I am pleased to announce that we at ConnectSafely.org have just released the 2012 edition of our Parents' Guide to Facebook. It's already being translated into Arabic and Spanish. Since Release 1.0 of the Guide a little over a year ago (this one is a full 2.0), Facebook has made a lot of changes – including Timeline (the page formerly known as "profile"), more and more "in-line privacy controls" … [Read more...] about NEW! The 2012 edition of ‘A Parents’ Guide to Facebook’
Facebook’s IPO not just a business story, of course
With its clever lede – "It sure pays to have friends" – the New York Times reported a story that goes way beyond business, even though it is indeed a big business story: "Facebook, the vast online social network, took its first step toward becoming a publicly traded company on Wednesday as it filed to sell shares on the stock market." The Times adds that Facebook is "on track to be the largest … [Read more...] about Facebook’s IPO not just a business story, of course
State anti-bullying law to be reworked
New Jersey's stepped-up bullying prevention law has been deemed unconstitutional not for its spirit but for its cost. It was the state's Council on Local Mandates that ruled the law – the "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights," which "was seen as one of the toughest in the nation" – unconstitutional as an unfunded mandate, the Tri-Boro Patch reports. The legislation's lead sponsor, Assemblywoman Valerie … [Read more...] about State anti-bullying law to be reworked
The downside of social media convenience
Some people think of it as the dark side of using social media: potential oversharing. Things can indeed get dark, if we get so fixated on the darkness that we can't see or learn about the alternatives. Better to get informed and act on that information! Mashable does a great job of showing how oversharing can happen using different kinds of applications in Facebook – e.g., what songs you're … [Read more...] about The downside of social media convenience
Picturing social media in school
Not all infographics are equal. Some play it a little fast and loose with source data in the interest of grabbing eyeballs – watching out for that is a good lesson in media literacy. But this one from ASCD represents data from Pew/Internet, Project Tomorrow, National School Boards Assoc., and other credible sources. It says social media is "where students live"; "how they want to learn"; "where … [Read more...] about Picturing social media in school