Anne

As some of us know only too well, technology's instant and macro-level results (via the Web, IM, etc.) mean two things to pranksters and the grownups in their lives: They've "all but erased the reflection time that once existed between the planning of a silly prank - or a serious stunt - and its commission" and "made it nearly impossible to contain a regrettable deed - because once committed, … [Read more...] about Cyberbullying: Thorny new parenting problem

Parents, if you don't know that kids' file-sharing (or digital music downloading) activities can be a family privacy risk, here's a heads-up. We asked Tim Lordan, head of Washington-based GetNetWise.org, about this issue, and he said that - though reports of identity theft and other privacy violations are as yet nonexistent - exposing personal files on the P2P networks is definitely happening. By … [Read more...] about File-sharing privacy risks to families

Game Boy is not going away any time soon. The number of people using handheld game players will grown from 23 million last year to 43 million in 2009, when they'll be a $2.7 billion market, CNET reports, citing a Jupiter Research study. "The study looked at users of game devices ... as well as people who play more than five hours per week on PDAs (personal digital assistants) and cell phones - a … [Read more...] about Game Boy: Grown women vs. teen boys

The Education Arcade - a consortium of educators, policymakers, game developers, and gaming publishers - wants to help parents looking for value beyond entertainment. The group has launched a "games for learning" seal-of-approval program, the Toronto Globe & Mail reports. "Beyond labels, the group hopes to persuade game companies to make more educational games. It could be a tough sell, though, in … [Read more...] about Checking video games’ ed value

Here's hoping no other mother's teenage son supports her career in quite this way! The Verdun, Germany, prosecutor's office said it was possible that 18-year-old Sven Jaschan's motive for creating the Sasser worm that "caused chaos around the world ... may have been to drum up business for his mother." Sven's mom and stepfather run a computer tech-support business, Reuters reports. The boy "could … [Read more...] about Sasser kid: He did it for mom?!