The headline of a recent CNET interview with MIT professor Henry Jenkins suggests he might be, but - though he isn't a pediatrician or child development specialist - he is one of the US's top experts on social media. So he knows a lot about how young people's social producing and creative networking with digital media. Referring to research showing that "57% of teens online have produced media and … [Read more...] about Not ‘the new Dr. Spock’
Parenting
‘eBullies’: Coping with cyberbullying
This is the kind of incident that adds to school absentee rates these days: In Texas, a student "posted a page that he attributed to a classmate, complete with the girl's picture and numerous photos of her alleged sex partners. Other students … were invited to view the page," the Detroit News reports. Within two days 100 students had posted comments on the page. "The boy eventually was suspended … [Read more...] about ‘eBullies’: Coping with cyberbullying
‘Old guys’ on Facebook
You might find a 17-year-old's perspective on 40+-year-olds in social-networking sites as interesting as I did, so see this CNET piece by summer intern Sabena Suri. "Before I get to why I think most of the older folks hanging out on MySpace and Facebook are creepy, here (in the spirit of open-mindedness) are a few of the more semi-legitimate reasons they might be using the sites," she writes, … [Read more...] about ‘Old guys’ on Facebook
Parents of college-bound in Facebook
Parents of the college-bound are beginning to use Facebook too - to find out what their kids' roommates will be like - and schools aren't sure this is a good thing! "A growing number of schools say they're getting more requests for changes — from parents who don't like the roommates' Facebook profiles," USATODAY reports. The article says housing officials cite party photos as referenced most by … [Read more...] about Parents of college-bound in Facebook
Parents liking social networking too
Some parents are setting up accounts at sites like MySpace and Facebook to keep an eye on their teens, then finding themselves becoming avid social networkers too, KABC in Los Angeles reports. One mom told ABC she found MySpace a great way to find people she went to high school with, another said she was now "hooked" on social networking herself. "A recent survey shows 40% of MySpace users are now … [Read more...] about Parents liking social networking too