The Daily Telegraph in Australia reports a rise over the past two years in requests for restraining orders against online stalkers by young Australians, "claiming they are victims of intimidation." Restraining orders are called "AVOs," for apprehended violence orders, in Australia, and an attorney there "said this sort of behaviour could happen through a combination of mediums such as Facebook or … [Read more...] about Social-media-based stalking on rise in Oz
mobile phones
Holidays: Half of US parents giving kids tech
A national survey found that 49% of parents with kids 12 and under are giving their children electronic gifts – cellphones, computers, music players, gameplayers, etc. – this holiday season, PBSKids.org reports about its survey. "Once these gifts are unwrapped, most parents say they plan to have rules and restrictions to help children stay safe online." The survey found that 86% of parents "agree … [Read more...] about Holidays: Half of US parents giving kids tech
Mobile learning’s growing momentum: Study
The tide against cellphones in school – for learning, not just communication – seems to be turning. Student engagement, tight school budgets (or reasonable technology that so many students already own), and the fact that students like using their own devices are the "driving factors," according to a study by Project Tomorrow, which conducts the annual national Speak Up Survey of students, … [Read more...] about Mobile learning’s growing momentum: Study
US teens’ mobile use: Nielsen update
It's no big surprise, but official now, I guess: Texting is now teens' No. 1 reason for using cellphones, but using apps is their fastest-growing activity, ReadWriteMobile reports, citing Nielsen research. This year 43% of US 13-to-17-year-olds say texting is their top reason for mobile adoption. "Safety, the number one reason back in 2008, has now fallen to second place with only 35% citing this … [Read more...] about US teens’ mobile use: Nielsen update
Texting beats driving for teens
Texting doesn't just beat out social networking for teens by more than 2 to 1, as Pew/Internet reported last spring, it also beats driving. Parent and Forbes writer Jim Motavalli has both anecdotal and numerical evidence, and I'm seeing the exact same thing at my house and in the research. Motavalli's just-turned-16-year-old is entirely ho-hum about getting her driver's license, and that was the … [Read more...] about Texting beats driving for teens