Informed citizens sometimes forget that the reason why negative, tragic or just plain-old bad news is news is because it's the exception to the rule. That's why it's newsworthy. And this is true whether we're hearing about airplane crashes or online bullying. Sometimes the news is unspeakably tragic, but it's still the exception, not the rule. It's not an event from which we can extrapolate what … [Read more...] about Factors in good policymaking about youth & digital media
Law & Policy
New Facebook policy targets guns, other regulated items
In the wake of vocal demands that it take action against users promoting gun sales, Facebook just announced new policies around content about firearms and other regulated products. One of the activist groups Facebook worked with, Moms Demand Action, applauded the social media service and its app Instagram for taking "significant steps to block potentially illegal firearm sales through their … [Read more...] about New Facebook policy targets guns, other regulated items
Flawed early laws of our new media environment
Before any more laws aimed at protecting young people's online privacy get passed, I wish lawmakers could spend more time with kids using social media – kids of both sexes and various ages, at least their own children or grandchildren – and less time reacting to constituents' concerns and news reports about kids in social media. Certainly not all they'd observe and discuss with kids would be … [Read more...] about Flawed early laws of our new media environment
Students in social media: There’s monitoring & then there’s monitoring
There's an upside and a serious downside to monitoring students in social media, and the upside doesn't involve outsourcing (that was an understatement). You'll see what I'm talking about when you get to the downside down there, but let's start with where and how it would actually help.… In her thoughtful commentary, "What inner city kids know about social media, and why we should listen," … [Read more...] about Students in social media: There’s monitoring & then there’s monitoring
AG’s office apologizes for a school Net safety preso
There was good news and bad news in a story coming out of Pennsylvania last week, and the good news is a clear sign of progress. The bad news happened first: As part of Pennsylvania's attorney general's "Operation Safe Surf" program, 4th and 5th graders at Merion Elementary School, about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia, were "warned of serial killers, sex offenders and Al-Qaida," WPVI-TV … [Read more...] about AG’s office apologizes for a school Net safety preso