This is how safety, citizenship, and social change work best in social media. Count on students to lead the way. "After a bullying Twitter account at Linn-Mar High School [in Marion, Iowa] spurred copycats in Iowa City," students at West High School in the latter city adopted countermeasures, the Iowa City Press Citizen reports. Their strategy was simple and effective: Identify a student being … [Read more...] about Smart students’ countermeasures for social media safety
Instagram: U13s’ No. 1 workaround?
I first heard about this little social-networking giant when my then-14-year-old suddenly seemed to be taking a serious interest in photography. Since then, I've come to see Instagram as more like the next Facebook than just another cellphone app (FB was smart to acquire it!). It's almost game-like because it blends photography and socializing in a playful way, and only partly because of all the … [Read more...] about Instagram: U13s’ No. 1 workaround?
Instagram: Teens’ alternative to texting, FB?
Shades of social media researcher danah boyd's finding on teens' "social steganography" (hiding in plain sight): The Daily reports (about halfway into a 2-min. video) that, because so many parents are now monitoring their kids on Facebook and checking their texts, "an enormous amount of teenagers" are using Instagram to take random photos just so they can chat privately in the comments under them. … [Read more...] about Instagram: Teens’ alternative to texting, FB?
Growing signs social media are good for us
The other night the three of us still at home were talking face-to-face with our son and brother 1,000 miles away for about an hour, for free (well, not counting the cost of our family Internet connection). While enjoying the banter, I was wondering at this ability we had to look into each other's eyes across great distances on computer screens. Only the ability to hug would be better. But having … [Read more...] about Growing signs social media are good for us
Teens flocking to Twitter for privacy?
Now that so many parents are on Facebook, teens are defying predictions and adding Twitter to their social toolboxes, according to an article at MSNBC. The number of teens using Twitter has doubled in the past two years, to 16% of 12-to-17-year-olds last July (the latest data available), the article cites the Pew Internet & American Life Project as finding. "Teens tout the ease of use and the … [Read more...] about Teens flocking to Twitter for privacy?