This article was originally published July 19, 2012, then my service’s server crashed, losing months of data. So reposting 10/20/12. I hope parents and educators have seen these two clear signs of how kids are using social media to "be the change." There's 14-year-old Julia Bluhm in Maine who noticed that friends in ballet class were always criticizing their bodies and spearheaded a protest in … [Read more...] about Young change agents leveraging social media
civic engagement
Courageous 13-year-old change agent
Social change agents used to go to "the press" (remember that?) to expose social ills and make things better. Now they go to social media. Stop and think about what a huge difference that is, in terms of the actors, the actions, the issues, and the medium. The social activists can now be anyone. They don't have to persuade an editor that something's important. No matter how small the issue, if the … [Read more...] about Courageous 13-year-old change agent
Takeaways from SxSW, Part 1: The Brazilian Dream
[This article was originally published March 18, 2012, then my service’s server crashed, losing months of data. So reposting 10/8/12.] In addition to the panel mentioned in my previous post about Hope North and the one I participated in, "Reaching Teens on the Digital Streets," here – in two parts – are some takeaways from two areas I focused on at South by Southwest (SxSW) last week: featured … [Read more...] about Takeaways from SxSW, Part 1: The Brazilian Dream
Snapshot of how Indian youth view social media
It's interesting to see that dismissive attitudes toward youth in social media are universal and that, where they turn up, so does the "clicktivism" argument – the one about how online activism is inconsequential, or not real activism (see this). In India, a recent national survey of people 18-35 found that 76% "believe that social media empowers them to bring change to the world," particularly in … [Read more...] about Snapshot of how Indian youth view social media
Citizenship & social change: Insight from the IBPA
"Citizenship is relationship ... digital citizenship is relationship amplified," said Gary McDaniel, a clinical social worker for Morgan County School District in West Virginia, on a panel at the International Bullying Prevention Association's annual conference in New Orleans this week. I had the honor of kicking off this keynote panel, offering a little background on the discussion of digital … [Read more...] about Citizenship & social change: Insight from the IBPA