Topic of the Week

If you are anything like me, you probably love TikTok. Whether you use the app for brain rot time, as your form of google, to connect with others, to create content, for entertainment, or as your job, this app is one of the most popularly used social media platforms in the world.

Ah, vacations… the time to unplug, unwind, and escape the everyday grind. But just like that, the holidays are over, and the January blues have set in, so it’s time to re-engage with your security and privacy habits.

Merry Christmas readers! I hope your holidays are full of joy, and I hope your privacy remains protected. With this season being a common one for gifting, I want to provide a rundown of the privacy concerns surrounding smart speakers such as Amazon Alexa, Google Nest, Siri, etc. These have become popular devices/features due to the ease of use for connecting and managing devices, and playing music. These speakers provide users with the option to vocally activate and control them, typically following a specific prompt to the device like “Hey Alexa”, or “Hey Google”.

Here it is, folks! It’s that time of year; whether you’re heading to Grandma’s mountain cabin or flying off to the tropical Walley World of your dreams, travel season is here! But just like the Lampoons’ epic road trip, your holiday plans could go sideways if you’re not careful.

Australia’s Online Safety Act (2021) has recently been amended to establish a minimum age for the use of social media in Australia. This age requirement will place responsibility on social media platforms to appropriately regulate access to their platforms for anyone under 16.