Built-in teen trackers

Built-in teen trackers: Screen Time for iPhone and Google Family Link for Android let you monitor your teens on social media, set usage limits and block apps you don’t want them using. My advice: Don’t be sneaky about it. They’ll find out you’ve set limits, so you might as well have a convo about it upfront.

Tags: Android, apps, family, Google, screen time, social media, teens, trackers


Freebie alert: Apps that pay you to play

There are plenty of apps that reward you for doing things you probably already do. I’m sure you’ve seen ads for them. You’re not going to pay your rent from the rewards you earn, but you might get enough perks to make your otherwise pointless scrolling worth it. 

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Tech smarts: Windows and Mac tricks you’ll use all the time

There are so many tech tricks you only know if someone clues you in. Take the humble USB.

If you’re always plugging in the wrong way, here’s the secret: The symbol on one side isn’t just for branding or decoration. That symbol will point up if you’re plugging in horizontally, and if you’re plugging in a cable vertically, the USB symbol will face you.

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Double trouble: Scammers are creating copycats of major retail sites and hitting you with “card declined” messages when you try to pay. It’s a trick to get you to enter another card number so you pay twice. The sites are spreading in search results, social media ads and email links. Always check the URL closely, and if your card declines, call your bank first.

20x more

Calories burned walking up a flight of stairs than on flat ground. Even going downstairs is more effective — five times the burn of a regular walk. Related: Today, I learned there’s such a thing as the Stairclimbing World Championships. I think they’re up to something.

5 things you should never put on a resume

In life, few rewards come without risk. Take your dream job, for instance. If you want to land that position you’ve been dreaming about, you’ll need to make a great first impression.

When you’re applying for jobs, that all comes down to your resume. Every little detail makes a big difference. For example, a small mistake could take you out of the running for a job you’re qualified for.

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Your smartwatch isn’t as accurate as you think

Sensors in today’s smartwatches can detect your heartbeat, track how you sleep and even monitor blood oxygen levels. We’re not far from your watch tracking your blood sugar … and possibly sending reports about it to your doctor.

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Give yourself extra time before your next flight: After attacks on Hezbollah, aviation authorities in Lebanon banned travelers from boarding planes or checking luggage with pagers and walkie-talkies. Expect the TSA to increase their screening for explosives (paywall link).

This Zoom feature isn’t even remotely funny: Zoom’s new AI companion takes notes, summarizes meetings and even tells you who talked most. Click the magic wand icon below the main video window to use it. You can ask it for a quick update or to pull out action items from the discussion, too. Fine print: Available for paid plans only.

Master Excel with these 5 genius tricks

You can’t keep track of everything on paper. Excel can play a significant role in your daily workload. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro user, there’s much to learn — like these five useful Excel tricks.

Want to become an Excel expert? It’s a good strategy for small business owners who want to grow this year. After all, you’ll generate tons of data. Speaking of which, here’s how to stop third parties from selling your data.

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