Labels

cyberbullying (191) parents (156) social networking (152) safety (144) resources (138) reputation (132) support (92) monitoring (78) Bullying (71) privacy (64) training (64) sexting (63) research (58) reports (51) texting (44) gaming (35) facebook (34) StandUp (32) reporting (25) suicide (20) app (18) harassment (18) events (17) job (2) jobs (2)

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Facebook case over student's comments settled - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

Facebook case over student's comments settled - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com: "A former Pembroke Pines Charter High School student scored what her attorneys call a victory for the First Amendment last week with the end of her two-year legal battle over her Facebook comments about a teacher."

Technology Live: Latest Tech News and Gadgets - USATODAY.com

Technology Live: Latest Tech News and Gadgets - USATODAY.com: "In a proactive public relations move, AT&T is taking the lead on texting-and-driving prevention with an 11-minute documentary on the topic, intended to reach consumers before New Year's Eve.

The doc, called The Last Text, features stories about people whose lives were adversely affected by texting behind the wheel, including the parents of Mariah West, who died after texting 'Where u at?' to a friend."




Saturday, December 18, 2010

December 16, 2010: Letter to Governors and Chief State School Officers regarding bullying prevention

December 16, 2010: Letter to Governors and Chief State School Officers regarding bullying prevention

Youth Topics: Bullying

Youth Topics: Bullying

U.S. ED SECRETARY ARNE DUNCAN HIGHLIGHTS BEST PRACTICES OF BULLYING POLICIES—KEY EXAMPLES IN STATE LAWS ARE HIGHLIGHTED AS LEGISLATION THAT WORKS TO HELP PROTECT STUDENTS

In response to requests for assistance from state and local officials across the country following a rash of bullying-related suicides, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, on December 16, distributed a memo to state leaders outlining key components of strong state bullying laws and policies. The technical assistance memo is intended to serve as a reference for state and local officials developing or revising anti-bullying legislation or policies.

“We need the commitment from everyone at the federal, state and local level to put an end to bullying,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “I hope that highlighting these best practices will help policymakers as they work to keep our children safe and learning.”

The memo, which was sent to all governors, chief state school officers and state education boards, is part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to prevent bullying in schools. In the memo, the Department compiled key components of existing anti-bullying laws from 29 states. The laws were divided into 11 categories, which ranged from listing examples of bullying behavior to specifying procedures for investigating incidents.

Several states are leaders in their bullying policies. For example, Florida law specifically defines prohibited conduct, and Kansas law clearly covers “cyberbullying.” Washington state regulations require school officials and employees to tell certain personnel about any bullying they are aware of, and Georgia prohibits retaliation against those who report incidents. And in Massachusetts, the state policy includes a provision to provide training to an extensive list of staff members to help them prevent, identify and respond to bullying.

In addition to the memo, education officials are preparing a comprehensive summary of state anti-bullying laws and conducting a study of how those laws are implemented in the hopes that the data could further guide states in crafting effective regulations.

“We have all been told that bullying has been going on in our schools forever. But we can stop it now,” Duncan said. “Strong anti-bullying policies instill a climate that this behavior will not be tolerated.”

For more on the Education Department’s efforts around bullying prevention, visit http://www.bullyinginfo.org.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Power to Learn - Delete Cyberbullying

Power to Learn - Delete Cyberbullying

Delete Cyberbullying includes specific details and examples of how the school counseling program provides exemplary leadership, advocacy and collaboration resulting in systemic change for the benefit of students.

Delete Cyberbullying consists of:

  • Free online and print resources for parents, educators and students that provide tips, advice and suggestions on how to deal with this pressing social issue in a variety of contexts.

  • Regional "Town Hall" meetings at Boys & Girls Clubs in NYC, CT, NJ and Long Island at which parents and students will have the opportunity to speak to experts, address law enforcement and learn how to prevent and deal with this issue.

  • Delete Cyberbullying pledge, available online and in participating Boys & Girls Clubs, which encourages students throughout the NY Metropolitan area to publicly pledge to combat cyberbullying and speak up if they are witnesses to it.

  • Free family resource guide, which answers common questions related to digital media and cyberbullying.

  • Public service announcement campaign airing throughout Cablevision's service area and encouraging community members to combat cyberbullying in and out of school.

  • Public service announcement and poster contest for regional students, grades
    4-11, to create videos or posters with an anti-cyberbullying message.

  • Training events at schools and select community locations throughout the region.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Connect Safely |A Parents' Guide to Facebook | Safety Advice Articles

Connect Safely |A Parents' Guide to Facebook | Safety Advice Articles

Welcome to our guidebook for parents! It’s designed to help you understand what Facebook is and how to use it safely. With it, you will be better informed and able to communicate with young Facebook users in your life more effectively. That's important because 1) if something goes wrong, we want our children to come to us and 2) as the Internet becomes increasingly social and mobile, a parent’s guidance and support are ever more key to young people’s well-being in social media and technology. The guidebook is published in partnership with the iKeepSafe Coalition.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Stop Bullying Now! » Home Page

Stop Bullying Now! » Home Page: "This site supports HRSA's national campaign: 'Take a Stand. Lend a Hand. Stop Bullying Now.' Click here to visit the HRSA campaign."

Monday, November 29, 2010

Commonsense Media FREE Elementary Curriculum (Digital Literacy and Citizenship) now available | Cyberbullying News | Research, Reviews, Summaries & Expert Interviews for Educators & Researchers

Commonsense Media FREE Elementary Curriculum (Digital Literacy and Citizenship) now available | Cyberbullying News | Research, Reviews, Summaries & Expert Interviews for Educators & Researchers: "Commonsense Media has just added a digital literacy and citizenship curriculum for 4th and 5th grade students to its already impressive set of FREE materials. Acknowledging that digital literacy and citizenship needs to start early, Commonsense Media has created a curriclum which is “uniquely designed for elementary and middle school students.” "

DigiDesiderata

DigiDesiderata is an version of Max Erhmann's Desiderata (1927) that encouraged digital civility. Posters are available at http://www.zazzle.com/digidesiderata. Instructional materials are available at the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use - http://csriu.org.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Internet Safety Coalition - Beware What You Share 2 :25

Social Media Technology in Prevention: The 1-Page Social Media Policy

Social Media Technology in Prevention: The 1-Page Social Media Policy: "Social Media policies or guidelines can provide helpful guidance for staff, members and volunteers to do social media well. Sadly sometimes they are written in such formal ways they discourage people from engaging. Guidelines/policies are especially helpful for people who are new to social media and want to do it well."

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Monday, October 25, 2010

President Obama: It Gets Better

As part of the It Gets Better Project, President Obama shares his message of hope and support for LGBT youth who are struggling with being bullied.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

'Ugly Meter' iPhone app may be hurtful to kids and fodder for bullies

Critics of the new iPhone "Ugly Meter" app fear it's all too easy for users to harass their victims, especially when those victims are image-conscious teenagers, according to Switched.com.

The 99-cent app analyzes how symmetrical a person's face is by using facial recognition. It scans and rates faces as they are submitted by the user, generating a ranking on a scale of 1 to 10.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Ellen and Anderson talk cyberbullying

Study: 'Kids are Alright' when it comes to privacy | Safe and Secure - CNET News

Study: 'Kids are Alright' when it comes to privacy | Safe and Secure - CNET News: "A study commissioned by Truste paints a pretty optimistic picture about how teenagers are using privacy tools on Facebook and other social networking sites. The study, entitled 'The Kids are Alright,' (PDF) reports that '80 percent of parents and 78 percent of teens feel in control of their personal information on social networking sites' and that '84 percent of parents are confident their teen is responsible with personal information on a social networking site.'"

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Students suffer Facebook withdrawal | HigherEdMorning.com

Students suffer Facebook withdrawal | HigherEdMorning.com:

"Time to check in on the college that banned social media for a week. How did the campus fare?

We recently told you about Harrisburg University, which blocked social media from its campus servers as an experiment to see how much students rely on it. The results are coming in – with some surprising reactions."

Read more.

Study: 92% of U.S. 2-year-olds have online record | Safe and Secure - CNET News

Study: 92% of U.S. 2-year-olds have online record | Safe and Secure - CNET News

Granular Facebook Privacy Settings: Customizing Who Can See What

This is a more advanced look at Facebook's new privacy settings showing how to: create a highly customized environment. Remove or control applications, show or block specific content to specific people, create lists or groups that can see specific content, limit access to specific posts, photos and media.

Stop Bullying: Speak Up - Special Coverage on CNN.com

Stop Bullying: Speak Up - Special Coverage on CNN.com

Friday, October 8, 2010

Schools Urged To Teach Youth Digital Citizenship : NPR

Schools Urged To Teach Youth Digital Citizenship : NPR: "In the wake of a Rutger University student's suicide, researchers who study youth and the Internet say schools need to do a better job of teaching kids the basics of digital citizenship."

Net Cetera - OnGuard Online

Net Cetera - OnGuard Online: "The internet offers a world of opportunities to socialize and communicate. But they come with risks. OnGuardOnline.gov's Net Cetera campaign provides information and resources about helping kids make safe, responsible decisions when they're online. The campaign includes:"

Facebook's New Groups Feature Worries Some - Yahoo! News

Facebook's New Groups Feature Worries Some - Yahoo! News: "This week's overhaul of Facebook groups quickly led to an outcry over the way the service works, but the bigger lesson may be simply this: Be careful who you befriend."

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Cyberbullying 101

Safe - The DigitalMe Certificate in Safe Social Networking for Primary Schools

Safe - The DigitalMe Certificate in Safe Social Networking for Primary Schools: "Safe is a new programme of practical, activities to develop primary children’s skills, self-confidence and safety awareness when using social network sites."

Dating Matters

Badge: Dating Matters: Learn about preventing teen dating violence. Click Here
Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention is a 60-minute, web-based training designed to help educators, youth-serving organizations, and others working with teens understand the risk factors and warning signs associated with teen dating violence. It is developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with Liz Claiborne Inc.

School Counselors Confronting Cyberbullying now an Ethical Obligation

ASCA just updated its ethical standards. Now, confronting cyberbullying is an ethical obligation for school counselors. 

According to Section A.10.e of the American School Counselor Association Ethical Standards for School Counselors, school counselors should:

Consider the extent to which cyberbullying is interfering with students’ educational process and base guidance curriculum and intervention programming for this pervasive and potentially dangerous problem on research-based and best practices. p. 3

Suicide Resources

Many of you have seen the distressing headlines. In recent weeks, a New
Jersey college student died by suicide after a video of him was posted
online.   Other reports state that at least three younger teens in
Indiana and California took their lives after being subjected to ongoing
harassment for being gay, or being perceived as being gay. In response,
some of the messages have inadvertently misstated what is known about
the links between bullying and suicide, and sexual orientation and
suicide. Some news media have included *facts* such as: *LGBT youth are
4 times more likely to commit suicide*. Other articles and press
releases imply that suicide is a *normal* or expected response to
anti-gay bullying.

You may be involved in efforts to address these tragedies, or in a
position to be contacted by news media for commentary and information on
suicidal behavior among GLBT youth. We wanted to remind you of several
resources that may be helpful to you:

Safe and Effective Messaging.
http://www.sprc.org/library/SafeMessagingfinal.pdf (
http://library.sprc.org/getitem.php?id=341&res=url ) This
document for suicide prevention practitioners offers evidence-based
recommendations for creating safe and effective messages to raise public
awareness that suicide is a serious and preventable public health
problem. It contains Do*s and Don*ts for creating public messages for
suicide prevention.

At-a-glance: Safe Reporting on Suicide.
http://www.sprc.org/library/at_a_glance.pdf (
http://library.sprc.org/getitem.php?id=257&res=url ) Often
confused with the above document, this consensus document provides
recommendations for news media. It is currently in the process of being
revised and updated but until the revised version is available, please
use this one. We provide it every time we are in contact with a reporter
or editor. It is only two pages long and they do read it.

Suicide risk and prevention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
youth
http://www.sprc.org/library/SPRC_LGBT_Youth.pdf (
http://library.sprc.org/getitem.php?id=618&res=url )
This 2008 publication addresses the special concerns related to suicide
prevention among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth.
It summarizes the current state of knowledge about suicidality in this
population, and outlines twenty-one recommendations for helping to
reduce suicidal behavior among LGBT youth.  As the introduction states:
*For several reasons, little can be said with certainty about suicide
deaths among LGB people. Most mortality data do not include sexual
orientation. However, based on the higher rate of suicide attempts among
LGB youth and the relative seriousness of their suicide attempts, it is
likely that LGB youth experience higher rates of suicide deaths than
their non-LGB peers. While limited information is available on suicidal
behavior among transgender youth, it is plausible to hypothesize that
transgender youth, in common with LGB youth, have elevated risk and
lower protective factors and higher rates of suicidal behavior.*

Finally, if you are reaching out to news media, you may find this
guide, created for SPRC by SPAN USA a few years back, helpful:

Guide to engaging the media in suicide prevention
http://www.sprc.org/library/media_guide.pdf (
http://library.sprc.org/getitem.php?id=287&res=url )
This 44-page guide teaches you how to serve as an effective media
spokesperson and how to generate media coverage to create awareness of
suicide prevention. The publication describes how to use television,
radio, and print media and provides examples of pres
s releases, media
advisories, pitch letters, op-eds and more. It also gives tips for
identifying appropriate media outlets, creating up-to-date media lists,
and tracking your results.
Please use this list to discuss your successes and challengeswith your
colleagues. As always, we encourage you to contact us if you need
assistance.

-----------------------


Anara Guard
Senior Advisor
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
EDC, Inc.
aguard@edc.org 617-618-2572
www.sprc.org

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Study: Texting Laws Haven't Reduced Crashes : NPR

Study: Texting Laws Haven't Reduced Crashes : NPR

A new study from the insurance industry finds texting while driving laws have had no immediate benefit in reducing crashes. The study looked at crash data from four states with texting bans. It found that in three of the states -- California, Louisiana and Minnesota -- crashes actually increased.

Social networking — no parents allowed | HigherEdMorning.com

No parents. No employers. That’s what a student networking site that recently launched is promising its users. CollegeOnly, the latest in a growing list of social networking sites, restricts membership to students.

Rosalind Wiseman | creating cultures of dignity

Rosalind Wiseman | creating cultures of dignity: "Rosalind Wiseman’s Girl World Tour, presented by Dove go fresh, is back on the road this fall! Catch her as she brings moms and daughters together for an evening of discussion and laughter in 8 more cities across the US! Visit the Girl World Tour page in the ‘Programs’ section for more details!"

National Center for Bullying Prevention

National Center for Bullying Prevention: "This year marks the fifth anniversary of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Month that unites communities nationwide to raise awareness of bullying prevention. Traditionally held the first week in October, the event has been expanded to include activities, education, and awareness building for the entire month."

AT&T | TXTing While Driving | Yeah

Educator accused of sexting teen | Philadelphia Daily News | 09/25/2010

Educator accused of sexting teen | Philadelphia Daily News | 09/25/2010

Sexting prosecutor: His lawyer said at a hearing today that District Attorney Kenneith Kratz intends to resign - latimes.com

Sexting prosecutor: His lawyer said at a hearing today that District Attorney Kenneith Kratz intends to resign - latimes.com

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Here’s a Desiderata for the cyberage called The Digirata - TECH.BLORGE.com

Here’s a Desiderata for the cyberage called The Digirata - TECH.BLORGE.com: "The Digirata is a nice calm thoughtful piece on unplugging and fighting cyber bullying.� This piece has been signed “by ‘Anonymous’” but after you have read it, there is an email interview with the actual author."

Saturday, September 18, 2010

How to use parental controls in Windows

How to use parental controls in Windows

In this video, Aaron shows us how he set up parental controls in Windows to manage how his children access the web, which games and programs they have access to, and how much time they’re allowed to use the computer. Here’s how to do it.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Negotiating Technology with your Child

Download details: "Own Your Space--Keep Yourself and Your Stuff Safe Online" Digital Book for Teens

Download details: "Own Your Space--Keep Yourself and Your Stuff Safe Online" Digital Book for Teens

Help teens ‘own their space’ online. Whether you are a parent, caregiver, or educator, you can keep up with the latest computer and online safety issues and help kids learn to avoid them. In partnership with security expert and author, Linda McCarthy, we offer a free downloadable version of her new book, “Own Your Space – Keep Yourself and Your Stuff Safe Online.” Written for computer and Internet savvy “tweens” and teens specifically, this book is also a useful resource for the adults they rely on.

Internet Google Launches New Family Safety Center

Internet Safety News and Information: Google Launches New Family Safety Center

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

GetParentalControls.org

GetParentalControls.org

Get Parental Controls provides parents with the tools they need for selecting parental control technology by providing accurate, comprehensive, and unbiased information about parental control technology. Get Parental Controls is not affiliated with any company or organization, is run entirely by volunteer effort, and accepts no outside funding and no advertising.


Parents use 'digital' grounding as a 21st century disciplinary tool

Parents use 'digital' grounding as a 21st century disciplinary tool

Monday, September 6, 2010

Digizen - Resources - UK films - Let's fight it together

Digizen - Resources - UK films - Let's fight it together: "View this award winning film that helps sensitise people to the hurt and pain that can be caused by cyberbullying. The film shows ways in which cyberbullying can occur, who it involves, how it can affect different people, and what can be done to prevent it and respond to it."

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Do Students Have a Constitutional Right to Humiliate School Principal

Do Students Have a Constitutional Right to Humiliate School Principals on MySpace? Maybe Yes, Maybe No

by Richard Fossey & Joe Dryden

Today, students who are unhappy with school authorities can avail themselves of the internet and express their disrespect to the entire planet. More and more frequently, alienated students attack school administrators on personal
web sites, blogs, e-mail communications, or social networking web sites.

Often they use vulgar language or worse. Sometimes, in an adolescent effort to be funny, they defame school administrators with allegations of sexual misconduct.

For the full article, visit
http://www.tcrecord.org/Content.asp?ContentId=16080

Friday, September 3, 2010

FSCA NEWS: America's Young Heroes 10th Annual Juried Arts Contest




America's Young Heroes 10th Annual Juried Arts Contest

Florida tweens and teens are invited to submit original stories, poems, artwork, music and film for the 10th Annual America’s Young Heroes Contest. The multimedia competition aims to promote respect and prevent bullying by encouraging students to write about bullying experiences and to focus on the positive thoughts, words and actions taken to resolve them. New this year is an option to interview a celebrity who was bullied in childhood yet succeeded in life as an entertainer, athlete, politician, entrepreneur, parent, teacher or counselor. Interested individuals should send an e-mail to ameryoungheroes@aol.com by Sept. 15, 2010, to reserve a place in the contest. Entries must be postmarked by Nov. 15, 2010, and should be mailed to America’s Young Heroes, Post Office Box 810561, Boca Raton, FL 33481 or e-mailed to ameryoungheroes@aol.com. If you have questions about the contest, visitwww.americasyoungheroes.com or http://web.me.com/getnoticedpr/Americas_Heroes_10th_Annual
_Bully_Contest/10th_Annual_Contest_To_Promote_Respect_and_Prevent_Bullying.html
.

Friday, August 27, 2010

iFreeFace - Free your Time

iFreeFace - Free your Time: " iFreeFace boosts time management and productivity by limiting addictive websites and games."

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Internet Safety News and Information: New Bullying Website: Bullyinginfo.org

Internet Safety News and Information: New Bullying Website: Bullyinginfo.org

Launched by U.S. Department of Education

Following this week's first-ever federal summit on bullying, the U.S. Department of Education launched www.bullyinginfo.org.

In a news release, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said the site will help educators and state and federal officials do a better job at solving the bullying problem.

"It is an absolute travesty of our educational system when students fear for their safety at school, worry about being bullied or suffer discrimination and taunts because of their ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability or a host of other reasons," Duncan said. "The fact is that no school can be a great school until it is a safe school first."

Bullyinginfo.org features a Questions and Answers section about bullying, feature articles, video clips from Dr. James Garbarino, and a Map My Community feature that allows you to search for violence and victimization programs in your area.

Check out bullyinginfo.org. Let us know what you think of the new site in the comments below.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Bibliography of Research on Social Network Sites

Bibliography of Research on Social Network Sites
This comprehensive list is maintained by danah boyd, a Social Media Researcher at Microsoft Research New England and a Fellow at Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet and Society.
http://www.danah.org/researchBibs/sns.php

Monday, August 9, 2010

Formspring's anonymous questions raise a few in age of cyberbullies | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News

Formspring.me is a 9-month-old social networking website that allows users – nearly a third of whom are 17 or younger – to ask cruel, anonymous questions or make comments such as "Go kill yourself and make the world a better place," or "Is that you in your profile picture? It looks like a dead old man."

Experts acknowledge that while cyberbullying has been going on for a while now – the deaths this year of at least three teens have been linked to it – Formspring represents a new frontier.


Read more:

Conn. official put on leave after Facebook posts - BostonHerald.com

Conn. official put on leave after Facebook posts - BostonHerald.com: "A Connecticut school superintendent has been placed on leave and officials are considering whether to fire him over comments he posted on Facebook."

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Millennials will make online sharing in networks a lifelong habit | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project

Millennials will make online sharing in networks a lifelong habit | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project: "Tech experts generally believe that today’s tech-savvy young people – the ‘digital natives’ who are known for enthusiastically embracing social networking – will retain their willingness to share personal information online even as they get older and take on more responsibilities. Experts surveyed say that the advantages Millennials see in personal disclosure will outweigh their concerns about their privacy.

Learn more about the Millennial generation at http://pewresearch.org/millennials/"

Protecting Children from Harmful Online Content

Safety-driven software aims to block texting while driving - USATODAY.com

Safety-driven software aims to block texting while driving - USATODAY.com

Jessi Slaughter Talks Cyberbullying on Good Morning America

Jessi Slaughter Talks Cyberbullying on Good Morning America

Today, Good Morning America sat down with Jessi Slaughter, the 11 year-old victim of intense cyberbullying, and her parents. She talked about the content of her videos and how she's reacted to the firestorm that her videos touched off.

Jessi says that she understands how this could have pushed her to be suicidal but that she isn't. She is, however, getting some counseling, which seems like a really good idea.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

The Living Internet: Get ready to be “spoofed”; youth as co-creators | Cyberbullying News | Research, Reviews, Summaries & Expert Interviews for Educators & Researchers

The Living Internet: Get ready to be “spoofed”; youth as co-creators

Fri, Jul 16, 2010

Youth Voices

In reviewing clips for today’s “Friday’s Film Feature,” we became accutely aware that, as noted in the recent Youth Safety on a Living Internet, the “Internet, is, in effect, a ‘living thing,’” (p. 5), with its users, especially youth, being very much co-creators and co-interpreters of much of the content. What’s this got to do with the Friday film feature? Well, watch these clips and find out!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Parental Controls Follows Teens to the Car - Family and Child Online Safety Blog - SafetyClicks

Parental Controls Follows Teens to the Car

The 2010 Ford Focus has a new feature that is designed for the new teen driver. More specifically, the parent of the new teen driver.

The "MyKey Safety System" allows you to assign a key to individuals. The key has a chip that tells the car which driver is in the car and sets specific safety features such as a seat belt reminder, a reduced top volume for the audio system, and what is sure to be the parental favorite, a device that limits the top speed.

Would features such as these encourage you to buy a Ford Focus for your teen driver? What do you think about this kind of parental control?

7 things to stop doing on Facebook

7 things to stop doing on Facebook

YouTube - McGruff the Crime Dog in Samantha's Choice

YouTube - McGruff the Crime Dog in Samantha's Choice: "This five-minute video follows the story of a young girl who is afraid to go to ballet class, for fear of being bullied. This new animated short marks the third generation of children to receive advice from McGruff the Crime Dog. 'Stop, Talk & Walk' is the essential advice that McGruff doles out to a young girl in the story."

Parent Advice - 5 Ways to Unplug on Vacation - Common Sense Media

Parent Advice - 5 Ways to Unplug on Vacation - Common Sense Media

What's the biggest challenge facing families this summer? Cancelled flights? Rain delays? Try unplugging from our 24/7 media lives. For kids, that means notexting, no DS, no iPod, no computer. For parents, it means cutting the cord that keeps us connected to work (or Facebook, or our favorite podcast...).


Friday, July 9, 2010

Internet dependence and gambling addiction are not linked

[ Back to EurekAlert! ]Public release date: 28-Jun-2010
[ Print | E-mail | Share Share ] [ Close Window ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn
vcohn@liebertpub.com
914-740-2156
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

Internet dependence and gambling addiction are not linked

Affected individuals have common psychological profiles

IMAGE: Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking is published 6 times a year in print and online.

Click here for more information.

New Rochelle, NY, June 28, 2010—A study of university students found no overlap between those reporting excessive Internet use and those with problem gambling. However, both addictive behaviors are associated with psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness, according to a provocative Rapid Communication in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (www.liebertpub.com). The article is available free online at www.liebertpub.com/cyber

Both Internet dependence and problem gambling are typically viewed as behavioral addictions, and as such might be expected to affect the same individuals. But as N.A. Dowling, PhD, from the University of Melbourne, and M. Brown from Monash University, both in Australia, conclude in the article entitled, "Commonalities in the Psychological Factors Associated with Problem Gambling and Internet Dependence," these seem to be separate disorders that share common underlying psychological profiles, which has implications for their management.

Based on their assessment of a small group of university students in Australia, the authors report that similar vulnerabilities, attributable to feelings of anxiety, stress, depression, loneliness, and social isolation, appear to contribute to excesses in Internet use and gambling behavior. Effective treatments would likely integrate multiple types of interventions that target the specific problem behavior and the general tendency to addiction.

"It is clear that effectively evaluating and treating these disorders requires a clear understanding of the individual symptomatology and internal conflicts particular to each patient," says Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCIA, Editor-in-Chief of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, from the Interactive Media Institute, San Diego, CA.

###

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (formerly CyberPsychology & Behavior) is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published bimonthly in print and online that explores the psychological and social issues surrounding the Internet and interactive technologies. Complete tables of content and a free sample issue may be viewed online at www.liebertpub.com/cyber

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Telemedicine and e-Health and Journal of Women's Health. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 60 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available at www.liebertpub.com.

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 140 Huguenot St., New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215 www.liebertpub.com Phone: (914) 740-2100 (800) M-LIEBERT Fax: (914) 740-2101



[ Back to EurekAlert! ][ Print | E-mail | Share Share ] [ Close Window ]


Who is likely to become a bully, victim or both?

Who is likely to become a bully, victim or both?

Contact: Pam Willenz
pwillenz@apa.org
202-336-5707
American Psychological Association

Who is likely to become a bully, victim or both?

New research shows poor problem-solving increases risk for all

WASHINGTON – Children and adolescents who lack social problem-solving skills are more at risk of becoming bullies, victims or both than those who don't have these difficulties, says new research published by the American Psychological Association. But those who are also having academic troubles are even likelier to become bullies.

"This is the first time we've overviewed the research to see what individual and environmental characteristics predict the likelihood of becoming a bully, victim or both," said lead author Clayton R. Cook, PhD, of Louisiana State University. "These groups share certain characteristics, but they also have unique traits. We hope this knowledge will help us better understand the conditions under which bullying occurs and the consequences it may have for individuals and the other people in the same settings. Ultimately, we want to develop better prevention and intervention strategies to stop the cycle before it begins."

Cook and co-authors from the University of California at Riverside examined 153 studies from the last 30 years. They found that boys bully more than girls, and bullies and victims both have poor social problem-solving skills. More than anything else, poor academic performance predicts those who will bully.

"A typical bully has trouble resolving problems with others and also has trouble academically," said Cook. "He or she usually has negative attitudes and beliefs about others, feels negatively toward himself/herself, comes from a family environment characterized by conflict and poor parenting, perceives school as negative and is negatively influenced by peers."

"A typical victim is likely to be aggressive, lack social skills, think negative thoughts, experience difficulties in solving social problems, come from negative family, school and community environments and be noticeably rejected and isolated by peers," said Cook.

The typical bully-victim (someone who bullies and is bullied) also has negative attitudes and beliefs about himself or herself and others, the study found. He or she has trouble with social interaction, does not have good social problem-solving skills, performs poorly academically and is not only rejected and isolated by peers but is also negatively influenced by the peers with whom he or she interacts, according to the study.

Sample sizes for the studies examined ranged from 44 to 26,430. Ages ranged from 3 to 18 years old. The participants were from the United States and Europe. Researchers used self-, peer, teacher and parent reports to measure the extent of bullying, aggression and victimization; externalizing behavior (defiant, aggressive or disruptive responses); internalizing behaviors (withdrawal, depression, anxious and avoidant responses); social competence; beliefs, feelings and thoughts; academic performance; family and home environment; school environment; community life; peer status and influence.

The authors found that age played a role in how much bullies and victims acted out their aggressions or internalized their feelings. Younger bullies were more defiant, aggressive and disruptive, whereas older bullies were more withdrawn, depressed and anxious. Younger bullies were not as bothered by rejection and being unpopular as were older bullies. And older victims suffered from depression and anxiousness more than younger victims.

According to the authors, most programs use strategies to prevent bullying that favor removing the bully from the environment, such as enforced anti-bullying rules and peer-reporting of bullying incidents in schools. The more promising interventions target the behaviors and the environments that are putting these young people at risk of becoming bullies and/or victims.

"Intervene with the parents, peers and schools simultaneously," said Cook. "Behavioral parent training could be used in the home while building good peer relationship and problem-solving skills could be offered in the schools, along with academic help for those having troubling in this area."

###

Article: "Predictors of Bullying and Victimization in Childhood and Adolescence: A Meta-analytic Investigation," Clayton R. Cook, PhD, Louisiana State University; Kirk R. William, PhD, Nancy G. Guerra, EdD, Tia E. Kim, PhD, and Shelly Sadek, MA, University of California, Riverside; School Psychology Quarterly, Vol. 25, No.2.

(Full text of the article is available from the APA Public Affairs Office and at http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/spq-25-2-65.pdf )

Contact Dr. Clayton R. Cook by e-mail at cook2142@lsu.edu

Contact Dr. Nancy G. Guerra by e-mail at nancy.guerra@ucr.edu or by phone at (951) 827-6421 (work) or (949) 463-4659 (cell)

The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 152,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.

Power to Learn - Are You Oversharing?

Power to Learn - Are You Oversharing?: "Technology continues to stimulate the coining of new terms and if you aren’t familiar with the term “oversharing,” it is likely that you soon will be. Oversharing means exactly what it sounds like - the sharing of way too much information about ourselves. Stuff that most people don’t need – and especially don’t want – to know about us. If you or your kids are active on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Gowalla and Foursquare you may want to take a moment and consider the amount of oversharing you are doing online and what it could mean to your personal security." Click to read more

Television and Video Game Exposure and the Development of Attention Problems -- Swing et al., 10.1542/peds.2009-1508 -- Pediatrics

Television and Video Game Exposure and the Development of Attention Problems -- Swing et al., 10.1542/peds.2009-1508 -- Pediatrics: "Viewing television and playing video games each are associated with increased subsequent attention problems in childhood. It seems that a similar association among television, video games, and attention problems exists in late adolescence and early adulthood. Research on potential risk factors for attention problems should be expanded to include video games in addition to television."

Thursday, July 8, 2010

e-Ana and e-Mia: A Content Analysis of Pro-Eating ... [Am J Public Health. 2010] - PubMed result

e-Ana and e-Mia: A Content Analysis of Pro-Eating Disorder Web Sites.

Borzekowski DL, Schenk S, Wilson JL, Peebles R.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Abstract

Objectives. The Internet offers Web sites that describe, endorse, and support eating disorders. We examined the features of pro-eating disorder Web sites and the messages to which users may be exposed. Methods. We conducted a systematic content analysis of 180 active Web sites, noting site logistics, site accessories, ''thinspiration'' material (images and prose intended to inspire weight loss), tips and tricks, recovery, themes, and perceived harm. Results. Practically all (91%) of the Web sites were open to the public, and most (79%) had interactive features. A large majority (84%) offered pro-anorexia content, and 64% provided pro-bulimia content. Few sites focused on eating disorders as a lifestyle choice. Thinspiration material appeared on 85% of the sites, and 83% provided overt suggestions on how to engage in eatingdisordered behaviors. Thirty-eight percent of the sites included recovery-oriented information or links. Common themes were success, control, perfection, and solidarity. Conclusions. Pro-eating disorder Web sites present graphic material to encourage, support, and motivate site users to continue their efforts with anorexia and bulimia. Continued monitoring will offer a valuable foundation to build a better understanding of the effects of these sites on their users.

PMID: 20558807 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Blog Archive