I suspect two reasons why people (mistakenly) think cyberbullying is on the rise are… Its increased visibility: Cruel words and behaviors are unprecedentedly public now, because of the social Web, so that's what's actually growing – the exposure – which is sometimes confused with the behavior itself. The confusion needs to be cleared up. The exposure may be scary, but it's a net gain because … [Read more...] about ‘Bullying’ & ‘peer victimization’: Clearer terms, better communication
danah boyd
Facebook’s ‘Timeline’: More than a new look
If Facebook's newly fashioned user profile, Timeline, says anything, it says that what you post on the social Web is forever (but it does say more – keep reading). In many ways, Timeline is a safety- and privacy-education tool right in your face (on your screen), as you go. Because "Timeline collects and chronicles everything you’ve ever posted to Facebook," Slate reports. It used to be that all … [Read more...] about Facebook’s ‘Timeline’: More than a new look
Kids lying to Facebook, not their parents: Study
A whole lot of us know that 13 is Facebook's minimum age, but fewer of us know that the reason for that is not kids' online safety but a law called the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act designed to protect the privacy of kids' data – a law administered by the Federal Trade Commission, which right now has it under review. COPPA requires parental consent before sites can collect any data from … [Read more...] about Kids lying to Facebook, not their parents: Study
Media lit needed!: The new guilt by association
This is a stark example of why media literacy needs to be taught from the earliest ages – in and with digital media. [It's also an example of why it's hugely important to their kids that parents practice media literacy and not take what they see in social sites literally, but more on that in a minute.] This is a new imperative at the household and every other level. The stark example is shared … [Read more...] about Media lit needed!: The new guilt by association
How teens view ‘the drama’
I've written a lot about "the drama" at school as a context for bullying and cyberbullying, suggesting that we can help our kids build resilience and avoid trouble by helping them get a little emotional distance from it. A commentary in the New York Times by social media researchers danah boyd and Alice Marwick clarifies what teenagers themselves think of drama. First, it's not all bad. It's … [Read more...] about How teens view ‘the drama’