There is no data cited, but the San Francisco Chronicle's Mommy Files blog reports that "a growing number of tweens and teens, mainly girls, are posting videos on YouTube asking commenters if they’re ugly." Writer Amy Graff says, "Type ‘Am I ugly?’ or ‘Am I pretty’ into the YouTube search box and dozens of videos pop up." Sexuality researcher, author and educator Kris Gowen pointed one such … [Read more...] about ‘Am I pretty?’ videos by teens
adolescent development
Developing self in the digital age
Yet another article on Twitter by an expert in something (like authoring or marketing books) who's new to Twitter ran in the New York Times this week. I think it's much more interesting to read articles about Twitter by anybody (not necessarily an expert) who's not new to Twitter – in other words, someone who knows that Twitter use is highly individual and not all trivial pursuits, celebrity … [Read more...] about Developing self in the digital age
Teens want time with their parents: Study
This isn't about social technology, like most of what I blog about, but it is about life and adolescent development, and teen use of social tech is mostly about life, so this is important for parents to know: time with their parents is a good things, teens said in a recent survey by Family Circle, KATV.com in Atlanta reports. "Seventy percent of teens said they were happy with how much attention … [Read more...] about Teens want time with their parents: Study
The new media monsters we’ve created for our kids
In adjusting to a media environment very different from the mass-media one we grew up in, we adults have created some monsters. They're large, intimidating "creatures" that threaten the mutually respectful parent-child and educator-student communication that young people want and deserve in this highly participatory, sometimes overwhelming new media environment.One of the monsters is the "digital … [Read more...] about The new media monsters we’ve created for our kids
Teens taking Facebook breaks together
I think it's not so much taking a break from technology as it is from high school drama – though social networking does make it easy to have the drama in their faces 24/7, if they allow it to. The New York Times tells of two high school juniors in San Francisco who, "by mutual agreement," allow themselves to log on to Facebook only the first Saturday of each month. "The two are among the many … [Read more...] about Teens taking Facebook breaks together