Facebook’s launch of Messenger Kids is a game-changer – but not just in the way you might think. Sure it’s the world’s largest social media service’s first product for people under 13. That’s certainly big news, and what will capture most of the headlines this week. But it’s actually a combination of that and something less noticeable and more meaningful that’s really game-changing about Messenger … [Read more...] about Facebook’s Messenger Kids: Important new digital-parenting tool
Risk & Safety
Post-FOSI: Online safety now, predictions for 2020
"Trust and civility" were, so very appropriately, the focus of the Family Online Safety Institute's just-ended annual conference this challenging year. "We have witnessed countless examples…of ways that trust in institutions, in organizations and even in each other has been eroded," FOSI CEO Stephen Balkam noted in his opening remarks. "And we have watched how basic civility has been challenged … [Read more...] about Post-FOSI: Online safety now, predictions for 2020
Counterspeech: A tool for students who want to counter online hate
Now, in time for National Bullying Prevention Month 2017, students have solid, research-based guidance for countering online hate, harassment and bullying – in the form of a cartoon! "Counterspeech DOs & DON'Ts" is the result of a months-long collaboration of iCanHelpline.org, iHeartMob.org, #ICANHELP, Project HEAR, The Dangerous Speech Project and some outstanding student advisers in … [Read more...] about Counterspeech: A tool for students who want to counter online hate
About teens’ new top app ‘tbh’ & (real) safety in apps
"It's trying to be the anti-Sarahah," reports New York Magazine. But, like Sarahah, tbh (for "to be honest"), the newest hot app among teens in Apple's App Store, is probably trying not to be a flash in the pan. [As of today, it's No. 3, after Facebook Messenger and Gmail, on Apple's "Top Charts" list for free apps, down 2 from No. 1 since NYMag.com's report.] But before I tell you a bit more … [Read more...] about About teens’ new top app ‘tbh’ & (real) safety in apps
2 kinds of bullying, 2 kinds of empathy: Research
It's an age-old social problem, but we have gotten so much smarter about bullying – both the problem and solutions – since media became so very social. Not only do we now know that the age-old "schoolyard bully" is a stereotype, we know it's not the only one people all over the world entertain. There's more than one stereotype of bullying and more than one kind. But there's something else we … [Read more...] about 2 kinds of bullying, 2 kinds of empathy: Research