Here's a good talking point for the tech part of parenting: Facebook Grader. It's a mini application ("app") that tells users their "reach and authority" on Facebook, TechCrunch.com reports. "The tool works by analyzing the number of friends you have, how important those friends are (whatever that means [maybe based on how many "friends" on their lists?]), how complete your profile is, how many … [Read more...] about App as parent-child talking point
UK students suspended for defaming teacher
Nearly 30 students were suspended for joining a Facebook group that disparaged a teacher at their school, a highly rated Church of England girls school, The Telegraph reports. A teachers' union called for their expulsion. The school's head teacher "said the vast majority of parents who had been to see her about the incident were supportive and understood why she had taken firm disciplinary action. … [Read more...] about UK students suspended for defaming teacher
Safe New Year’s partying online & off
Here's really good New Year's advice from MySpace's (and its parent Fox Interactive's) chief safety officer Hemu Nigam. I'm biased in saying this - I like what he's posting because it's what we've been saying to parents asking about safety on the social Web for years - in NetFamilyNews.org, ConnectSafely.org, email, speaking engagements, and our book, MySpace Unraveled. Here's the best part: … [Read more...] about Safe New Year’s partying online & off
Breastfeeders protest Facebook’s terms
Actually not an atypical challenge for a social networking site's customer-service staff these days: one user's idea of obscenity is another's of beauty. The "nurse-in" protesting the site's decision in this particular case was staged by breastfeeding Facebook users. Led by Mothers International Lactation Campaign (MILC), "nearly a dozen mothers breastfed their babies" at Facebook's headquarters … [Read more...] about Breastfeeders protest Facebook’s terms
Teacher’s tough Facebook-privacy call
An elementary school teacher in Charlotte, N.C., faces the possibility of being fired for her comments about students in Facebook, the Charlotte Observer reports. Among the activities listed "teaching chitlins in the ghetto of Charlotte." Her lawyer told the Observer that she thought the comment could only be seen by her Facebook friends. So either she didn't fully understand how to use the site's … [Read more...] about Teacher’s tough Facebook-privacy call