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14
Jan

California Law Limits Use of Student Data

A new California law that recently took effect will prohibit education-technology firms from using student data to target advertising. More than 20 states already have student-data privacy laws on the books, but some security experts say California's law is stronger because it places responsibility on industry instead of parents and schools.

14
Jan

California Law Limits Use of Student Data

A new California law that recently took effect will prohibit education-technology firms from using student data to target advertising. More than 20 states already have student-data privacy laws on the books, but some security experts say California's law is stronger because it places responsibility on industry instead of parents and schools.

13
Jan

Internet Searches on Topics of Personal Interest May Help Kids Learn How to Read

Students who have difficulty reading may benefit from searching the Internet for articles and websites on topics of personal interest, according to Diana Black Kennedy, an educational therapist in California. Reading about subjects such as sports and hobbies allows students to experience the value (and fun) of reading, Kennedy asserts, especially those who may be burned out by reading remediation methods which can sometimes be impersonal.

13
Jan

Internet Searches on Topics of Personal Interest May Help Kids Learn How to Read

Students who have difficulty reading may benefit from searching the Internet for articles and websites on topics of personal interest, according to Diana Black Kennedy, an educational therapist in California. Reading about subjects such as sports and hobbies allows students to experience the value (and fun) of reading, Kennedy asserts, especially those who may be burned out by reading remediation methods which can sometimes be impersonal.

12
Jan

Top 20 Social Networking Etiquette Tips for Teens

Just like with everything else in the digital world, the rules of online etiquette are always changing and evolving. Wonder what a list of current tips looks like? Check out the Top 20 Social Networking Etiquette Tips for Teens on the Psychology Today website. The most surprising suggestion? Limit your use of periods in texts because texting is form of conversation, and periods can appear abrupt and rude. (Of course you have to wonder what English teachers will say about that new development!)

12
Jan

Top 20 Social Networking Etiquette Tips for Teens

Just like with everything else in the digital world, the rules of online etiquette are always changing and evolving. Wonder what a list of current tips looks like? Check out the Top 20 Social Networking Etiquette Tips for Teens on the Psychology Today website. The most surprising suggestion? Limit your use of periods in texts because texting is form of conversation, and periods can appear abrupt and rude. (Of course you have to wonder what English teachers will say about that new development!)

11
Jan

I Am a Witness

Have your kids told you that they have witnessed bullying online but had no idea what to do about it? Take a look at the materials on the IAmAWitness campaign site for ideas you can share with your kids on how they can take action. The heart of this anti-cyberbullying campaign is the Witness Emoji. Shaped like a speech bubble with an eye in the center, the Emoji enables teens to take a stand against bullying and show support for someone who is being bullied by posting it online or through a text message. The Emoji is available on iPhone running iOS 9.1. and via a downloadable keyboard available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The I Am A Witness keyboard holds a variety of Emoji, GIFs, stickers and messages for teens to use when they experience bullying. They can post the Witness Emoji when they see hurtful comments, or send GIFs and stickers to show support for someone in need.

11
Jan

I Am a Witness

Have your kids told you that they have witnessed bullying online but had no idea what to do about it? Take a look at the materials on the IAmAWitness campaign site for ideas you can share with your kids on how they can take action. The heart of this anti-cyberbullying campaign is the Witness Emoji. Shaped like a speech bubble with an eye in the center, the Emoji enables teens to take a stand against bullying and show support for someone who is being bullied by posting it online or through a text message. The Emoji is available on iPhone running iOS 9.1. and via a downloadable keyboard available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The I Am A Witness keyboard holds a variety of Emoji, GIFs, stickers and messages for teens to use when they experience bullying. They can post the Witness Emoji when they see hurtful comments, or send GIFs and stickers to show support for someone in need.

8
Jan

Positive Texting

As you start the New Year, think about the tenor of your texts.  In other words, are you sending out positive vibes to family and friends? Research is showing that apologies by text aren’t cutting it in relationships, and too frequent texting can also bring down a partnership. On the positive side, researchers have found that using text messages to express affection actually enhances relationships and creates a stronger partner attachment. Sending a loving text was even more strongly related to relationship satisfaction than receiving one!

 

What kinds of messages should you text to your partner or even your kids? Five message categories to be aware of are: compliments, thanks, memories, curious questions and sharing bit of joy. Don’t know where to start? You can see examples of each in the article 5 Text You Should Send Your Partner Everyday on the Psychology Today site.

8
Jan

Positive Texting

As you start the New Year, think about the tenor of your texts.  In other words, are you sending out positive vibes to family and friends? Research is showing that apologies by text aren’t cutting it in relationships, and too frequent texting can also bring down a partnership. On the positive side, researchers have found that using text messages to express affection actually enhances relationships and creates a stronger partner attachment. Sending a loving text was even more strongly related to relationship satisfaction than receiving one!

 

What kinds of messages should you text to your partner or even your kids? Five message categories to be aware of are: compliments, thanks, memories, curious questions and sharing bit of joy. Don’t know where to start? You can see examples of each in the article 5 Text You Should Send Your Partner Everyday on the Psychology Today site.

7
Jan

School Threats Fueled by Social Media

School threats have risen by 158%, according to a study released by the National School Safety and Security Services organization. Almost a third of those threats led to school evacuations, and about a third of those were disseminated on social media.

Faced with increased threats, the challenge for schools is to determine when to evacuate. There are no national guidelines for administrators on determining threat levels, and most decisions to close are made by superintendents and school boards, often in conjunction with police departments or emergency services.

7
Jan

School Threats Fueled by Social Media

School threats have risen by 158%, according to a study released by the National School Safety and Security Services organization. Almost a third of those threats led to school evacuations, and about a third of those were disseminated on social media.

Faced with increased threats, the challenge for schools is to determine when to evacuate. There are no national guidelines for administrators on determining threat levels, and most decisions to close are made by superintendents and school boards, often in conjunction with police departments or emergency services.

6
Jan

The Why of Sexting

According to research on teen sexting, approximately 39% of teens between the ages of 13-19 have sent at least one sext message and 48% have received one sext message. Of the teens who have sexted, 63% said the photos were sent to a boyfriend/girlfriend, 29% said they sent them to somebody they were casually dating, 19% sent these photos to someone they didn’t know well and met online, and 24% sent them to someone they only knew online. As for the reasons teens sext, 49% said it was harmless fun, 39% said they did it to receive photos back, 16% thought it was a normal thing to do, 16% said they did it because everybody else was doing it, and 13% said they were pressured into sexting.

 

What is the aftermath of sexting? That is the part that is left out of all these stats, and the question taken up in a recent post on the Psychology Today site entitled The Aftermath of Sexting. The author of the post, Raychelle Lohmann, reminds teens and parents that kids need to be careful that worrying about the possible consequences of sexting don’t keep them from making good decisions, like getting out of a bad relationship or stepping up and getting help if they are being sexually exploited.

6
Jan

The Why of Sexting

According to research on teen sexting, approximately 39% of teens between the ages of 13-19 have sent at least one sext message and 48% have received one sext message. Of the teens who have sexted, 63% said the photos were sent to a boyfriend/girlfriend, 29% said they sent them to somebody they were casually dating, 19% sent these photos to someone they didn’t know well and met online, and 24% sent them to someone they only knew online. As for the reasons teens sext, 49% said it was harmless fun, 39% said they did it to receive photos back, 16% thought it was a normal thing to do, 16% said they did it because everybody else was doing it, and 13% said they were pressured into sexting.

 

What is the aftermath of sexting? That is the part that is left out of all these stats, and the question taken up in a recent post on the Psychology Today site entitled The Aftermath of Sexting. The author of the post, Raychelle Lohmann, reminds teens and parents that kids need to be careful that worrying about the possible consequences of sexting don’t keep them from making good decisions, like getting out of a bad relationship or stepping up and getting help if they are being sexually exploited.

5
Jan

A Smartphone Contract for Kids

If your child has a smartphone, it is a good idea to institute some rules to prevent trouble before it starts. Janell Burley Hofmann, the author of book iRules: What Every Tech-Healthy Family Needs to Know About Selfies, Sexting, Gaming and Growing Up, has put together a parent-child contract that is a good starting place. While it is quite comprehensive, pick and choose the items that work best for you and your family, and think seriously about discussing every item on the contract with your kids.

5
Jan

A Smartphone Contract for Kids

If your child has a smartphone, it is a good idea to institute some rules to prevent trouble before it starts. Janell Burley Hofmann, the author of book iRules: What Every Tech-Healthy Family Needs to Know About Selfies, Sexting, Gaming and Growing Up, has put together a parent-child contract that is a good starting place. While it is quite comprehensive, pick and choose the items that work best for you and your family, and think seriously about discussing every item on the contract with your kids.

4
Jan

Cyberbullying Insurance Available in the UK

“Troll insurance”, or insurance for the costs of counseling and investigation after being harassed online, is now being offered in the United Kingdom. Although the insurance policy could be enticing for worried parents of children who are victims of child abuse, adults who become victims can be covered as well. The policy goes as far as to provide reputation management teams to restore the public image of a person by wiping out abusive content, and forensic services to help track down the source of the harassment.

4
Jan

Cyberbullying Insurance Available in the UK

“Troll insurance”, or insurance for the costs of counseling and investigation after being harassed online, is now being offered in the United Kingdom. Although the insurance policy could be enticing for worried parents of children who are victims of child abuse, adults who become victims can be covered as well. The policy goes as far as to provide reputation management teams to restore the public image of a person by wiping out abusive content, and forensic services to help track down the source of the harassment.

1
Jan

Teens Still Using Facebook But Cool Factor is Gone

A recent survey released by Forrester Research reports that American teens are still using Facebook in droves, despite their reports that it has lost its “cool” factor. The survey found that 78 percent of US teenagers use Facebook, a figure unchanged from last year. That’s more than any other “social” site except the video-sharing service YouTube, used by 80 percent of teens. Forrester analysts said Facebook “generates more hyper-usage than any other social site”, adding that a third of teen Facebook users say they’re on the site “all the time”, more than any other social site.

1
Jan

Teens Still Using Facebook But Cool Factor is Gone

A recent survey released by Forrester Research reports that American teens are still using Facebook in droves, despite their reports that it has lost its “cool” factor. The survey found that 78 percent of US teenagers use Facebook, a figure unchanged from last year. That’s more than any other “social” site except the video-sharing service YouTube, used by 80 percent of teens. Forrester analysts said Facebook “generates more hyper-usage than any other social site”, adding that a third of teen Facebook users say they’re on the site “all the time”, more than any other social site.

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