Photo: Amber Mac and Michael Bazzell
Parents?it?s time to admit that your older kids may be slowly out-smarting you when it comes to technology. And when it comes to social media in particular, they know how to use it all: Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, ask.fm? the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, this also means that kids are more susceptible to different types of dangerous situations that take place online. But fear not! Tech journalist Amber Mac and Michael Bazzell, who spent 18 years working as a computer crimes investigator, have teamed up to create a super-detailed guide to understanding your kids’ internet activity. Outsmarting Your Kids Online: A Safety Handbook for Overwhelmed Parents takes a deep dive into the nitty-gritty of how, exactly, you can trace your child?s digital steps?even the stuff that they think they?ve deleted. It also acts as an educational tool for parents, offering explanations on technology and social media trends, the risks associated with certain apps and even includes how to report digital bullies. We spoke to Mac to find out why parents should care about their kids’ online activity and what they can do to be proactive about managing it. Your co-author Michael Bazzell spent 18 years as a government computer crime investigator and did work for the FBI. Is the way things are going with kids and social media really that bad right now"

When we decided to write this book, we wanted to have a very balanced ap...