I'm not sure "the graying of social networking," as Pew puts it, quite describes what Pew discovered in its latest look at adult use of social sites in the US. It's more the mainstreaming of social networking, I think. "Fully 65% of adult internet users now say they use a social networking site like MySpace, Facebook or LinkedIn, up from 61% one year ago," according to the just-released report … [Read more...] about Adults’ social networking more than doubled since 2008: Study
Archives for August 2011
What is online risk?: Helpful clarity from Europe
To survey 9-to-16-year-olds and their parents in 25 countries, UK-based EU Kids Online came up with questions and definitions that people of all ages and many cultures and languages could understand – bringing a useful sense of definition to youth advocates worldwide. Here are the online "risk factors" about which all the researchers (based throughout Europe) asked their young respondents: Have … [Read more...] about What is online risk?: Helpful clarity from Europe
Missouri judge blocks new ‘Facebook law’
A new Missouri law that was aimed at reducing sexual misconduct by teachers but became known more for its language about teachers' social networking received a double blow late last week. "First, a judge blocked it from taking effect because of free speech concerns. Then, the governor called for its repeal" eSchool News reports, in a special session of the legislature on Sept. 6. Here's my Aug. 8 … [Read more...] about Missouri judge blocks new ‘Facebook law’
‘Research’ aimed at fueling fear: Prime example
There's research and then there's "research." Let's take a look at the latter: the very credible-sounding "National Survey on American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents," linking social media use to drug abuse in teens. How could the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) publish a commentary and call it research? I can think of no better … [Read more...] about ‘Research’ aimed at fueling fear: Prime example
A fresh look at ‘Netiquette’
Words like "manners" and "etiquette" usually make kids' eyeballs roll. So it's important – as we all move thousands of years of social-norms and manners development into our new media environment together – that we keep our children in the conversation by approaching "Netiquette" logically and our kids the avid social-media users respectfully. Like Buck, who has as much to say about human … [Read more...] about A fresh look at ‘Netiquette’