The research-reporting impairment that unfortunately afflicts so many, so often, flared up at the UK tabloid the Daily Mail late last week. YouthFacts.org, experts at debunking disinformation and misinformation about youth, looked at both the reporting and the study (of British 11-to-18-year-olds conducted by the UK's South West Grid for Learning and the University of Plymouth) that received the … [Read more...] about Guest post: How about some FACTS on UK teen sexting?
sexting
Sexting: What to tell a kid sent nude photos via cellphone
Delete them, plain and simple. That's what criminology professor Justin Patchin at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire advises teens in his blog. Parents, this is not what you'll hear from law enforcement people or school personnel because their jobs require them to obtain and report evidence of a crime. But if kids "follow this advice, they risk prosecution for possession of child porn if a … [Read more...] about Sexting: What to tell a kid sent nude photos via cellphone
Young people’s views about sexual content online
As the 12- and 13-year-old girls tell New York magazine writer Alex Morris how they use Omegle, another ChatRoulette-type site (in groups with fake names and disconnecting often and fast when the chat gets "perverted"), they describe how differently boys handle sexual content online. It reminds me of a thought-provoking 2005 Boston Globe article, "The Secret Life of Boys" (that I blogged about … [Read more...] about Young people’s views about sexual content online
The problem with sexting legislation
The good news about proposed legislation in New Jersey is that "teens caught texting or posting sexually explicit photos online could avoid prosecution under a measure that would give first-time offenders the chance to complete a diversionary program," as reported in the Washington Post. The bad news is that the law is focused on the person doing the sending – and that lawmakers don't seem to … [Read more...] about The problem with sexting legislation
A cyberbully’s explanation
A cyberbullying conviction in a US district court in Philadelphia starkly illustrates some important things. You might consider sharing this story at NJ.com with your kids and students. This was a particularly malicious act of cyberbullying, US District Judge Anita Brody said, so a lot of kids would probably say they'd never do such a thing and don't know anyone who would. But what they very well … [Read more...] about A cyberbully’s explanation