It looks like Russell Brand has struck a chord. The other day the actor, comedian and commentator posted a thoughtful, very personal video about the film 50 Shades of Gray, pornography and sexualized culture that has already gotten nearly a half a million views. "This cloud of pornographic information and even soft cultural smog like 50 Shades of Gray … is making it impossible for us to relate … [Read more...] about Russell Brand on ’50 Shades,’ porn & sexualized culture: Good questions
Dating Abuse
Enabling peer protection: Knowledge is empowerment
From infancy on up we learn what's right and wrong, based on our families' and, later, peers' values. That's important. It develops that inner guidance system – or "moral compass," as it's sometimes called – that makes for safer, smoother navigation through life. But that isn't all kids need as they grow and find their own way online and offline. In order to be safe, keep peers safe and make … [Read more...] about Enabling peer protection: Knowledge is empowerment
‘Revenge porn’: Exposing cruel disclosure
This is a sidebar to my earlier post about social norms as one of the solutions to social cruelty online, zooming in on one form of it. "Revenge porn" needs to be understood and exposed for what it is so it can be neutralized. Its power to harm will lessen as we stigmatize the shaming rather than its victims. So let's be completely clear about what revenge porn is: malicious distribution of … [Read more...] about ‘Revenge porn’: Exposing cruel disclosure
Tech-enabled dating abuse
If your kid's like mine (and has a cellphone), s/he is getting text messages all the time. What you might want to check on with him or her is whether it's all the time from one person. If it is, there could be some good reasons for this seemingly obsessive or stalking behavior – maybe the child needs help, a confidant for a few days. Another possibility is what blogger April Peveteaux at cafemom … [Read more...] about Tech-enabled dating abuse