Posted on June 1, 2020
Vote for Economic Policy Institute, League of Conservation Voters and The Trevor Project this June
Every month, CREDO members vote to distribute our monthly donation to three incredible progressive causes – and every vote makes a difference. This June, you can support groups fighting for economic equality, climate justice, and LGBTQ rights by voting to fund the Economic Policy Institute, League of Conservation Voters and The Trevor Project.
Economic Policy Institute
The Economic Policy Institute lifts up the voices of working people in the fight for economic justice. EPI’s vital research and policy analysis demonstrate the importance of workers’ rights, worker protections, and a strong social safety net.
Funding from CREDO members will help EPI quickly respond to critical policy debates with credible research and analysis that supports the economic justice movement and defends the most vulnerable members of society.
League of Conservation Voters
LCV influences policy, holds politicians accountable, and wins elections. This is how LCV fights to build a world with clean air, clean water, public lands, and a safe climate that are protected by a just and equitable democracy.
Funding from CREDO members will ensure LCV can drive environmental policy in Washington, hold our elected leaders accountable, and elect leaders who truly represent their communities and are committed to fighting climate change.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth. Its TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat services provide free and confidential life-saving counseling to LGBTQ young people 24/7.
Funding from CREDO will help sustain The Trevor Project’s crisis counseling services: TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat. Every year, these programs provide 24/7 support for tens of thousands of LGBTQ youth experiencing a crisis.
Your vote this month will determine how we divide our monthly donation among these three progressive groups. Be sure to cast your vote to support one, two or all three by June 30.
CREDO members who use our products and services everyday are the reason we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile and CREDO Energy and join our movement.
Posted on May 28, 2020
How to unlock your phone using Face ID while wearing a face mask
We all know that wearing a face mask during the pandemic is important. It keeps everyone safer and reduces virus transmission. The CDC recently released updated guidance recommending that everyone wear a face mask in public places, in addition to maintaining social distancing. Wearing a mask is also an act of love and shows respect for your community, health care workers and vulnerable populations.
But wearing a face mask can pose a unique problem: unlocking your Face ID-enabled phone.
Since much of your lower face is covered with your mask, your device might have a difficult time recognizing you and unlocking itself. Here are some tips to unlock your phone while wearing a face mask.
Preferred: Update your iOS version
You could remove your mask every time you want to unlock your phone (we don’t recommend this), but since users unlock their phones 80 times per day on average, removing your mask in public and repeatedly touching your face that many times is probably out of the question.
So how can you use Face ID in public without removing your face mask? Well, Apple recently updated its iOS operating system to help solve the problem. Prior to the update, users would need multiple failure attempts to unlock their devices with Face ID before receiving a prompt to enter a passcode.
With the iOS 13.5 update, Apple included an automatic mask detection feature to help you unlock your phone. If your device recognizes that you’re wearing a mask, it will prompt you to swipe up so you can enter your pass code. This new “swipe up” feature is also available if your device does not recognize that you’re wearing a mask, too.
To update your device to the most recent iOS version, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Quick note: You may have also seen some conspiracy theories floating around the internet about another feature included in iOS 13.5, the COVID-19 Exposure API, stating that Apple is sending your private information to government entities. This feature is currently disabled in your device and will only be available if and when public health officials or governments create contact tracing apps in the future that you choose to download and use.
Alternate: Train your phone to recognize your mask (maybe)
You can try to reset your Face ID settings or set up an alternate appearance with your mask on, but you might get an error message saying that your face is obstructed. Researchers in China discovered a half-face/half-mask method that could work, but others have not found it very reliable.
We haven’t tried this method for ourselves, so we can’t vouch for its effectiveness. The folks at 9to5mac detail some possible steps you can take if you’d like to reset your Face ID or set up an alternate appearance using this half-and-half method.
While neither of these solutions are perfect, the first option is the most reliable method right now if you’d like to safely unlock your phone with Face ID without removing your face mask in public.
Have you tried these methods or do you have other ideas to use Face ID while wearing a face mask? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Posted on May 26, 2020
How March for Our Lives is Creating a Safer America
March For Our Lives was created by students in the days following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida just over two years ago. The youth-led movement organizes young people in all 50 states to enact lifesaving gun violence prevention policies and record-breaking youth voter turnout. In 2018, March For Our Lives made history by organizing the nation’s largest protest against gun violence and mobilizing an unprecedented young voter turnout in the midterm election. With this critical contribution from CREDO, we can do it again in 2020.
On March 24th, 2018, young people organized over 800 marches in cities worldwide, calling attention to the solvable gun violence epidemic in the United States. The day of action marked the largest protest against gun violence in our nation’s history, and the tsunami of activism that created and followed it became known as the largest youth movement since the Vietnam War era. March For Our Lives forever changed the conversation about guns in America, raising awareness for a critical issue that had been largely ignored in politics.
In the summer of 2018, March For Our Lives led the Road To Change, a 60 day bus tour visiting 80 communities in 24 different states, with the goal of registering and mobilizing young people to vote. Students from communities across the country including Chicago, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Houston, Newtown, and others joined Parkland survivors on the bus tour, recognizing that a movement combatting an intersectional issue like gun violence deserves intersectional representation. The results were astronomical.
2018 was all about making noise and drumming up enthusiasm for civic engagement and life saving policies. In 2019, MFOL focused on training and strengthening our chapter organizations across the nation- laying the groundwork for an even bigger impact in the 2020 election. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why we need your help!
We don’t have to remind you that things are far from normal. March For Our Lives, like everyone else, has had to restructure some of our 2020 plans for civic engagement to accommodate virtual tactics for mobilization. Luckily, digital organizing has always been one of March For Our Lives’ greatest strengths. Generous CREDO funding has helped MFOL achieve great heights and create meaningful social, political and cultural change before. With your help, we can make an even bigger splash in the critical months to come.
Thanks in part to the last donation from CREDO, MFOL has made huge strides in the gun violence prevention movement in recent months. Some major highlights include:
- Launched Our Power, MFOL’s 2020 campaign to start the next chapter of our journey; sharpening our focus, harnessing our intersectionality and giving meaning to enough is enough.
- Organized the 2020 Gun Safety Forum, a historic forum in Las Vegas, NV featuring every leading Democratic presidential candidate’s discussion on the policies they think will end this nation’s gun violence epidemic.
- Filed an amicus brief in a Supreme Court case that could have expanded gun rights and invalidated lifesaving laws already on the books. We rallied outside the Supreme Court to proclaim our right to not be shot, and we won- the court dismissed the case just a few weeks ago.
We’re not slowing down, either. March For Our Lives is still committed to leading a record-breaking youth voter turnout in the 2020 election, while remaining responsible and safe during the pandemic. We’ve organized a series of digital hubs, inclusive online spaces and virtual rallies, directly engaging with young voters across the country to ensure a safe, fair, and historic election is top of mind. Our Digital Hubs have hosted a number of exciting special guests to commend the inspiring work MFOL activists are managing to do while at home, including March For Our Lives founders, elected officials who are championing the gun violence prevention movement, as well as musical artists and entertainment. The hubs are packed with programming for young activists and people looking to make a change from their own living rooms. Activities like phone banking, workshops, trainings and even yoga and mindfulness exercises are all offered as part of the program!
March For Our Lives has the people, platform and plans to make big things happen in the future, but it requires all hands on deck. The unfortunate reality is that one public health crisis does not stop for another, which is why we’re doubling down now to create necessary change. With your help, we can ensure a safer America.
Posted on May 20, 2020
How to stay productive on your phone while staying at home
Your phone, tablet and other devices are great for keeping you productive during the pandemic. They give you so many ways to connect with friends, family and co-workers and provide a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.
But your devices are a double-edged sword at times, serving as an unnecessary (or much-needed) distraction, especially if you’re using them to procrastinate when you’re otherwise looking to stay productive.
Whether you’re someone fortunate enough to work from home, or you’re out of work, retired or simply social distancing, here are some tips to stay productive on your phone and devices while you’re at home.
Switch to Wi-Fi
This is a top suggestion when our members call our support lines. If you have a broadband connection at home, we suggest you turn on Wi-Fi in your device settings. You’ll not only save on your data usage, but you also may have a faster internet connection while using your phone.
To turn on Wi-Fi on your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Wi-Fi > toggle the Wi-Fi button. Choose and enter the password for your home Wi-Fi network.
On an Android device, go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi. Turn on Wi-Fi, then choose and enter the password for your home Wi-Fi network.
Online classes
Have some spare time on your hands? This might be a great time to learn a new skill or take a course online, right from your device.
If you’re looking to take an educational class or even obtain an online certificate or degree, a number of websites, some free of charge, have you covered. edX, started by MIT and Harvard, gives you access to 2000 free online courses from 140 institutions with topics ranging from humanities, computer science, business and more, and offer certificates and degrees for a fee. The completely free Khan Academy offers K-12 classes, coursework and test prep for all ages.
More self-enrichment
Your phone or tablet aren’t just gateways to standard coursework, either.
Masterclass offers dozens of classes ranging from cooking, photography, musical instruments, science, politics, writing and more — all taught by experts and celebrity instructors in their fields.
Babbel, Duolingo, Pimsleur and many other apps offer you the chance to learn a new language, free or for a monthly fee. Here’s a list of 11 apps to check out.
Looking to cook better meals while at home? Apps like Tasty (iOS and Android), How to Cook Everything (by Mark Bittman), America’s Test Kitchen, and the New York Times Cooking App will give you new recipes and skills in the kitchen.
Remove immediate triggers from your home screen
Do you unlock your phone and immediately open Facebook or Instagram, then wonder what happened to the last 15 minutes? It’s a common behavior, and it can be counter-productive.
If you tend to get easily distracted by apps on your phone when you have other tasks (work, for instance), try removing the apps from your home screen that you always launch by default when you unlock your device. This way, you will prevent yourself from accidentally falling down a rabbit hole of social media scrolling.
Write letters to voters
As a CREDO member, you might be more politically active than most. But with the pandemic preventing protests, canvassing, marches and other in-person forms of civic engagement and activism, we’re left with few outlets to express our progressive values.
Here’s one way to remain active: Writing letters to other voters. The non-profit project Vote Forward enables regular people to send actual letters to help register voters from under-represented demographics and encourage them to vote — right from their home. According to the organization, letter writing is “one of the easiest things you can do to increase turnout” and “meaningfully increases the odds that the recipient will vote.” Check out and sign up for Vote Forward here.
Take a break
Sometimes the best way to stay productive on your phone is to take a break from it. One study found that “the mere presence of a cell phone, even when ignored, reduces people’s intellectual acuity, possibly because it takes a distracting level of mental effort to resist the pull of a nearby phone.”
So if you can, take a socially-distanced walk outside, do some stretching, anything as a break from your devices. Here are some additional reasons to consider taking a break from your screens from the Greater Good Magazine at UC Berkeley.
Posted on May 18, 2020
5 great shows and movies to stream today on Apple TV+
If you’re like a lot of us here at CREDO, you’re probably watching a lot of streaming TV these days. With the current stay-at-home guidelines in place to keep everyone safe, you might be catching up on a lot of series, documentaries and movies that you missed before the pandemic.
With all the streaming options now available, there’s a lot of great content to choose from. And we’d like to suggest a newer service you should consider, too: Apple TV+, the company’s long-awaited streaming service, which launched late last year.
Priced at a competitive $4.99 a month and available across Apple devices, smart TVs and other streaming media, Apple TV+ hosts a bundle of original programming for all your streaming needs, with the company adding more new content weekly. We’ve compiled a few great shows and movies available right now on Apple TV+.
Little America
According to Apple TV+, Little America is an “anthology series that observes the funny, romantic, heartfelt, inspiring, and surprising stories of immigrant America.” The series tells the funny and sometimes heartbreaking stories of eight immigrants to the United States, based on real-life biographies collected by Epic magazine. The Guardian calls Little America Apple TV+’s best show yet.
Watch Little America on Apple TV+ here.
Oprah’s Book Club
If you’re living life in quarantine, you may have joined a book club. We even suggested a few tips to start your own. You’ve probably also heard of Oprah’s famous and long-running book club that elevated the works and careers of dozens of authors. In Apple TV+’s rendition, Oprah again handpicks the books and conducts one-on-one interviews with famous authors about their lives and recent works. The first episode, American Dirt, “ignited a backlash” after Oprah decided to move forward with her interview, despite the author and book receiving harsh criticism for portraying racist stereotypes of immigrants.
Watch Oprah’s Book Club on Apple TV+ here.
Hala
A different kind of coming of age drama we hardly see portrayed, “Hala”, the title character played by Geraldine Viswanathan, follows the story of a seventeen-year old Muslim American high school senior, her relationship with her Pakistani-American parents and her self-discovery in and outside her family. The Los Angeles Times calls Hala “a culturally specific tale with universal appeal,” and Rolling Stone says it’s a “beautifully personal portrait of growing pains.” The film is rated R and runs for 1 hour and 34 minutes.
The Elephant Queen
This beautiful and riveting documentary follows Athena, the “queen” elephant whose tusk can reach the ground, and her herd of elephants across the savanna in Kenya, raising a family and searching for water during a drought. While the film is meant for a younger audience, it’s definitely an all-ages documentary and scores an impressive 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. Directed by wildlife documentarians Victoria Stone and Mark Deeble and narrated by Oscar-nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Watch The Elephant Queen on Apple TV+ here.
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth
Based on the New York Times best-selling children’s book by Oliver Jeffers, this heartwarming animated short, narrated by Meryl Streep, follows a curious young boy on the eve of Earth Day discovering the natural wonders of the Earth and the bonds between parents and children. Recommended for people ages 4 and up and runs for 30 minutes.
Watch Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth on Apple TV+ here.
Posted on May 11, 2020
CREDO donates to groups fighting hunger on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic
Millions of Americans face food insecurity every day, and unfortunately, it’s getting a lot worse during the coronavirus pandemic.
Before the crisis, more than 37 million people were living with food insecurity. Now, another 17 million could face hunger in the coming months. More than 18 million children — 1 out of every 4 — could be food insecure. Food banks and the federal SNAP program (formerly food stamps) are overwhelmed, and with unemployment at historic levels, the numbers of hungry Americans will continue to rise.
That’s why CREDO is extending our COVID-19 relief donations to three additional, community-based organizations fighting hunger on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, and Citymeals on Wheels (in NY).
These donations to frontline hunger organizations — an additional $5,000 each week for three weeks — are above and beyond our monthly giving to nonprofit groups. Last month, we established a COVID-19 Relief Fund with a $75,000 donation split between Mercy Corps, National Domestic Workers Alliance and World Central Kitchen. These donations are thanks to CREDO members who use our products and services every day. And like all our donations, these gifts are given at no extra cost to our customers.
Here’s a little bit more about these three great groups helping to fight hunger and food insecurity during this crisis:
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
One in five people face food insecurity in Los Angeles County, and coronavirus is disproportionately impacting lower-income communities. School closures, changes in work schedules and social isolation are layering extra burdens on our neighbors throughout Los Angeles County. The LA Regional Food Bank is working hard to meet the needs of those impacted by coronavirus, as well as individuals who typically need assistance.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana
Hundreds of thousands of Louisianans have filed unemployment claims in recent weeks, and many of them are seeking emergency food assistance, often for the first time. The immediate need for food has increased by more than 40 percent. According to the organization, the response will go on for months, and the economic impacts could last for long after the pandemic subsides.
Citymeals on Wheels (in NY)
As the designated emergency responder for New York City’s seniors, Citymeals is delivering 450,000 meals in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. Donations will help guarantee a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals during this crisis to more than 18,000 homebound elderly New Yorkers.
Posted on May 6, 2020
How to Celebrate Mother’s Day While Social Distancing
For many of us, Mother’s Day is about flowers, brunches, and of course, honoring the amazing women in our lives. But did you know that the history of Mother’s Day is steeped in activism and peace?
Even before Anna Jarvis, who is credited with the campaign to convince Congress and President Woodrow Wilson to declare the second Sunday in May “a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country,” poet and activist Julia Ward Howe wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation” in 1870, then declared a “Mother’s Day for Peace” to call for the end of state-sponsored violence. Today, anti-war groups like the Granny Peace Brigade organize around Mother’s Day to promote peace.
This year’s Mother’s Day will be different — lacking both in-person brunches and in-person activism — but there are still ways to cherish, love and honor all the great women in our lives. Here are a few tips to celebrate Mother’s Day during the coronavirus pandemic while social distancing.
Doorstep breakfast
This year, going out for a meal is most likely out of the question, and if you are socially distanced from your mom, grandmother, daughter, aunt or other family at the moment, breakfast in bed isn’t an option, either.
But here’s a great alternative if you live nearby: dropping off a surprise meal at her doorstep. Choose some foods that you know she likes — including foods that still taste good if they get cold — and drop them off outside her door.
Order a delivery meal
Live away from your family members or don’t have the time or the groceries to prep a meal? Order a meal delivered to her home. Many local restaurants have remained open during the pandemic and offer curb-side pickup and delivery.
The Pineapple Collaborative and food delivery platform Caviar have teamed up to highlight women-powered restaurants because there’s “never been a more crucial time to support restaurants operated/owned/cheffed by women.” Check out their featured take out and delivery options for major metro areas across the country.
Call ahead or check online now to reserve a time, since the establishment may be very busy. And, if you can, please offer to tip the delivery person well.
Make a donation in her name
Nonprofit organizations right now are feeling the financial strain of the pandemic and are in critical need of grassroots donations to keep their operations running and their staff employed, especially those providing important frontline services to people directly affected by the pandemic. Many allow you to make a donation in the name of someone else.
Not sure where to donate? Mercy Corps, National Domestic Workers Alliance and World Central Kitchen are three great organizations working on coronavirus relief, to which CREDO members helped us recently donate $75,000.
For a Mother’s Day-themed donation, consider giving in her name to organizations fighting for women’s rights. Right now, right-wing lawmakers are playing politics with the pandemic to restrict access to abortion, which will disporportionately affect low-income women, women of color and women who live in rural areas. Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America are two CREDO allies of many we’d recommend who are doing important work to protect reproductive freedom during the pandemic.
Drive By Celebration
Just because we’re social distancing doesn’t mean we can’t be close by. Many people have recently taken to the drive-by birthday to celebrate the occasion. Why not a Mother’s Day drive by? If you live in the vicinity of your loved one, decorate your vehicle — or just yourself, if you live in an urban area — with signs and balloons at a safe distance to show your love for her.
Seriously, just call her
Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be about lavish gifts or big shows of affection. We’d bet the wonderful women in your life would just love to talk. Try out a video app — we have a blog post recommending four free video apps to use — to get connected on Mother’s Day. Or just dial her number the old fashioned way.
Posted on May 4, 2020
Vote for March for Our Lives, Water.org and Win Without War this May
Every month, CREDO members vote to distribute our monthly donation to three incredible progressive causes – and every vote makes a difference. This May, you can support groups fighting for gun violence prevention, clean water and peace by voting to fund March for Our Lives, Water.org and Win Without War.
March for Our Lives organizes young people in all 50 states to enact lifesaving gun violence prevention policies, to bring accountability to the gun industry and complacent lawmakers, and to transform the debate around guns in America.
Funding from CREDO will help MFOL to do digital and on-the-ground organizing to engage young people in the civic process and to educate stakeholders on MFOL’s Peace Plan for a Safer America, its policy platform to halve gun deaths in ten years.
1 in 9 people lack access to safe water. Water.org exists to change this. Water.org empowers people in need with access to small, affordable loans for water and sanitation solutions at home – unlocking education, economic opportunity and improved health.
Support from CREDO will help fuel Water.org’s smart solutions and expand its impact so together we can change more lives with access to safe water and sanitation – giving women hope, children health and families a bright future.
Win Without War is building a global movement for change, rooted in solidarity and our shared values of justice, equality, and security for all through a diverse network of activists and organizations.
No matter who is in the White House, the threats are deep and multifaceted. A grant from CREDO will help Win Without War plan, build, and meet these challenges by growing the power of progressives to win on foreign policy and national security.
Your vote this month will determine how we divide our monthly donation among these three progressive groups. Be sure to cast your vote to support one, two or all three by May 31.
CREDO members who use our products and services everyday are the reason we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile and CREDO Energy and join our movement.
Posted on May 1, 2020
Our April grantees thank you for your support
Each month, CREDO members vote on how we distribute funding to three incredible nonprofits. Those small actions add up – with one click, you can help fund groups fighting for human rights, climate justice and immigrant rights. In April, over 60,000 CREDO members voted to distribute our monthly donation to Amnesty International, Earthjustice and United We Dream Action.
These donations are made possible by CREDO customers and the revenue they generate by using our services. The distribution depends entirely on the votes of CREDO members like you. And for that, our April grant recipients thank you.
Amnesty International
$48,554
“Thank you for your commitment to human rights around the world and in the US. The ongoing support of supporters like the CREDO community is essential in Amnesty International USA’s ongoing fight to protect and advance human rights globally.” – Danny McGregor, Chief Operating Officer
To learn more, visit amnestyusa.org.
Earthjustice
$57,751
“Thank you for your support! CREDO members like you help Earthjustice represent hundreds of clients, free-of-charge, to hold the government and polluters accountable. Together, we defend human and environmental health for generations to come.” – Abigail Dillen, President
To learn more, visit earthjustice.org.
United We Dream Action
$43,694
“Thank you! United We Dream Action is deeply grateful to the CREDO members who share our vision of an equitable world, where there is justice, dignity and opportunity for all immigrants and communities of color in the US.” – Cristina Jiménez Moreta, Executive Director & Co-Founder
To learn more, visit unitedwedreamaction.org.
Now check out the three groups we are funding in May, and cast your vote to help distribute our donations.
CREDO members who use our products are the reason why we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile, the carrier with a conscience.
Posted on April 30, 2020
CREDO Tip: Your phone is dirty. Here’s how to clean it.
It’s a gross reality: Our phones are filthy. We touch dirty surfaces all day while checking email and social media. We cough and sneeze on our devices. And, don’t be shy, we probably bring our phones into the bathroom, too.
Studies show that our phones carry around 17,000 bacteria per square inch — 10 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. As public health experts repeatedly remind us to wash our hands and avoid touching our faces during the coronavirus pandemic, sanitizing our phones is another good way to keep our hands and fingers clean during this outbreak.
The CDC considers phones “high touch surfaces” that require frequent cleaning, so now is probably a great time to start disinfecting our phones on the regular. Here are some tips to clean your phone.
Prevention: Wash your hands & avoid touching your face
A great way to clean your phone is to keep it from getting too dirty in the first place. That means ensuring your hands stay clean throughout the day and that you try your best to avoid touching your face.
While the CDC acknowledges that you may be able to contract COVID-19 from touching surfaces and touching your face, it’s not thought to be the way the virus spreads. However, the agency reminds us that the virus may remain viable for hours and up to days on some surfaces, so taking precautions to wash your hands with soap and water and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth will help keep your phone clean.
Disinfect your devices
Now it’s time to clean your phone or tablet. Unplug and power down your device. Use a good, lint-free microfiber or lens cleaning cloth to remove oil and fingerprints. If your phone case is waterproof, wash it thoroughly with soap and water and let it dry completely.
Don’t spray any disinfecting liquids directly on your device, as they may damage your device or its coating. The liquid may also find its way into open spaces that aren’t sealed completely and could damage your phone or tablet. Instead, dampen the corner of your cloth in your cleaning solution and gently wipe your phone.
Apple suggests using 70 percent isopropyl alcohol or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes (which may be in short supply in your area), but avoid bleach and don’t submerge your phone in liquids. Here are additional detailed instructions from Apple depending on the model of your device.
Samsung also recommends using a “hypochlorous acid-based solution (containing 50-80ppm) or an alcohol-based solution (containing more than 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol)” gently applied to your device using a microfiber cloth. Android Central has some additional tips on cleaning and disinfecting your Android phone, including phone cleaning kits and disinfectant wipes. Sammobile has a detailed guide on cleaning your phone to protect against coronavirus.
Ultraviolet Light
Donald Trump caused a firestorm recently when he very wrongly and dangerously suggested that ingesting disinfectants or using UV light on the human body could kill coronavirus. Health experts quickly issued statements condemning Trump’s deadly advice.
Here is Dr. Birx's reaction when President Trump asks his science advisor to study using UV light on the human body and injecting disinfectant to fight the coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/MVno5X7JMA
— Daniel Lewis (@Daniel_Lewis3) April 24, 2020
However, UV light can be used to kill germs on surfaces. According to the National Academies of Sciences, UV light can “probably” kill the virus that causes COVID-19, as it’s been proven to kill other coronaviruses in the past.
Many manufacturers of UV light sanitizers have seen a huge uptick in sales recently, but how do they work? Philip Tierno, a clinical professor in the department of pathology at NYU’s Langone Medical Center, says that UV-C light “has a range of effectiveness, which interferes and destroys the nucleic acids of bacteria and other microbes” and works best on smooth surfaces. He warns that if a device has buttons, nooks or food particles, they may not be sanitized.
Interested in purchasing a UV light sanitizer? Here’s a rundown of some popular models from NBC News.
