Presence has never been harder or more needed – in this age of hyper transparency, connection, opinion and information, all in a media environment that's networked, so that "speed of delivery" is a calculation of the past (it's all just here already). Presence is needed by adults as much as children. It means different things to different people, including "attentiveness," "focus," and … [Read more...] about For our kids & ourselves: Presence in a digital age
self-harm
Pretty faces in social media vs. mass media
The story about the impact of all those 'pretty friends' in social media on self-esteem offers one good explanation for self-presentation fatigue. Researchers in the UK, Iowa and Ohio used Facebook to look at the impact on body image of selfies in social media vs. photos of celebrities and other beautiful people in magazines. They found that comparing oneself to Facebook friends "can make a young … [Read more...] about Pretty faces in social media vs. mass media
Don’t hype sexting risks to teens
To have credibility with teens, here's what education against sexting needs to factor in (and this can be applied to all Internet safety ed): "Citing risks that students experience as unusual (or even rare) may greatly diminish the impact of any information," wrote psychology professor Elizabeth Englander. "For example, many adults teach kids that once you send a picture digitally, you lose … [Read more...] about Don’t hype sexting risks to teens
Some DIY porn makers start young
Do-it-yourself porn production is a growing trend, reports KATU News in Portland, Ore., and some producers get into it out of financial desperation, they say. One mentioned in this report started when she was 17. KATU cites psychologists as saying there's danger to DIY porn, "both to the viewer and the provider." Dr. Ryan Hosley told KATU "that watchers of the videos become addicted because it … [Read more...] about Some DIY porn makers start young
A call to action on eating disorder sites
Britain's Royal College of Psychiatrists called for "urgent action" to protect online youth vulnerable to pro-eating-disorder Web sites, the BBC reports. It says the number of such sites has "soared with the growth of social networking," and the government's year-old Child Internet Safety Council should expand its definition of harmful sites to include those promoting anorexia (pro-ana) and … [Read more...] about A call to action on eating disorder sites