combination of blogging and social networking.
WebsiteCompass 11 Advantages Users commonly appreciate these Tumblr features: • Easy to use – Users can create engaging posts quickly, with templates and automatic formatting. • Light on text – Other elements such as images and videos are used more than text. • Complementary – Individuals and businesses can easily convert content they’ve developed for other platforms to align with Tumblr’s format. • Customizable – Users can take advantage of pre-made themes. • Shareable – Valuable posts have the potential to quickly go viral. • Flexible – Users can write posts when they have time and schedule when they appear, can have multiple blogs under one account, and can co-contribute to blogs with other authors. • Analytical – Analytics tools enable users to see reactions to their posts. • Feed-based system – Content is shown in a Facebook-like feed, so users can easily see the latest updates from their favorite bloggers. • Evergreen – Content is based less on current news or events and more on stories that have lasting appeal. • Searchable – Like other platforms, Tumblr uses hashtags to make it easy for users to find content on a particular topic. Disadvantages Like any platform, Tumblr has its disadvantages, including these: • Lacking commenting feature – The platform doesn’t include a native comment feature, so users must install third-party systems to allow comments. • Limited in communication style – Users who want to create longer text posts find the platform limiting, as it’s designed for briefer posts and more images, videos, and other content. • Niche – Tumblr appeals to a smaller segment of internet users, so it may not be an ideal platform for those looking for a larger audience. Fun Tumblr Accounts to Follow Not sure where to begin when you get on Tumblr? Try following some of these popular accounts. Buzzfeed Unsolvable. Based on a popular true crime show on YouTube, this account is known for sharing memes and inside jokes, and for its creators being accessible to fans. Zillow Gone Wild. This account posts outrageous Zillow listings, including decadent mansions and homes with unusual architecture. Netflix. If you can’t get enough information about your favorite movies and shows, check out this account. DuckDuckGo. The search engine company known for its privacy features posts its blog content, featuring engaging images and animation. Newsweek. While Tumblr isn’t known for up-to-the-minute breaking news, you can still find outlets for it, including from the longstanding news publication Newsweek. I’m Remembering! If you love looking back on TV shows, products, and technology from decades past, this is the place for you. City of Love. This account is simply a collection of photos of places that would be nice to visit, including locations across the globe.
12 WebsiteCompass How to Use Tumblr One of the first things to do when you start using Tumblr is to follow blogs you’re interested in. You can find them by clicking suggestions from Tumblr or clicking Follow in posts that show up in your feed. If you like something you see, you can like it using the heart icon or easily reblog it and add your own comments to the post. In addition to the Dashboard, where you’ll find your feed, you can explore other areas of the platform, including live streams, new postings from today, the TumblrMart gift section, messages, mentions, reblogs, and replies. You can easily interact with other users by using various features on their profile. They include sending them a direct message (which you can make anonymous if you choose), chatting in real time, and giving them virtual gifts. Creating your own posts is easy. From the Dashboard, just click the new post icon or choose from Text, Photo, Quote, Link, Chat, Audio, or Video. You will see a template to create your post and can combine formats within it. Add your content, create a title, add hashtags, and click Post. The Ups and Downs of Tumblr After Tumblr was acquired in 2013, the Yahoo team worked to make the platformmore robust so it could support more users. However, not all their efforts were user-friendly ones, and in the meantime, competitors like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram were developing features like online communities designed to draw users in. As a result, by 2016, the value of Tumblr had been reduced by 50%. Over the next three years, as user activity plummeted, the platformwas acquired two more times—first by Verizon Media and then by WordPress.com owner Automattic. Similar to Yahoo, Automattic initially didn’t understand what made Tumblr unique and failed to give it the support it needed to stay viable. That changed in 2022 when new leadership at Automattic stepped in to oversee Tumblr and took steps to make it more engaging for users. As a result, as it reaches its 15th year, Tumblr is becoming more stable and popular again, especially among Gen Z. The unique combination of blogging, social networking, community, and discovery have kept this platform afloat and may be the reason it continues to stick around. Social Media Basics FAST FACT: Many classic memes, such as “Do You Love the Colour of the Sky,” were originally posted on Tumblr.
WebsiteCompass 13 It may be clear that you need to leave instructions for how to manage your physical belongings after you die. But what about your digital properties? Now’s the time to think about how you want them handled. Plan Your Digital Legacy Ensure those you leave behind know how to manage your online assets Inventory Your Digital Assets Start to think about all the digital accounts you hold and which of them may need attention after you die. To jog your memory, refer to your search history, password manager, and bookmarks. Make a Digital Asset Plan Now, determine how you want each account to be handled. Before you do anything else, check with each service to learn its digital legacy policies. Here are some specific considerations for each type of asset. Your Computer and Mobile Phone – If you have PINs or passcodes on your devices, they’ll need to be included in your plan. Some hardware and service providers may have easy ways for loved ones to gain access to your digital assets. For example, according to a recent AARP article, “Apple recently launched a Digital Legacy program that lets you designate up to five trusted people as legacy contacts.” Social Media Accounts – You’ll need to decide if you want to have your social media accounts memorialized or deleted, and may need to take steps within your account to do so (see sidebar). Email Accounts – Online accounts like Gmail and Yahoo have specific processes for how your loved ones can terminate the account after you pass on. Check your service’s information about this feature. Online Communities – You may want to leave an online community with a message, which you can create and include with your digital asset plan. Back to Basics
Back to Basics 14 WebsiteCompass Bank, Investment, and Utility Accounts – Leave specific instructions about how to access these accounts. The contents of them will be dealt with by the will and the will’s executor will need to access them during probate. Customer Accounts – Your best bet here is to access each account that you use regularly and research its policy for what happens after you die. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you may also have photo storage and the streaming service, so think about each of those components as you make your plan. • Blogs – If you maintain a blog, you might want to ask your digital executor to write a post about your passing. • Documents and Photos – With sites like Google Docs and Google Photos, you can make plans to preserve files in the cloud or have them deleted. Designate a Digital Executor Decide who you want to manage all these accounts on your behalf and name them in your will and in your digital asset plan (if they’re separate documents). Think carefully about who to name, as this person must be very trustworthy and capable of carrying out your wishes, even if other family members have different ideas about how things should go. It helps if they are also technologically savvy. Consult With an Attorney If you’re working with an attorney for your estate planning, talk to them about how best to include your digital asset plan. One idea to consider is to create a codicil to your will, which is a legal document that dictates modifications to the document. So, if you need to change something, such as a new password on your checking account, you can easily do so without having to change the entire will. Consider a Service Companies like GoodTrust (mygoodtrust.com) and Everplans (everplans.com) can securely store and manage your digital documents, social media accounts, and websites, along with your will, funeral and medical directives, contact information for doctors and other professionals, and a goodbye email, and deliver them to people you identify upon your death. Source: aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2021/remember-digitalassets-in-your-will.html How to Pass Your Passwords on to Others One of the best ways to ensure your trusted loved ones can get into your digital accounts after you pass on is to give them access to your password manager. If you don’t already use a password manager, consider doing so. These applications help you create and store highly secure passwords. LastPass and Dashlane are both popular, and they each have free and paid options. Once you have a password manager set up, use the digital inheritance options to enable another person to access it. You’ll need to explore how it works for the application you choose. For example, the LastPass Emergency Access feature allows you to designate an Emergency Access contact who can request access to your account and securely receive your passwords. If you don’t want to use a password manager, find another way to notify loved ones, such as telling them the secure location where you have your passwords written down.
WebsiteCompass 15 How to Set Up a Legacy Contact for Facebook The person you name as your legacy contact will maintain your profile if it’s memorialized. TUTORIAL Set Up a Facebook Legacy Contact Facebook controls have changed recently, with the addition of the Meta Accounts Center. That’s where you’ll find the settings needed to set up your legacy contact. 1. Become familiar with what legacy contacts can and can’t do. They can manage a memorialized account, write a pinned post for the memorialized profile, respond to new friend requests, and update the profile picture and cover photo of the account. They can’t log into the memorialized account, remove or edit past posts, read messages, or remove friends. 2. Y ou must be Facebook friends with the person you want to assign as the legacy contact. So, if you’re not, use the usual process to friend them. 3. C lick your avatar in the upper-right corner of any Facebook screen. Select Settings & privacy > Settings. 4. Under Settings, click Meta Accounts Center. 5. Under Meta Accounts Center, click Personal details. 6. Under Personal details, click Account ownership and control. 7. In the Account ownership and control box, click Memorialization. 8. In the Memorialization box, select your Facebook account. 9. I n the next Memorialization box, select Memorialize account. Click Next. 10. In the Choose a legacy contact box, select the Facebook friend you want to be your legacy contact. 11. In the Give permission box, you can choose to give the legacy contact permission to download a copy of your data archive. Click the appropriate selection, then click Save. 12. In the Message legacy contact box, a message appears that will be sent to the person you’ve selected. Click Send or, if you prefer, click Skip to skip this step. If you skip it, be sure to let them know another way that you have selected them as your legacy contact.
16 WebsiteCompass Fake online reviews can have a range of consequences. If you’re swayed by 5-star reviews to order a certain kitchen gadget, and it turns out to be junk, you just have the hassle of returning it. But if you choose a new doctor based on a near-perfect online rating and wonderful comments, which are largely fake, you could potentially be putting your health at risk. Businesses Cheat to Compete How does this scam work? The internet is full of online groups specifically devoted to buying, selling, and trading fake online reviews. It’s a massive industry that caters to businesses desperate to quickly accumulate lots of positive reviews to expand their online presence and boost sales. Some buy fake positive reviews to suppress negative reviews posted by their real customers. Others use insider reviews—glowing testimonials about their own products or services. At first glance, it can be difficult to tell the difference between reviews that are real and those that are not. The Better Business Bureau offers these tips on how to spot a fake review: Look out for generic reviewer profiles. If a reviewer has a very common or generic name, such as John Smith or Jane Doe, you’ve spotted a red flag. Fake reviewers usually post under fake names, sometimes even just a series of letters and numbers, and rarely do they have a profile picture. Read reviews by customers with verified purchases. Many ecommerce sites add a badge or otherwise indicate if a purchase is verified, meaning the reviewer bought the product on the same site where they wrote the review. Reviews of non-verified purchases are much more likely to be fake. Watch Out for Fake Online Reviews Those 5-star ratings could be one big scam to con you While illegal, fake online reviews are common. It’s estimated that about 30% of online reviews are fake, often written by non-customers with fraudulent profiles who are paid for their posts. This is concerning, since most of us read online reviews and are influenced by them when deciding which products, services, or professionals to select. Beyond the Basics
WebsiteCompass 17 Examine the quality of product reviews. A good review will briefly explain why or why not the product in question was a good purchase. If you notice a product has several five-star or one-star reviews with just a word or two in the written portion of the review, you may be looking at fake reviews. This is especially true if you notice multiple, similar reviews posted during a short window of time. Be wary of scene-setting. A study conducted by Cornell University found that truthful reviewers usually include concrete words relating to the product or service they purchased, whereas fake reviewers like to set the scene. They may talk about how “their husband” visited a specific hotel for a “vacation” or “business trip” instead of focusing on the actual hotel experience. This is another fake review red flag. Check the grammar and spelling. Sometimes sellers outsource their fake reviews to content farms, where people who are not native English speakers write reviews. The result is fake reviews with misspellings and poor grammar. If you read a review out loud and it doesn’t sound natural, it could be a fake. Try a tool for spotting fake reviews. There are third-party tools available to help you weed out fake reviews. Some of them provide a letter grade based on how many fake reviews were spotted, while others eliminate fake reviews to provide consumers with an adjusted star rating. Real Action Against Fake Reviews Most platforms allow you to report abuse if you notice a fake review. Doing so can help the platform more quickly eliminate fake reviews and protect your fellow consumers. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission is considering a rule that would penalize such deceptive activity as “using fake reviews, suppressing negative reviews, and paying for positive reviews” with “stiff penalties.” Check Out Fake ReviewWatch to Learn More Fake Review Watch is a resource dedicated to exposing the massive corruption of online consumer review platforms with fake reviews and the culpability of the big tech companies in facilitating and covering up this fraud. It’s run by Kay Dean, a former federal criminal investigator and an expert in researching, analyzing, and documenting online review fraud. Dean has identified thousands of fake reviews across Google, Yelp, Facebook, and other platforms, and has compiled evidence of review fraud conducted by thousands of businesses. Her work uncovered three prominent aspects of online review fraud: • International and domestic brokers who sell reviews • Businesses who trade reviews with each other • Networks organized by search engine optimization (SEO) companies or online marketers The magnitude of online review fraud is alarming, deceiving millions of consumers and creating unfair competition for thousands of honest businesses. It’s become a popular method of false advertising in the 21st century. Visit the Fake Review Watch channel on YouTube to watch dozens of videos about fake reviews for businesses including a Las Vegas contractor, a New York surgeon, and a San Francisco veterinarian. For additional content, go to fakereviewwatch.com. FIVE STARS EXCEPTIONAL!
18 WebsiteCompass FAQs Dr. Webbie Answers your frequently asked questions QUESTION: What can I do to stop getting spam texts on my phone? ANSWER: You’re smart to want to act, since spam texts can be more than just annoying “junk mail” promoting products you don’t want. Some spam texts—known as text phishing—come from cybercriminals trying to steal valuable personal information, such as passwords and banking credentials. They often imitate legitimate companies to get you to click on a link that infects your device with malware. Fortunately, both iPhone and Android devices have the ability to stop or block spam texts. Here’s what to do: On iPhone: 1. Open the text. 2. Tap the arrow next to the contact number at the top of the screen. 3. Tap the gray “Info” button. 4. Tap the blue “Info” button 5. Scroll down and tap “Block this Caller.” On Android: 1. Open the text 2. Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of the screen. 3. Tap “Details.” 4. Tap “Block Contact.” Note: Sometimes Android phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S20, have a simpler process. All you need to do is tap the three-dot menu and then “Block.” Curious how spammers get your number? There are several potential culprits: • Social media sites track your online activity and may sell your number (provided in your profile) to other companies. • Spammers may tap an Automatic Number Identification system, which records your number when you make calls to 800, 888, or 900 numbers. • Websites keep your number when you sign up for contests, coupons, and rewards, and they could use it to contact you or lose it to scammers after a breach. • Scam artists use random dialing devices to send texts to working numbers. QUESTION: Can I access Google Maps Street View images from the past? ANSWER: Yes, it may be possible to take a trip down memory lane and see what your home (or other building) looked like 10 or 15 years ago. Google Maps Street View started in 2007, and billions of those images are stored and available for viewing today. Keep in mind, however, that not all places have been covered by Google’s mapping team so past images may not always be available. To look at past images on Google Maps Street View, you first must get your bearings in the present. Search for a specific place or address in the search bar. Once you’ve pinpointed the location you want to see, scroll down to the “Photos” section of the location sidebar and click the little roundabout icon for 360-degree Street View. Once you’re in Street View, there should be a small button that says “See more dates” in the upper-left corner. Once you click that button, there should be a horizontal scroll bar along the bottom of the screen with images from past dates, whenever available.
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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