Do people ever consider the possibility that, if they're exposed to increased reports about a social problem, it's the reporting that has increased rather than the problem? It's increasingly clear that this is the case with school bullying: Only news reports about it have increased, not the behavior itself. In fact, both bullying and fear of it are down among US middle school students (the grade … [Read more...] about Less bullying & fear at school: Fresh federal data
Facebook adding accountability to controversial content
As Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg put it at the "All Things Digital" conference this week, "Put your name on your sexism" – if you're going to engage in behavior or sharing that's offensive to others on your page, your name's going to be on that page now. Sandberg was responding to a reporter's question about Facebook's announcement the previous day that it would be working with women's rights … [Read more...] about Facebook adding accountability to controversial content
The global free speech experiment for participants of all ages
We don't hear about it much, but an important, historically unprecedented experiment is being conducted in Internet-connected schools, libraries, homes and workplaces in every country under every sort of government on the planet. It's about how to protect people and their right of free expression – e.g., children and other protected classes – at the same time in social media. It's unprecedented … [Read more...] about The global free speech experiment for participants of all ages
Facebook to work with women’s rights activists on content
Last week activists Soraya Chemaly, Laura Bates of the Everyday Sexism Project, and Jaclyn Friedman of Women, Action & the Media (WAM!) published in the Huffington Post "An Open Letter to Facebook" about depictions of violence against girls and women posted on the site. This week Facebook responded with some substantive promises, some based on an ongoing review of hate speech policy and some … [Read more...] about Facebook to work with women’s rights activists on content
Digital wisdom from young filmmakers: “What’s Your Story?” winners
This year was a wonderful departure – and I think trendsetter – not only for Trend Micro's "What's Your Story?" video contest but for Internet safety education as a whole. It asked filmmakers to show us what "the good side of the Internet looks like" to them. There are two grand prize winners, a school and individuals: "The Legend of the Responsible Gamer," by Ripley Union Lewis Huntington High … [Read more...] about Digital wisdom from young filmmakers: “What’s Your Story?” winners