I hardly need to weigh in because I already did – in depth, last summer, at the peak of the last Momo wave. But I will only to highlight the best thinking I've seen this go round and add 4 points – lessons from this – to consider when the next wave hits (because this will certainly not be the last, and why reinvent the wheel every time?). First the points: Who's the (potential) victim, anyway? … [Read more...] about Momo. Again.
Research
Safer Internet Day 2019: Risk vs harm, online & offline
What better way to mark Safer Internet Day than with clarity on the difference between risk and harm? Because, where online safety's concerned, the two words have been used interchangeably – inaccurately – for years. It was EU Kids Online, after surveys of more than 25,000 9-16 year-olds across Europe, that first made the distinction, reporting that, "as with riding a bike or crossing the road, … [Read more...] about Safer Internet Day 2019: Risk vs harm, online & offline
Wellbeing, digital or analog: A paper, a podcast
Confused about all that you’re hearing about the impacts of digital media and tech on young people? A just-published paper should clear that confusion up, reports Scientific American. Drawing from data on more than 350,000 teens, the paper, “show[s] persuasively that…technology use has a nearly negligible effect on adolescent psychological well-being.” Its authors, Oxford University researchers … [Read more...] about Wellbeing, digital or analog: A paper, a podcast
Digital safety, wellbeing: 2018 highlights (Part 1)
This may not be the Internet safety look-back on 2018 you’d expect, what with all the news about data breaches, “fake news,” “tech addiction,” algorithmic bias, election manipulation, hate speech, etc., etc. Not a pretty picture. But it’s also not the whole picture. By definition, the news reports airline crashes, not safe landings. Even if 2018 was truly unique, though, with bad news the … [Read more...] about Digital safety, wellbeing: 2018 highlights (Part 1)
Tweens are smart about smartphones: Study
Everything about this study is smart — the 10-14 year-old respondents (average age 11), what the authors are modeling for pediatricians and parents, and the tweens' answers. For example, when asked what age kids should be given mobile phones, one answer was: "It's not an age. I think it's more of a maturity thing," said one young respondent. Another's answer was, "Probably when they know … [Read more...] about Tweens are smart about smartphones: Study