Spontaneous get-togethers are now more possible than ever with Facebook's new Nearby Friends feature. You'd think parents could use it to see if their kids got where they said they were going, but Nearby Friends is only available to Facebook users aged 18+. And then it's "opt-in" – not on by default – so sharing location has to be a conscious for adults who use it, and they can only share with … [Read more...] about Facebook’s new friend-tracking tool
The anonymity trend & self-presentation fatigue
If you follow either tech news or kids' digital media preferences, you've probably noticed the anonymity trend – including Whisper, Secret, Yik Yak and many others. Anonymity has raised plenty of concerns but it's likely not going away. It's part of the connectivity landscape now. Why do I say that? Because it seems to be a solution to and welcome relief from the last source of major … [Read more...] about The anonymity trend & self-presentation fatigue
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
Risk implications of kids going mobile: Research
Even back in 2010, the EU Kids Online researchers in 25 countries noted that "the ways through and the locations from which children go online are diversifying, and this trend is continuing." It has indeed continued. Increasingly obvious to parents, the mobile platform enables "ubiquitous internetting," as Dutch researchers put it way back in 2006). At the same time, mobile represents the most … [Read more...] about Risk implications of kids going mobile: Research
A positive, insightful new book for schools on bullying
In the preface to her new book, Positive Relations @ School (& Elsewhere), author and risk-prevention educator Nancy Willard tells of a conversation with a very smart 5th grader in a dance class waiting room. She was explaining to another parent why a "rules and punishment approach" to dealing with bullying wasn't working for schools, when this other person in the waiting room piped up. "Of … [Read more...] about A positive, insightful new book for schools on bullying