Everyone’s been stressing the importance of washing your hands and good hygiene for the last year, but one thing many might have missed is the importance of cleaning our smart phones and devices. Phones are on us all the time, but if we don’t clean them, we’re basically carrying around contaminated germ-factories in our pockets and purses.

Our mobile phones connect us to the world and are possibly the items we touch the most throughout the day. According to a survey conducted by the research platform Dscout, we touch our phones on average 2,617 times day – though the top 10% of users averaged 5,400. Studies have found that phones and other smart devices are covered in germs and greasy grime and are often just as dirty as the bottom of our shoes. When the coronavirus pandemic spread, people became hypersensitive about contaminated surfaces, but mobile devices have been widely overlooked. Here’s what you can do to clean them up.

Cyberbullying is not just an adolescent problem. Adults can be victims too. If this surprises you, just look at the comments on any social media of celebrities, athletes, politicians or public figures and you’ll see a prime example of online harassment by adults and between adults.

Cyberbullying isn’t limited to public figures, either. Anyone can be the recipient of online harassment of some kind. According a recent study from the Pew Research Center, approximately four in 10 adults in America have personally experienced online harassment, with 25% of respondents finding their experience very or extremely upsetting.

As the pandemic led to an increase in using online platforms for education purposes, and kids spent even more time online, studies are showing that unfortunately cyberbullying also increased for elementary through high school, too.

Misinformation, hate and harassment are often sited by social media users as increasing in general for all ages, according to a Pew Research Center study. According to that study, 64% of Americans said social media had a mostly negative effect on the way things are going in the country today. When it comes to kids, however, it’s even worse. According to L1ght, an organization that tracks online harassment, there has been a 70% increase in cyberbullying in just a few months.

Public trust in the media, including social media, is at an all-time low. Considering the past year filled with fake news and misleading information from “alternative” news sources for everything from the pandemic to the Presidential election, this shouldn’t be a surprise.

According to research shared by the Pew Research Center last year, 72% of U.S. adults say social media companies have too much power and influence in politics today. In addition, about two-thirds of Americans (64%) say social media has a mostly negative effect on the way things are going in the country today.

This one’s for all the new parents out there! From those first few precious moments to months later as you juggle working from home and caring for your baby, it’s nice to have some help. Luckily the tech world has your back, and new devices are popping up all the time that can give tired parents the break – and peace of mind – they are looking for. Check out these new innovations:

Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, oh my! When it comes to streaming music, there are more options available than ever. Wherever you can connect to the internet – phone, car, computer, etc. – you can stream music. With so many choices, we realize it can be hard to decide, so we’ve rounded up the latest to help you select just the right one.

Some services, such as iHeartRadio and Spotify, have free options that let you try before you subscribe, while others, such as Apple Music, are strictly premium experiences. Many services display lyrics, so you can sing along with your favorite song. While others offer family plans that let a set number of household members share a premium account.