It probably makes sense that South Korea - where 75% of the people carry at least one cell phone - would be one of the first countries to have mobiles that keep track of kids' whereabouts. According to Reuters, the SK Telecom phones, which cost about $90, tap into the global positioning satellite network (GPS). Reuters adds that "the phone has four buttons to save phone numbers of key contacts, … [Read more...] about Phones that track kids
Too young for tech?
It's an ongoing debate with few answers and no definitive research: whether exposure to technology is good for the littlest tykes. The Associated Press recently did a good job of framing the debate. On the one hand, "some parents and scholars see no benefit, and a handful even warn of a hindrance to child development." On the other: "Developers of the kids site Googles.com - not to be confused … [Read more...] about Too young for tech?
SD gov yanks teen site
It's not that surprising that politics entered into what a public library has in its Web site, but we've not seen this before: South Dakota's Republican governor, Mike Rounds, shut down the teen section of the state library's Web site, eSchoolNews reports. Though the State Library Board last spring rejected a request to remove a link to Planned Parenthood in the section, on July 9 the board … [Read more...] about SD gov yanks teen site
New online Amber Alert
Using the Web will only get the word about an abducted child out faster and to more people, "including ordinary citizens who can receive text messages on their cellphones," the New York Times reports. The new Net-based Amber Alert system is being tested in 13 states this summer. The Times cites figures from the National Center for Missing & Ecploited Children showing that 250-300 Amber Alerts are … [Read more...] about New online Amber Alert
Kids & politics, online/offline
Personal as well as national politics, judging from Children's PressLine's coverage of the Democratic National Convention in Boston (at Connect for Kids). Three CPL reporters received media credentials to report from the convention floor - Gabriel Decker-Lee, 10; Laurence James, 13; and Nily Rozic, 18 - but a lot of people's good thinking backed them up: "We know we won't be the only journalists … [Read more...] about Kids & politics, online/offline