Each November Internet-safety organizations, tech and media companies, researchers, authors and policymakers gather in Washington, D.C., to get an update on young people's social media practices, safety and privacy at "FOSI," the nickname for the Family Online Safety Institute's annual conference. That update just happened, and here are my top takeaways. Internet safety not really about the … [Read more...] about Top takeaways from US’s top Net-safety conference
Elizabeth Englander
The anonymity factor
A sidebar to the first and second parts to what has turned out to be a series on digital bullying & self-harm: Although anonymity has long been a source of safety, especially in political and human rights situations, it has been cited largely as a source of danger where teens and social media are concerned. Ask.fm, a social media that allows anonymous posting, figured prominently in early … [Read more...] about The anonymity factor
Cyberbullying in grades 3-5: Important study
Rare is the opportunity to get insights into cyberbullying in elementary school because most US research has focused on youth aged 12 and up. The Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC) really delivered by surveying a huge sample – more than 11,700 – 3rd, 4th and 5th graders three times over a year and a half, and I believe the results clearly demonstrate the need for social-emotional … [Read more...] about Cyberbullying in grades 3-5: Important study
Teens, social media & trolls: Toxic mix
This is and isn't about technology. Mostly isn't. But digital media allow for and expose a dangerous blend of two very different aspects of humanness, one destructive, the latter normative: social cruelty and teenage vulnerability (a lot of focus recently having been on the female variety). The cruelty, the extreme version called trolling – which feeds on outrage and weaponizes cultural … [Read more...] about Teens, social media & trolls: Toxic mix
Don’t hype sexting risks to teens
To have credibility with teens, here's what education against sexting needs to factor in (and this can be applied to all Internet safety ed): "Citing risks that students experience as unusual (or even rare) may greatly diminish the impact of any information," wrote psychology professor Elizabeth Englander. "For example, many adults teach kids that once you send a picture digitally, you lose … [Read more...] about Don’t hype sexting risks to teens