This reminds me of a hypothesis David Finkelhor put forward in his talk on "juvenoia" last fall: "Several recent studies have found that digital communication can lead to more or better friendships online and off, greater honesty, faster intimacy in relationships and an increased sense of belonging, in addition to practical social benefits like an expanded circle for networking," the Wall Street … [Read more...] about Net use may be making us nicer: Studies
Social Media
Summer’s ‘peaches more powerful than Apples,’ but…
The other day I had the pleasure of talking with author, quilter, and fellow mom Meg Cox, who's updating her 2003 The Book of New Family Traditions, and – within seconds, as she was describing her plan for it – I was picturing all these potential tech-related traditions my work has turned up since 1997. Via emails, tweets, comments, and conversations, so many fellow parents whose stories have … [Read more...] about Summer’s ‘peaches more powerful than Apples,’ but…
Social media to blame for London riots?
That's what British Prime Minister Cameron is asking, CNN Tech reports. And the House of Commons's shadow secretary of culture, Ivan Lewis, told The Guardian that he "supports the government's decision to undertake a review of whether measures are necessary to prevent the abuse of social media by those who organize and participate in criminal activities." Did the prime minister and MP know that … [Read more...] about Social media to blame for London riots?
India’s very mobile social networking
US parents may be interested to see the Times of India's account of single mom Darshana Verma "who never learned to use a computer and saved for 10 months," spending more than half a month's income on mobile phones for her two children. Verma told the Times that the access to Facebook and the Internet these phones bring her kids represents opportunities she never had. She must not be alone, given … [Read more...] about India’s very mobile social networking
The new, social Google+
Google Plus aims to be the online version of your existing social circles (such as personal and professional ones and allowing them to stay separate), offering a lot of the same features as Facebook (as in Groups), but organized into "Circles" right up front. To them, it brings "Hangouts" (video chat), "Huddles" (group chat), and "Sparks" (as in conversation starters and talking points, a little … [Read more...] about The new, social Google+