Two Las Vegas nonprofit organizations have produced an iPhone app that educates parents about "the top 20 issues teens face," identify the causes and find help, the Las Vegas Sun reports. The app – designed by Turning Point Experience, an "organization dedicated to helping students avoid destructive influences in their lives," and the Southern Nevada Community Gang Task Force – is called … [Read more...] about Cellphone app to help troubled teens
Archives for December 2010
Holidays: Half of US parents giving kids tech
A national survey found that 49% of parents with kids 12 and under are giving their children electronic gifts – cellphones, computers, music players, gameplayers, etc. – this holiday season, PBSKids.org reports about its survey. "Once these gifts are unwrapped, most parents say they plan to have rules and restrictions to help children stay safe online." The survey found that 86% of parents "agree … [Read more...] about Holidays: Half of US parents giving kids tech
For our kids’ sake, more than accountability online, pls
Maybe Plato was wrong. Or maybe he just frames the challenge we face in promoting digital citizenship and weakening the disinhibition factor online. A thoughtful opinion piece about online trolling, mean comments, flaming, etc. in the New York Times reports that, "even in the fourth century B.C., Plato touched upon the subject of anonymity and morality in his parable of the ring of Gyges. That … [Read more...] about For our kids’ sake, more than accountability online, pls
Facebook profile’s new look: Good & bad
I have mixed feelings about the Facebook profile facelift announced this week: On one hand, it's harder to fake, I think, strengthening the site's "real name culture" and to some degree user accountability. On the other hand, it seems to encourage people to share more information about themselves (Facebook's stated mission) and to put the surface of who we are even more front and center. "Instead … [Read more...] about Facebook profile’s new look: Good & bad
Parents’ own cyberbullying struggles
The parents of kids targeted by digital bullying and harassment often face some serious challenges of their own, as they work toward ending a child's ordeal. That's a key take-away from New York Times reporter Jan Hoffman's thoughtful front-page story on cyberbullying yesterday. Often their children, even when enduring a lot of emotional pain, don't want them to get involved (fearing a parent only … [Read more...] about Parents’ own cyberbullying struggles