Parents of teens probably knew this already, but the Pew Research Center just confirmed it for everybody: YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat are US 13-17 year-olds' top social media picks now – at 85%, 72% and 69%, respectively. That's according to Pew's just-released "Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018." [The percentages add up to more than 100% because, as is well known, teens use multiple … [Read more...] about How teens’ social media use changing: New Pew study
YouTube
How to choose (or make!) an anti-bullying video that helps
Recently a graduate student was given the assignment to find videos on YouTube that are "helpful to kids in confronting bullying." The criteria given the student were: Make sure the video… 1. presents accurate information about both the problem and what bullying is (sometimes behavior's just rude or mean, not bullying) 2. is made by kids for kids 3. shows kids standing up for … [Read more...] about How to choose (or make!) an anti-bullying video that helps
In 2017, chatbots & other imaginary friends
I am not kidding: The latest tech developments – and certainly not just those aimed at kids – remind me of the much-loved cartoon show of the last decade, "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends." There are all kinds of imaginary friends emerging, from the toy kind to the digital kind to the kind kids believe they are and have as fans of each other. That probably doesn't make complete sense yet, so … [Read more...] about In 2017, chatbots & other imaginary friends
Millennials’ top 10 apps at the turn of the year
Youth digital research firm YPULSE's "most clicked article of 2015" didn't hold a lot of surprises, but it might be useful to note teens' and millennials' top picks here at the turn of the year. Facebook owns three of the Top 10 apps: Instagram (No. 1), the Facebook app (2nd) and Whatsapp, which appears to tie with YouTube and the Weather app for 7th place, and Google two of them (its search app … [Read more...] about Millennials’ top 10 apps at the turn of the year
A YouTube for the littlest video viewers
Think of YouTube Kids as digital training wheels for the little video viewers at your house - something a lot of parents have been wanting for a very long time. We all know how popular but not always appropriate YouTube is for kids. Problem solved. Designed for kids through age 8, YouTube Kids carefully screens videos so the littlest online viewers can satisfy their seemingly over-active curiosity … [Read more...] about A YouTube for the littlest video viewers