Part 1 of this series was 2018 highlights. Now it’s time to shine light on some interesting ideas and developments that people have surfaced for a better Internet in 2019 and beyond. We’ll look at a new middle layer of user care that’s being discussed by some – and gradually being built out, little by little, worldwide. Called for by the conditions of our new media environment, it’s a new layer of … [Read more...] about Digital safety 2019: The new ‘middle layer’ of user care (Part 2)
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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
Twitch, Yubo & online safety innovation with an ancient ‘tool’
As geeky as "content moderation" sounds, we're hearing about it more and more these days - in podcasts, at conferences, in books and in hearings. People all over the U.S. and world are talking about how to make social media safer, and content moderation by the platforms is an important part of that. But what we're not hearing or talking about enough is another part of the social media safety … [Read more...] about Twitch, Yubo & online safety innovation with an ancient ‘tool’
About ‘Momo’ & dealing with viral media scares
There's no rhyme or reason to these things. They show up on different social media platforms, start in different parts of the world, but don’t always "go viral" in regions where they started. There are cultural aspects to what makes them take off but also universal ones: They "excite children's and teens’ imaginations, increase careless media outlets' appetite and opportunities for bigger … [Read more...] about About ‘Momo’ & dealing with viral media scares