Phone Bad

Getting Lost with QR Codes

Accessibility is at the foundation of transportation policy, but a minor technology seems to be obstructing the path, at least when it comes to wayfaring. The signage for wayfaring and orienting travelers is increasingly populated with QR codes and it may be getting us lost. QR (quick response) codes are encountered when transit riders need…
Too Many Phone Apps?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: My question is about trying out new apps and if you can have too many phone apps. My girlfriend has an idea to download one new app each day, starting in January. She said she wants to do this to stay curious, discover new things, plus learn to code with me. My…
Does Phone Have Place at Thanksgiving Table?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: I am sort of dreading Thanksgiving next week because I have an aunt who ruins the occasion with her phone habits. During dinner she keeps the phone on the table and is always checking her messages. Before dinner, when we are talking, she insists on fact-checking every name or date. It’s so…
Tips to Get Rid of Notifications on iPhone

Dear Ms. Smartphone: I got the latest iPhone and it came all set up since the store transferred everything from my old phone. But now, on the settings page there are brand new notifications to sign up for Emergency Warnings, the Apple Wallet, and Apple Care. I can’t delete any of these messages! They show…
Reposting News too Fast?

Smartphones are useful in emergencies when the power fails. But Is it bad to be too fast when it comes to reposting? It’s important to think through the impacts..
Do TikTok and Teens Mix Well?

Should TikTok and Teens mix since the US and the EU ban the app for many federal employees. How do you tell your teen to take small sips or none at all? Where does this fit into digital civics and digital literacy?
Is Calendar on Phone So Dated?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: I was embarrassed for my digital self during a meeting this week. When the group went to set the next meeting time everyone in the room, except me, pulled out their phones. I was the only one who reached for my paper datebook (or ‘diary’, per the English). Is there something wrong…
Apple Pay Later: Build Credit Record Now?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: My parents got an offer this month to try out a service called Apple Pay Later. It’s like a credit card on the phone that lets you pay in installments without interest charges or fees. I begged my parents to let me try it but they refused. Since I’ll be in college…
Nomophobia and Grandma

Grandma panicked when we lost cell service on the road. Was it the road trip or was it a case of senior nomophobia?!
Is Texting Distracting?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: I got pulled over by a CHP (California Highway Patrol) officer when I was stopped but looking down at my phone. For me, texting is not distracting. I was waiting at a long red light and reading an urgent text sent by our babysitter. Did I really do anything wrong here? The…
Shared Experience of Viewing

Watching the SuperBowl on the TV…and with virtual friends.
Audio Track is a Blast

The track from Reels…wakes up the baby, sends the cat flying across the room and spikes my blood pressure. Is this noise pollution?!
ChatGPT in High School?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: Over the winter break I gave my high school students an assignment that is causing some backlash. I asked them to write an English term paper using Chat GPT. A few parents and the administration have questioned the merits of ChatGPT in high school. This is an advanced class on the American…
Phones and Online Gambling

On the way to grandma’s house, with a phone app and assignment?
Cheating Online for Cash

Dear Ms. Smartphone: My son told us he was doing tutoring online after school and getting paid for it. But it turned out he was actually cheating online for cash. He was playing video games with other kids in an arranged game. The arrangement was that he would lose when they played together, so that…
Sept. 11 Anniversary and Phones

This week, on the anniversary of Sept. 11 terrorist attack, we take a Dear Smartphone “time out” to consider how emergency communications have transformed over the two decades since. The inspiration is three-fold: in last week’s column, a reader lamented the difficulty of getting emergency services in a remote, wooded area; during the week, Apple…
Dog Monitor on Phone?

A tale of the data dog…tail wagging data.
Snapchat? Should I Subscribe?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: My tween asked to use my credit card so she could get a Snapchat subscription. It’s only $3.99 a month but I don’t understand the need and she did not explain it to me very clearly. When I went on their web site I was even more confused since it seems like…
Listserv Why Still Use it?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: I am watching my parent’s condo this summer while they are gone, and that includes checking their PO box and an email account. The postal mail is tame, but the email seems to be out-of-control. My question is listserv- why still use it? There are tens of messages that come in daily…
Apps in War

Dear Ms. Smartphone: My family lives in France and they are using apps to follow what’s happening with our relatives in Ukraine. I live here and am honestly not familiar with using apps in wartime. I have been trying to keep up with the invasion on news and Twitter but am I missing sites? I…
Phone at Dinner Table?

Is Phone Part of the Plating?
News Makes Me Anxious

Dear Ms. Smartphone: I feel bad-tempered these days and my ex says it’s because I am watching so much news on my phone. It’s true that my phone is my main source. There is a lot happening out there and I want to stay informed. Maybe the news makes me anxious and worried? I want…
Where is the Instruction Manual?

“Consumers do not generally seek relationships with black boxes that come in cardboard boxes.”
Checking Phones for Work?

Watching the baby at home. Watching my phone too?
Too Many Apps?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: I am going to get a new phone and am wondering whether I should transfer all the apps on it, or just keep the ones I use. My wife says I have too many apps and it’s time to houseclean. I don’t see the need. I promised her I would let you…
QR Codes and Kids’ Safety

Dear Ms. Smartphone: Is it wrong to wonder why there is a QR code on the back of a kid’s cereal box? My four year old and six year old insist on using my phone when they eat breakfast now because they want to follow the code, play a game, and reveal some treasure. I…
Restrict Time on Video Games?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: My cousins live in Asia and the government there has decided to restrict the time that kids can play video games. Now my grandparents are suggesting that it is a good idea for me and I should limit my time on video games like them. I live in the same household as…
Private Instagram Account for Kids?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: I read that Instagram might allow kids under age 13 to get online, providing their accounts are private. My ten year old is asking me to set up an account for him like this, and I am undecided. He is a good student and helps me a lot with my other kids…
Should Bicyclists Bring Smartphones?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: I just got a high-end, aluminum frame bicycle and plan to do more local cycling by myself, and also with a club. I am conflicted about whether bicyclists should bring smartphones on the trip. I can easily store the phone in a saddle-bag under the seat, but should I take a phone…
Smartphone Olympics

The Tokyo Olympics don’t seem the same when they are streamed on the phone…
Venmo and Bitcoin for Teen?

A teen loses money on Bitcoin Cash. His parents set up the account…
Do Food & Phone Lack Etiquette?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: My roomies and I celebrated the end of the school year by getting a reservation at a famous local restaurant. You would recognize the name. When we were seated, two of them kept their phones out and used them throughout the meal. It was not to take pictures of the food either.…
Birth Announcements… Print or Internet?

Hello World! Do new families share this on the Internet or in print?
Bad Phone Behavior or Locatable?

Is Mom’s phone open 24/7 for notifications?
Fake Location, Real Takeout

Dear Ms. Smartphone: A fake location led me to find real takeout! I just moved to a new neighborhood and decided to get takeout for dinner. A delivery app helped me pick a local barbecue and the food was delish. In fact, so good that I popped the name into my GPS. It turns out…
Is My App Private?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: At my high school the principal enters her best students in an online sweepstakes. We get freebies and discounts when our name is drawn. That seems great but now I get ads on my phone from the places I visit plus emails to enlist in the military, to join climate action groups,…
Smartphone Privacy- Tides Shifting

Does IDFA= Identity Details Facebook Acquires?
Misunderstood Prank on Email

Dear Ms. Smartphone: Can you help me understand this misunderstood prank? On April Fool’s Day (this past Thursday) I posted an email to the town’s listserv. I invited fellow board members to a special Transportation Meeting. My email strongly recommended that they arrive on a scooter or bicycle. At the end of the email I…
Does Social Media Run our Lives?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: Does social media run our lives? My college roommate is a teacher in Los Angeles. He and I stay in touch, and we had planned to take a Spring Break trip this month. This is a tradition since we roomed together (except in 2020). Now he heard on Facebook that he was…
Online Privacy: Is The Camera On?

I keep masking tape over my device’s camera. Do others?
Is Phone Number Safe?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: Is my phone number safe anymore? The other day I downloaded a new social media app called Clubhouse, because friends recommended it. Before it would open, the app required me to enter a phone number so it could send a verification code. It was a total accident but I got distracted and…
Troubleshoot Email Addresses

Phone is sending me to “dead” emails . Why?
Hidden Social Media Account

Teen wants to reconcile his private social media and his public persona…
Does Screen Size Matter?

Is it the small screen or a small attention span when it comes to a digital meeting?!
Stay in Touch Not by Phone

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Selfies for Good?

The Posted Video Kept Getting Shorter….but Funnier!!
Memes: Why So Popular?

What is it about Memes? Am I missing out?
Phones & RideHail?

Is it rude to the driver if I make a phone call during an Uber trip? What’s the etiquette here?
Should Family Time Stream?

Should families live-stream their holiday celebrations to those off-site?
Pedestrian Safety & Phone

It’s crazy out there…phones, cars, and pedestrians. Heads up and more.
Safe Walk to School or Phone?

Mom worries about using phones and earbuds when kids walk to school.
Posting Kids Pics?

Are parents naive when they post kids pictures on social media like Instagram and Facebook?
Are Phones in Church a Disconnect?

During the church sermon someone was checking their email…
Should My Wedding Ban Phones?

Dear Ms. Smartphone: I am sending a picture I saw on Instagram. It’s of a bride and groom atop a wedding cake, holding phones in their hands. I am getting married this summer. Is it OK to ask guests to come unplugged? …To not bring their phones to the ceremony? We are getting married outdoors…
Sending a Text on Mother’s Day Sent Wrong Message

Mother’s Day went awry when Mom got a text…not a phone call
Put Your Damn SmartPhone Away…You’re Running the Boston Marathon!

Boston Marathon runner wonders whether to bring her smartphone along.
Phone and Note Taking

Dear Ms. Smartphone: I teach a class at university extension and have an issue. My students are taking notes during class on their phones or tablets. Honestly, I don’t know whether they are actually taking class notes or browsing the Internet or email. Dale, Boston Dear Dale: What you pose could be a problem, or…
Teens and Cell Phones

Dear Ms Smartphone: Is this normal? My daughter is 15 and a junior in high school. She is always taking pictures of herself…more than 20 a day…. Then she shares some of them with her friends. When I ask her about it she says all teenage girls do this now. Dana, Petaluma Dear Dana: As…
Who Drives the GPS?

DEAR MS. SMARTPHONE: WHEN I DRIVE WITH MY BOYFRIEND HE LIKES TO USE HIS SMARTPHONE TO GIVE ME DIRECTIONS. BUT HE TURN DOWN THE VOLUME, AND THEN FORGETS TO REPEAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION. THEN HE GETS MAD AT ME FOR MISSING TURNS! Annie, Antioch Dear Annie: It sounds like a control issue but no…
Dear Smartphone: A Public Shaming

DEAR MS. SMARTPHONE: YOU WRITE ABOUT DIGITAL ETIQUETTE. NOT THAT I WANT TO BE A PAPARAZZI, BUT AREN’T YOU ON PHONE HERE? THIS LOOKS LIKE A RESTAURANT AND A PUBLIC PLACE YOU ARE CALLING FROM. Tibo, NoeValley Dear Tibo: So embarassed. Me bad. That is indeed a compromised photo. As I recall, I was engaged…
Dear Smartphone: Burner Phone

DEAR MS. SMARTPHONE: I READ THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE ADMIT TO HAVING A SECOND, CONCEALED PHONE. BUT THEN MY BUDDY AT WORK ADMITTED TO HAVING ONE. Fred, Novato Dear Fred: There was a survey of 1,500 people who admitted to cheating on their spouse, and eleven percent of the cheaters said that they used an…
Dear Smartphone: Teen in Car

DEAR MS. SMARTPHONE: I AM THE MOTHER OF A TEEN AGE BOY. HE GOT HIS DRIVER’S LICENSE LAST YEAR. I LET HIM USE MY CAR ON WEEKENDS AND WHEN HE GOES ON A DATE. I JUST RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE THAT HE PROBABLY MEANT TO SEND TO HIS FRIENDS. I AM FAIRLY SURE HE WAS…
Dear Smartphone: Sneaky Backpack

DEAR MS. SMARTPHONE: MY BOYFRIEND AND I ARE BOTH IN TENTH GRADE. HE HAS A SECRET PHONE SEWN INTO HIS BACKPACK AND DURING CLASS HE WILL OPEN UP A FLAP AND BROWSE IT. IF THE TEACHER COMES BY HE CLOSES THE FLAP UP. SHOULD I REPORT HIM TO THE TEACHER? From Gabby, Stockton. Dear Gabby:…
Dear Smartphone: Streaking Freaking

DEAR MS.SMARTPHONE: I AM 15 YEARS OLD. I AM A GOOD STUDENT AND ONLY USE MY PHONE WHEN I FINISH MY HOMEWORK. MY BOYFRIEND AND I HAD A STREAK THAT LASTED FOR 69 DAYS. BUT THEN HE STOPPED AND DID NOT TELL ME. I AM SICK OVER THIS AND WHEN I SEE HIM AT SCHOOL…