Apologies. I am late in writing about this just-passed social media legislation in the state where I live, Utah (have to say my home state is Massachusetts). I'm late partly because I've been in denial. I can't believe that laws so disrespectful of teens' rights of privacy and participation could go on the books. And I can't believe that lawmakers of my generation – some of whom are loving … [Read more...] about Why I struggle mightily with the new Utah law
Youth
A solution for ‘awful but lawful’
The youth market researchers at Ypulse just reported that 83% of millennial parents agreed with their survey statement that "social media platforms should do more to police and prevent cyberbullying." Their concerns are certainly justified, because cyberbullying is "awful but lawful" – not generally a kind of online harm that law enforcement can address. But is it worse than the offline version … [Read more...] about A solution for ‘awful but lawful’
New global service for getting nudes off the Internet
Finally there's hope – more than hope, actually – for young people who need to get nudes taken down from the Internet. They can go to the just-launched site TakeItDown.org, run by NCMEC (the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) and funded by Meta. It's a free service young people anywhere in the world can use anonymously to get help in deleting nude, partially nude, or sexually … [Read more...] about New global service for getting nudes off the Internet
Then there’s the flip side of ChatGPT
Consider this Part 2 of 3. Earlier this month I wrote about the earliest takes on ChatGPT, zooming in on how it could be really good for media literacy education. Now we know more. So below another dimension of this new technology with a cautionary note.... Ok, the dark side. I don't usually go "there," because, well, our brains typically do, by default, whenever a new technology emerges, and … [Read more...] about Then there’s the flip side of ChatGPT
For SID 2023: What youth want ‘online safety’ to teach
It's Safer Internet Day – the 20th one. The first, in 2004, was celebrated by 13 EU countries and Australia, this year's being marked in 180 countries and territories. There couldn't be a better way for NetFamilyNews to mark the day than to show how young people themselves have reimagined the teaching of Internet safety, and that was done in Australia by two leading lights in youth voice and … [Read more...] about For SID 2023: What youth want ‘online safety’ to teach