Besides the more typical threats of getting eaten by monsters or murdered by fellow avatars, a new one is turning up in multiplayer games on the Web, Wired News reports: "addictive drugs that can incapacitate or kill their characters." For example, the creators of Achaea, "one of the biggest online text-based games," have introduced the highly addictive "gleam" into its story about a crime ring … [Read more...] about ‘Drugs’ in online games
Unusual security patch from Apple
Updates, or security patches, have been key to family PC security for a long time, but not for Mac owners. Until now. This patch for Macs is worth getting, Apple fans - the company recommends it. "The update fixes a pair of flaws that could be used to create a virus that spreads through a Web link sent via e-mail messages," CNET reports, adding the view of a computer security company that the … [Read more...] about Unusual security patch from Apple
Teenagers tell it best
"Sandra," a 16-year-old in the UK, tells her own story at CBBC (BBC for kids) of how she and a friend almost met at McDonald's with a "19-year-old" man they'd gotten to know in a chatrrom. Because it was just a lark, and the two girls were together, they felt bold and agreed to meet with the man the minute he suggested it - after an hour a day of chatting over several days. It turned out there … [Read more...] about Teenagers tell it best
WebSafeCrackerz.com: New site for teens
"We [teens] are a hard age group to please completely," said Rishi, "as our tastes vary so much, but I think in WebSafeCrackerz there's something for everybody. "High praise from a 13-year-old, I'd say. He's a Briton, and this was his answer to my question about what he thought of this new online-safety site for 13-to-16-year-olds out of the UK. George, 15, thought the site is best for slightly … [Read more...] about WebSafeCrackerz.com: New site for teens
Barring kid access to porn on phones
This is a sign of things to come in the US, as more and more children use cell phones. The Australian government is tightening regs so that porn won't reach children using mobile phones, Australian IT reports. The FCC's counterpart in Australia, the Australian Communication Authority, will now regulate access to content on the new 3G (3rd-generation) phones with high-speed Net access (to all of it … [Read more...] about Barring kid access to porn on phones