The cynical way to say it might be that we're all our own best spin doctors these days. There are a lot of ways to say it, though – e.g., protecting one's public image, reputation management, maintaining your personal brand, or just online spin control – but there's nothing cynical or unsavory about this skill, and it's a life skill, not just an online one. Though it's an important one for social … [Read more...] about Personal ‘brand management’ for social literacy
social literacy
‘Research’ aimed at fueling fear: Prime example
There's research and then there's "research." Let's take a look at the latter: the very credible-sounding "National Survey on American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents," linking social media use to drug abuse in teens. How could the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) publish a commentary and call it research? I can think of no better … [Read more...] about ‘Research’ aimed at fueling fear: Prime example
Only sometimes ‘alone together’ in the same room
I get tired of clever terms like "iDistraction," as found in Sunday's New York Times, featuring a photo of a family of four lined up on a couch, each person using a different device. Let's do ourselves a favor and employ a little critical thinking when pictures and terms like these suggest families (and relationships and child development and so many other things) are going to hell. [My headline … [Read more...] about Only sometimes ‘alone together’ in the same room
Parenting & overparenting in the digital age
What struck me about danah boyd's post about the helicopter-parenting of social media users was that the banning of Facebook forces young people "to choose between social status and parental obedience." Though I wouldn't put it exactly that way, my own parenting experience tells me she's right. My 18-year-old and 13-year-old both use Facebook, although (and quite naturally) differently, because … [Read more...] about Parenting & overparenting in the digital age