This subject – at this writing, about 3 weeks after I posted Part 1 – almost seems like that of a previous era, with all we’ve experienced since then (see this in The Atlantic from history professor Rebecca Spang). But we, societies around the world, will still be wrestling with this question of humans and screens in the pandemic’s aftermath, so I'm keeping going. Here’s Part 2, taking stock of … [Read more...] about Screens kids use, Part 2: Research turning a corner
Youth
Parenting (in RL) during a pandemic
This is no time for perfectionist parenting, digital or otherwise, right?! With so many of us working from home with kids, endless news about Covid-19, volatile global markets and social distancing, we’re all in social-emotional survival mode. This pandemic seems to be a reset. It's changing the patterns of everyday life, definitely making some things harder – but maybe some things better. … [Read more...] about Parenting (in RL) during a pandemic
Of digital social: A regrettable headline
Talk about confirmation bias (or ageist clickbait)! This headline in the Education Week blog (which also headlined Ed Week’s email newsletter) is a great opportunity for a media literacy discussion, in school or over dinner at home: “Social Media is 'Tearing Us Apart,' Middle and High School Students Say.” The headline makes for a good media literacy lesson, too, for more reasons than one, … [Read more...] about Of digital social: A regrettable headline
At last: Sext ed based on facts not fear
In 1978, an award-winning documentary showed a group of teen juvenile offenders being taken to a New Jersey maximum-security prison, where for three hours “a group of inmates known as ‘the lifers’ berate[d], scream[ed] at, and terrif[ied] the young offenders in an attempt to ‘scare them straight” so they’d stop offending, as Wikipedia tells the story. The film actually popularized the “Scared … [Read more...] about At last: Sext ed based on facts not fear
4 resolutions for Internet safety 2020
"Until now, protecting children on the Web has primarily meant keeping them off it,” wrote NPR’s Anya Kamenetz at TechnologyReview.com. Exactly. That has been the direct experience of children all over the world. Because for some 20 years, all around the world, governments, advocates, businesspeople, educators, parents have actually been trying to uphold our children’s rights of protection by … [Read more...] about 4 resolutions for Internet safety 2020