"We should be celebrating young people’s good judgment and self-control — and extolling their parents and teachers," writes David Finkelhor, director of University of New Hampshire's Crimes Against Children Research Center, in a Washington Post article just before Thanksgiving. "They have brought delinquency, truancy, promiscuity, alcohol abuse and suicide down to levels unseen in many cases since … [Read more...] about Social problem data & youth: Cause for celebration
Research
Do surveys about parents’ concerns increase digital-parenting confidence?
Predictably, the media coverage of a new survey of parents on digital-age parenting focused mainly on their concerns about tech and the Net. We need to question that – question the value of repeatedly reporting about concerns if, as a society, we want parents to feel confident in helping their children navigate today's media. Here are some questions we might ask, for example: 1. UK psychologist … [Read more...] about Do surveys about parents’ concerns increase digital-parenting confidence?
Social media snapshot: Indonesia
About a third, or 82 million, of Indonesia's 250 million+ people are online, LaPrensaSA.com reports (via the EFE news service). That's twice as many Internet users in "the world's third-largest democratic country" since about a year ago, based on 2013 World Bank data, and 69 million of them are on Facebook. That makes Indonesia Facebook's 4th-largest market after the US, India and Brazil, … [Read more...] about Social media snapshot: Indonesia
Mobile rules in the US now too
It's now clear that, where Americans' use of digital media is concerned, mobile rules. "The days of desktop dominance are over," declares top digital market researcher comScore in its latest mobile app report. Smartphones and tablets represent 60% of Americans' digital media time, and "the fuel driving mobile’s relentless growth is primarily app usage, which alone makes up a majority of total … [Read more...] about Mobile rules in the US now too
Enabling peer protection: Knowledge is empowerment
From infancy on up we learn what's right and wrong, based on our families' and, later, peers' values. That's important. It develops that inner guidance system – or "moral compass," as it's sometimes called – that makes for safer, smoother navigation through life. But that isn't all kids need as they grow and find their own way online and offline. In order to be safe, keep peers safe and make … [Read more...] about Enabling peer protection: Knowledge is empowerment