The latest research on bullying – a series of studies of 3,722 8th-to-10th-graders in three North Carolina counties – found that targets of bullying are not physically or socially weaker or marginalized students so much as social rivals. What's interesting about this is that the focus is shifting from individual traits (how strong or aggressive or marginalized kids are) to where they are in the … [Read more...] about New view of targets & bullies: Study
youth risk research
School social workers on cyberbullying: Study
A study published this month in the journal Children & Schools found that 45% of school social workers for grades pre-K through 12 "feel ill-equipped" to deal with cyberbullying, PsychCentral.com reports. I honestly think part of the reason for that high number is because cyberbullying has been so misrepresented and misunderstood in our society to date – represented all too much as a … [Read more...] about School social workers on cyberbullying: Study
Cyberbullying vs. digital dating abuse
There are more similarities than differences between cyberbullying and digital dating abuse, it appears, so let's be clear on what they are. The main difference is pretty obvious: A cyberbullying situation usually involves at least two people who don't like or have much to do with each other, while digital dating abuse involves "two people who are attracted to each other on some level," according … [Read more...] about Cyberbullying vs. digital dating abuse
Europe’s update of the youth online risk picture
A new study of online risks to youth in 23 European countries found that "the Internet is now central to children’s lives across Europe, and they use it for a range of things which are often beneficial including schoolwork, playing games, watching video and instant messaging," reported lead author Sonia Livingstone at the London School of Economics and Political Science. The EU Kids Online … [Read more...] about Europe’s update of the youth online risk picture
‘Net addiction’ & depression
One young person's strategy for so-called Net addiction is FreeFace.com. He commented in a New York Times blog asking students for their strategies that, as a part-time student [who] "found myself drifting sometimes, usually to news websites or Facebook," he started using this time management software that restricts access to sites and programs during time periods the user sets for him or herself. … [Read more...] about ‘Net addiction’ & depression