News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

Twitter -- the microblogging site that allows users to communicate in 140 character messages -- has experienced a usage boom over the past year or so. But unlike many other social media advances, this one hasn't been embraced to any great degree by younger users.

According to a Feb. 3 release by the Pew Research Center, teens and tweens Tweet far less frequently than adults do:

• 8 percent of internet users ages 12-17 use Twitter. This makes [using] Twitter ... far less common than sending or receiving text messages ... or going online for news and political information.
• 19 percent of adult internet users use Twitter or similar services to post short status updates and view the updates of others online.

The PRC release also notes that blogging remains much more popular among adults than among adolescents and teenagers:

• 14 percent of online teens now say they blog, down from 28 percent of teen internet users in 2006.
• 52 percent of teen social network users report commenting on friends' blogs, down from the 76 percent who did so in 2006.
• By comparison, the prevalence of blogging within the overall adult internet population has remained steady in recent years. Pew Internet Project surveys since 2005 have consistently found that roughly one-in-ten online adults maintain a personal online journal or blog.

Labels: blogs, internet, social-networking, twitter

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Teen Internet use remains exceedingly popular, but fewer teens keeping blogs or online diaries, according to a study from the Pew Research Institute. Researchers found that teens today are more likely to be active on social networking sites such as MySpace or Twitter.

• The Pew study found that in 2006, 28 percent of teenage Internet users kept blogs, but today, that rate is 14 percent.
• Teens are more likely to use status updates on social networks to keep in touch with their friends.
  
• Teens were more likely to use MySpace, while adults preferred Facebook.
  
• Teenage girls are twice as likely to use Twitter compared to boys.

The number of adults who blog has remained consistent at one in ten adults among those who use the Internet.

Labels: blogs, internet, facebook, myspace

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Tess Chapin is a 15-year-old girl from Queens, New York, who was grounded for five weeks because she missed her curfew by an hour and was drinking at a party. Feeling unfairly punished, Tess has started a Facebook campaign aimed at convincing her parents to end her punishment.

A Jan. 15 article by Susan Dominus of the New York Times featured Chapins story:

A few days after founding the Facebook group  1000 to get tess ungrounded  Tess had nearly reached her stated goal, with 806 members by Friday morning; after this column about her quest was posted on nytimes.com, she surpassed it. &

Her dad wanted to give her three months, said her mother, Jennifer Iselin Chapin, a fund-raiser for the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group. I wanted a month. This was a compromise.

For the duration, there will be no parties for Tess, no sleepovers, no Sweet 16s, no hanging out at a friends, and certainly no hanging out at a party where there is no parent present and possibly alcohol served, like the one that landed her in this situation in the first place.

Tess, so far, seems to have accepted her fate, albeit with grumbling and the same charming sass that she displays on Facebook, Dominus reported. She does not have any plans, it seems, to skirt the punishment, at least none evident from her Facebook groups page.

Labels: internet, punishment

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A new study of European teenagers found they are less likely to spend time on the Internet than are their American counterparts.

• Europeans ages 12 to 17 years old actually spend more time watching television at an average of 10 hours a week than they do using the Internet for personal reasons at an average of nine hours a week.
  
• Only 41 percent of European teenagers visit social networks at least once weekly, telling researchers they prefer contact with friends in person.
  
• European teenagers love video games, but prefer console-based games to computer-based ones.
• Hardly any American or European teens read newspapers.

The study was conducted by the Forrester research company.

Labels: teens, internet, teen_culture, europe

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A coalition of research and anti-drug abuse organizations has created and launched a new tool for parents. "WebSafe" is an online platform aimed at educating and equipping parents to better protect their kids from pro-drug messages on the Internet.

A Sept. 16 release on the website of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America provided the following details about the effort:

WebSafe is an online community offering information educating adults about pro-drug content to which children may be exposed every time they go online. WebSafe also provides Community Alerts that regularly notify registered "WebSafe Parents" about new, potentially harmful websites and other Internet threats.

Parents and other adults can also purchase "The WebSafe Lifeguard," state-of-the-art software that can monitor and control how long, when, and what sites children are visiting  and even block children from giving out personal and family information.

Eventually, visitors and members will be invited to join local "WebSafe Communities" where they can exchange information about threats with other concerned parents, educators, and professionals in their area.

"Parents would never let children surf dangerous waters unprotected," said Carey Kriz, Unyos CEO. "WebSafe transforms parents into the lifeguard protecting Internet-surfing kids from the subtle and not-so-subtle threats they face."

Labels: internet, computers, online_safety, protection

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Parents who are sure that their teens never view adult-oriented web sites may want to take a closer look at their children's surfing habits.

A survey of Australia teenagers has revealed that the vast majority has seen online pornography, though most teens claimed to have "accidentally" seen the images.

According to Sept. 11 Herald Sun article, researchers with Edith Cowan University reported that 84 percent of the boys and 60 percent of girls said they have "stumbled across" pornographic websites while surfing the Internet.

"The Internet offers a world of opportunity for young people but it is important that they are empowered to confront online problems such as cyber-bullying, inappropriate content and invasions of privacy," the nation's communications minister, Stephen Conroy, said in the Herald Sun article.

Though the Australian government has announced a $128 million effort to enhance the online security of young web-surfers, a number of groups have criticized the effort. For example, the Herald Sun reported, Liberal Senator Nick Minchin has claimed that the mandatory web-filtering program would lull parents into a false sense of security.

Labels: internet, porn

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Young people today have access to more media and information than any previous generation. But in the age of cell phones and instant messaging, kids are also more separated from the adult world.

Maturity follows a formula," [Mark Bauerlein] wrote in the Knoxville News Sentinel. "The more kids contact one another, the less they heed the tutelage of adults. When peer consciousness grows too fixed and firm, the teachers voice counts for nothing outside the classroom. When youth identity envelopes them, parent talk at the dinner table only distracts them.

The Kaiser Foundation estimates that 68 percent of kids have televisions in their rooms. It also estimates that the total amount of time kids spend with media (in its various forms), is nearly equivalent to having a full-time job. Texting, downloading and blogging are all great pastimes, but kids also need quality time with the adults who can help guide and instruct them.

Children whose video gaming and web surfing have progressed to the point of obsession may benefit from the effective professional intervention that is available at a residential treatment program for computer-addicted teens.

Labels: technology, internet, text messaging, cell phones

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Symantecs OnlineFamily.Norton (a family-friendly web monitoring service) has revealed that "sex" and "porn" are among the most common online search terms by young people.

The search top ten, which was determined by an evaluation of about 3.5 million searches that were conducted between February 2008 and July 2009, contains the following terms:

1. YouTube
2. Google
3. Facebook
4. Sex
5. MySpace
6. Porn
7. Yahoo
8. Michael Jackson
9. Fred (YouTube star Fred Figglehorn)
10. eBay

In a statement that was reported in an Aug. 12 BBC News article about the search findings, Symantec's Internet safety advocate, Marian Merritt, said that the web monitoring service and the search results "[help] identify 'teachable moments' when parents should be talking with their kids about appropriate online behavior and other issues in their kids' online lives."

Labels: internet, online_safety

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According to a recent survey conducted by Common Sense Media, 51 percent of teenagers check social networking sites more than once a day. The same survey found that only 23 percent of parents believed their kids checked more than once a day.

James, Styer CEO of Common Sense Media, said that these statistics indicate that many parents aren't doing a good enough job of monitoring their children's behavior:

Styer said ... that he thinks parents and teachers have to go on Facebook and MySpace to understand what [online social networking sites] are. "You've got to check your kids' history online. You've got to check their cell phone accounts and see how many text messages they can do. You've got to talk with them about the messages and images they post." (Source: The Tennessean)

Styer noted that social networking sites are not inherently bad, but emphasized the need for parental oversight to help ensure that children are not being exploited online or engaging in dangerous online behavior.

Labels: internet, social-networking, online_safety

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Parents underestimate how much time their teenagers spend on social network websites. They also underestimate how often their teens engage in risky behaviors, such as bullying and posting semi-nude photos of themselves.

Researchers from Common Sense Media surveyed 1,013 teenagers and 1,002 parents. Highlights of the study's findings include the following:

• Twenty-eight percent of the teenagers said they had post personal information on their websites, but only 16 percent of parents believe their children did that.
• Some 37 percent of teenagers said they make fun of other students online, but only 18 percent of parents believe their children did that.
• 
  As for naked or semi naked pictures and videos, 13 percent of teenagers said they had posted them; however, only two percent of parents thought their teens had done that.

A spokesperson for Common Sense Media advised parents to remind teenagers that everything they post can be seen by a vast audience, and that postings online may last forever.

Labels: internet, cyberbulling, online_safety, sexting

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Providing access to a virtually endless supply of games, information, videos, and opportunities for interaction with other young people, the Internet can be quite enticing for adolescent and teen computer users of all ages.

Some young people use computers to improve their academic performance and make news friends, while others devolve into obsessive game playing or other forms of Internet addiction -- problems that have caused some parents to wonder if allowing their children to use the Internet is such a good idea at all.

According to a study by Shu-Sha Angie Guan; Kaveri Subrahmanyam (published June 25 on the Medscape Today website), Internet access can be both beneficial and detrimental to young users:

For youth, the Internet presents a number of risks along with a multitude of opportunities. The research reviewed suggests that some of the online risks facing youth are addiction, exposure to inappropriate material, cyber-bullying and sexual solicitation. ...

Research also suggests that some youth may be more likely to be victims of online harassment and sexual solicitation, suggesting that intervention efforts should target high-risk youth as well as risky online behaviors.

"Despite these risks, the research also suggests that the Internet can be beneficial for youth," the researchers reported. "It provides a vehicle to promote cognitive, social, and physical development."

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A new study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found that half of young people with profiles on the social networking website MySpace post content about sex, drugs, and violence.

Researchers from the Seattle Children's Research Institute randomly selected 500 profiles of MySpace posters who said they were 18 years old. Of these, 54 percent gave out information about high risk behaviors, 41 percent talked about substance abuse, 24 percent mentioned sexual behaviors, and 14 percent referred to violence.

As an added twist, about 200 people with such profiles received a caring memo from "Dr. Meg," who is Dr. Megan Moreno, a pediatrician and specialist in adolescence with the University of Wisconsin at Madison. The "Dr. Meg" memo read in part, "You seem to be quite open about sexual issues or other behaviors such as drinking and smoking. Are you sure that is a good idea? You might consider revising your page to better protect your privacy."

Among those who received a memo, 42 percent set their profiles to private or removed the references in question.

Labels: sex, internet, myspace

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A study that was conducted at the University of Illinois indicates that online racism takes the form of discrimination disseminated through instant and text messages, discussion forums, online games, and social networking websites. Also, hate groups propagate false historical information aimed at students who are conducting research.

Dr. Brendescha Tynes and her colleagues found that 29 percent of African-American, 20 percent of white, and 42 percent of multiracial/other adolescents experienced discrimination directed at them online, an experience that caused anxiety and depression in many cases.

Dr. Tynes also found that hate groups are devising websites that contain false information about historical figures such as Martin Luther King and Barack Obama or events like the Holocaust. These sites, she said, are designed to mislead students who are doing research for school papers.

Although Dr. Tynes frames the issue as a public health concern, she does not believe that parents or government should restrict young people's access to the Internet.

This study appeared in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Labels: internet, depression, racism

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Adults believe that sexual predators are a significant threat to children online. The truth is that bullying from other children is a far more serious issue, according to a report from the Internet Safety Task Force.

Attorneys general from 49 states created the task force to examine the problem of online predators and to suggest solutions. However, the task force found that adults were unlikely to proposition children and teenagers online. Although there have been some cases of meetings between predators and minors, the minors are usually willing participants from troubled home environments.

Social networks such as MySpace and Facebook "do not appear to have increased the overall risk of solicitation," according to the 278-page report.

Some of the participating attorneys general later criticized the task force for downplaying the threat of online predators.

Labels: safety, internet, predators

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Addiction treatment professionals are facing a new trend: Internet addiction. Professionals are only beginning to understand the similar problem of gambling addiction, and this new trend is leaving them at a loss. Experts anticipate that the problem will grow in coming years. Louise Nadeau, a professor at the Université de Montréal's Department of Psychology, commented:

"The problem isn't widespread but we know of serious cases in which teenagers don't leave the house, don't have interpersonal relationships, and have been isolated in front of their computer screen for the past two or three years, and only speak in the language of the characters they play with in network video games. ... In a few years we'll have couples in therapy because the Internet will have become their main occupation." (Source: sciencedaily.com)

Labels: internet, addictions

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Although most adults may believe that what teens do on the Internet is a waste of time, a new study from the MacArthur Foundation found otherwise.

"It may look as though kids are wasting a lot of time hanging out with new media, whether it's on MySpace or sending instant messages," said Mizuko Ito, lead researcher on the study entitled Living and Learning With New Media. "But their participation is giving them the technological skills and literacy they need to succeed in the contemporary world. They're learning how to get along with others, how to manage a public identity, how to create a home page."

The new study is part of a $50 million project on digital and media learning. Researchers interviewed 800 parents and teenagers and observed teens online for 5,000 hours. One finding is that most teens are continually available via mobile phone and instant messaging to a small but intimate community of friends. Teens use the new media for socializing, to explore romantic relationships, and to "geek out."

"Geeking out" means exploring a special area of interest through the Internet, and joining a community of people who share that interest, the study reported.

Labels: internet, skills

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Child experts are debating the role the Internet played a part in pushing two teens to commit suicide.

In the first case, a federal jury convicted Lori Drew, age 49, of three misdemeanor charges of computer fraud.

Ms. Drew, and her then 13-year-old daughter, Sarah, and a friend the same age worked together to create a false persona of a teenaged boy named Josh Evans on MySpace. "Josh" got into a romantic relationship with Megan Meir, Sarah's "enemy." When "Josh" emailed Megan "the world would be a better place without you," Megan committed suicide.

Experts point to the fact that some teenagers put too much weight on Internet relationships with people they have never met in person. Others point out that Megan is not the first child to commit suicide because of "cyberbullying" - and the fact that her harasser could only be convicted of a misdemeanor indicates inadequacy in current laws regulating the Internet.

In the second case, a 19-year-old college student committed suicide in front of an Internet audience. Abraham Biggs of Pembroke Pines, Florida, took a lethal dose of drugs while a webcam broadcast his actions. Some in the audience may have egged him on.

Dr. Jeffrey Cole of the University of Southern California compared the Internet audience to the crowd outside the building with the suicidal person on the ledge.

"Sometimes there is someone who gets involved and tries to talk him down," he said. "Often the crowd chants, 'jump, jump.' They can enable suicide or help prevent it."

Dr. Jon Shaw, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Miami School of Medicine believes Biggs would not have committed suicide without the audience.

"His doing it for the group [involved] a very complicated process we don't really understand," Shaw said. "Would he have carried it out without the audience? Probably not."

Labels: suicide, internet

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One-third of students in a new Nielsen survey told researchers that their parents would disapprove of what they do online.

The students who were surveyed told researchers that they watch videos or go to websites that depict alcoholism, drug abuse, self-mutilation, eating disorders, and pornography. Nielsen did the research for the Office of National Drug Control (OFNDC) in June.

• One in twenty said they view drug- and alcohol-related videos that promote or treat the subject in a light-hearted way.



• One in eight told researchers that someone had spread a nasty rumor about them online.



• One in eleven reported that someone had posted an embarrassing picture of them online.



• Many view pornography, with the average age of first exposure to porn being eleven.

OFNDC director John Walters said many parents remain clueless about their children's online activities, and worry too much about sexual predators on the Internet.

"Parents read news stories about Internet pedophiles, and they understandably worry about their children being exposed to online pornography," Walters said. "But they may not be aware how pervasive this content is, and how young the children are who are being exposed to this. Parents are not worrying about drug, alcohol and other dangerous content online and how it impacts their child's behavior."

Labels: internet, interferring, independence

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More parents are participating in teen social websites like Facebook or MySpace, according to a report from MSNBC. The majority sign up to make sure their teens post only appropriate videos, pictures, and written materials, and some leave Internet reminders for their teens such as "dentist today" or "do your math homework."

However, some adults pursue their own interests on the social network sites, and others simply enjoy Internet chatting with their children and their children's friends, according to the report.

Facebook, originally designed for college students, tripled the number of its accounts in the 35- to 54-year-old age group this year. The 13- to 34-year-old group doubled in the same period, and the group over 65 grew by 150 percent.

Labels: internet, interferring, privacy

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Teachers and parents are in the middle of a debate about the relationship between the Internet and reading, according to a report in The New York Times.

Some experts in education believe that teenagers spend too much time on the Internet, which leads to a decline in reading test scores and a lessening of their abilities to concentrate. They argue that reading books is the only way to absorb a culture that has always been communicated that way from generation to generation. Others believe that by using the Internet, young people master a new set of skills that will benefit them in the future.

The average teen spends almost two hours a day on computers, compared to 46 minutes in 1999, according to research by the Kaiser Family Institute. And success on reading tests has been linked to leisure-time reading. However, most teens prefer to spend leisure time communicating with one another on the Internet, which does improve reading skills. Some experts believe that college board exams should keep up with the times by including sections that test computer literacy, which they believe is just as important as reading skills.

Dana Gioia, chairperson of the National Education Association, disagrees. "What we are losing in this country and presumably around the world is the sustained, focused, linear attention developed by reading," he said. "I would believe people who tell me that the Internet develops reading if I did not see such a universal decline in reading ability and reading comprehension on virtually all tests."

If you feel your teen is spending too much time on the Internet, learn about Internet Addiction at www.video-game-addiction.org.

Labels: internet, communication, reading

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More than 90 percent of American children use the Internet before they are nine years old, according to the Tween Internet Safety Survey that was co-sponsored by Cox Communications and the Center for Missing and Exploiting Children.

By the time they are twelve, 71 of U.S. children percent have e-mail accounts, 41 percent have Instant Messaging, 50 percent have cell phones, and 33 percent have posted profiles of themselves on social networking sites such as Facebook. Of those who have such profiles, 61 percent have posted pictures of themselves and 48 percent have given false ages. Half the tweens with profiles have been contacted by strangers online compared to a quarter of all those in the survey.

Spokespeople for the Center for Missing and Exploiting Children said they were concerned about the percentages of tweens posting private information about themselves, as well as by the number who had been contacted by strangers.

Learn more: MySpace Agrees to Safeguard Teens and Kids on Its Website

Labels: internet, tweens, cell_phones

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Setting and monitoring rules regarding computer use has always been challenging for parents. But laptops (provided or required by some high schools) present a new set of challenges: Students need them for homework, but how do parents make sure that homework is what they're actually using them for?

"Like many other child care professionals, Dr. [Tami] Amiri advocates keeping all computers on the dining room table or other public spot, with the screen in view of an adult, and limiting time spent on non-academic subjects."

While laptops can make it hard for parents to enforce rules, Amiri advises that there should still be rules in place, with clear consequences when those rules aren't followed. Source: The New York Times

If you're worried your teen is spending too much time in front of a computer or TV screen, visit Video Game Addiction to learn more.

Labels: video_games, internet, addictions

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Representatives from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, web domain company Go Daddy, and a host of other organizations have asked Congress to impose additional restrictions on the online pharmacy industry as a means of fighting the illegal distribution of prescription medication.

According to the McClatchy news service, the DEA has requested that Congress pass legislation requiring a valid prescription written after a face-to-face medical evaluation as a precursor to making a prescription drug purchase over the Internet.

Testifying June 24, 2008, before the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, Joseph Rannazzisi, the deputy assistant administrator of the DEA's Office of Diversion Control, noted that while a normal brick-and-mortar pharmacy fills about 180 prescriptions a day (11 of which are for anti-anxiety or pain-killing medication), an average illicit online pharmacy processes more than 400 daily sales of controlled substances.

The problem of online pharmacies "isn't just about people trying to save money on prescription drugs by unknowingly buying counterfeit brand name pills," Christine Jones, Go Daddy's general counsel, told the subcommittee. "This is about young kids who use their parents' credit card, tell them they are buying music or video games and instead stock the weekly party with enough ecstasy for them and all their friends. This is very, very serious."

The June 24 meeting was not the first time that Congress has looked at the online pharmaceutical industry. During a May 16, 2007 hearing by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Joseph A. Califano of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse referred to the Internet as "a pharmaceutical candy store, its shelves stacked with an array of addictive prescription drugs offering a high to any kid with a credit card number at the click of a mouse."

Labels: safety, internet, prescription_drugs

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In recent days, MySpace has been in the news again. A federal grand jury indicted a mother whom they say played a cruel hoax - via MySpace - on a 13-year-old girl that resulted in the girl's suicide. Stories like this feed the fears many parents have about social networking sites and the Internet in general.

"Experts warn that taking MySpace away just makes the site all the more seductive for today's tech-savvy kids, who find a workaround. Also, cybersyping driven by fear of MySpace, rather than a child's bad behavior, can break the trust between a parent and child and create a rift in their relationship."

Instead, child psychologists and others recommend that parents set clear rules around Internet use, including consequences for breaking rules. Put the family computer in a common room where activity can't be hidden, and keep communication open so your child knows that she can come to you if something negative happens. Source: MSNBC

Therapeutic boarding schools, like Youth Care in Draper, Utah, help teens deal with their emotions and behaviors while they earn school credits.

Labels: safety, internet, myspace

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It used to be that parents worried about what their kids were doing on their computers. Now, many parents are beginning to wonder what their kids are doing on their cell phones. Now that most cell phones offer Internet access, the Web is available just about everywhere.

"Among teens, there is a strong demand for text messaging and email on cell phones. Now they want additional features, too, says Chris Collins, a senior analyst with Yankee Group. In a survey, 26% of teens said that having Internet access was a must-have feature for the next phone they bought..."

Many cell phone carriers offer options that allow parents to control how much access kids have to the Internet. Some service plans enable parents to block certain types of websites, or block Internet access altogether. Source: The Wall Street Journal

Worried that your teen is becoming addicted to the Internet? Check out Video-Game-Addiction.org to learn more.

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Cyberbullying is not a new phrase to many parents. But a recent story from Washington State puts it back in the spotlight. A Web site invites teens to anonymously post gossip about anyone they'd like - and name names - whether the gossip is true or not.

"This recent example presents a teachable moment, however, that educators, students leaders and parents should seize. For many families, it's a two-way opportunity. Parents may have as much to learn about the various ways their children are communicating these days as they can teach about doing so responsibly."

Cyberbullying is a growing problem that occurs not only on "gossip sites" but also in personal blogs, e-mails, instant messages, and even cell phone text messages. With so many different forms of communication available, parents have the tough job of teaching their kids how to use them all respectfully and responsibly. Read more at HeraldNet.com.

Labels: internet, cyberbulling, online_safety

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Today's teens spend an average of 30 hours per week on "screen time," and a third of teens spend over 40 hours, according to a new Canadian study.

"Screen time" is time spent using computers, playing video games, or watching television.

Researchers questioned 1,293 Montreal 7th graders over a five-year period in a study funded by the National Cancer Institute of Canada. They found:

• 60% of teens spend at least 20 hours a week in front of screens.


• 52% of boys and 26% of girls report at least 42 hours per week.


• 7% report 50 hours or more.


• Teens from lower socio-economic backgrounds spend up to five times more time in front of screens than their more affluent counterparts.

This study was presented at the 48th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention.

Worried you're child is addicted to video games or the Internet? Visit www.video-game-addiction.org to learn more.

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In the PBS special presentation "Growing Up Online", viewers get a look inside the very private online worlds that kids are able to create for themselves these days. It's a growing trend that leaves parents struggling to keep up with their children's lives.

"As more and more kids begin to grow up online, parents are finding themselves on the outside looking in, struggling to remain relevant and engaged in their kids' lives. 'I remember being 11; I remember being 13; I remember being 16, and I remember having secrets,' one mother says. 'But it's really hard when it's on the other side.'"

Danah Boyd, a fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School reminds parents that things like MySpace and Facebook can't just be turned off. Parents have to learn how to live in a society where these things exist, and teach their kids how to live in it as well. Read more at IndianaLawBlog.com.

Worried that your child is struggling with internet addiction? Visit Video-Game-Addiction.org for signs of computer addiction and what you can do to help your child.

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More teen girls set up personal Web sites and keep online blogs than teen boys, according to a new study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
About 35% of girls ages 12 to 17 who are online keep blogs (diaries) compared to only 20% of boys. Girls are more likely to create Web sites and other Internet content compared to boys (55% vs. 45%).

"Girls have always demonstrated a more aggressive adoption of online posting," according to Mary Madden, a senior research specialist at Pew. "It seems that girls are more focused on verbal expression."

Studies have shown that girls think differently than boys and therefore learn differently than boys. Private all-girls boarding schools address the specific needs of girls, both in and out of the classroom. New Leaf Academy is an all girls junior boarding school with campuses in Oregon and North Carolina. Bromley Brook is a boarding high school for girls that offers a more traditional location in New England. Copper Canyon Academy boarding schools for troubled girls is located in Arizona.

Labels: internet, girls, boundaries

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Teens are socializing online and by cell phone more than ever, although email is now "uncool," according to a study by the Pew Institute.

Over 63% of teens own cell phones, and 55% use them every day to talk with friends. Fifty-five percent have profiles on social networks like Facebook and MySpace, and 41% use these websites to communicate with friends every day. Over 40% of girls and 20% of boys blog or keep online diaries.

The "Teens and Social Media" study involved interviews with persons ages 12 to 17 years old between 2004 and 2006.

NorthStar Center drug abuse recovery programs offer adolescents and young adults a sober living environment and addiction therapy.

Labels: internet, cell_phones, email

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You want to know what your teenager is doing and saying on his favorite social networking site (MySpace, Facebook, etc). So you go online, create a profile of your own and "friend" your son so that you can see his profile, comments, pictures, etc. But is that the best place to start?

"Rather than going to your teen's favorite social networking site, finding something disagreeable and then telling him your were looking at his profile, talk about it first. Let him know that a condition of his being allowed to use MySpace, Facebook or the next big thing to come along is that you have access to his page. The purpose of this conversation is not to negotiate, but to underscore the value you place on being upfront and honest."

Instead of creating a profile of your own and trying to "sneak a peek" at your daughter's Facebook page, ask her if the two of you can look at her profile together. Most young people don't think they post anything dangerous on these web sites, but often they're unaware of little things (pictures or comments) that would make them vulnerable to online predators. Make sure your teen knows that your primary focus is to help her be safe.

Looking for a private school for your teen? Visit BoardingSchoolsInfo.com for a complete list of private boarding schools.

Labels: internet, interferring, privacy

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Tom and Cindy (not their real names) know more about their daughter than she could possibly imagine. Using one of many available programs, they are able to view her email, instant messages, and track the web sites she views.

"Every time Jane writes or reads one of those [keywords], Cindy gets an email and can see what she's up to. It's a far cry from past generations, where parents knew what their kids were up to. The family telephone didn't offer much privacy."

Parents have reason to worry. Nearly one-third of all teens who are online have been contacted by a stranger. Still, some kids and parents consider this level of monitoring an invasion of privacy and insist there are other ways to keep kids safe. It's a debate that's likely to continue as long as there are teens, parents, and the Internet.

Keeping kids safe online, and offline, can be a daunting task for any parent. Visit the ParentingTipsNewsletter for more free advice and help for parents of teenagers.

Labels: safety, internet, privacy

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Strangers are more likely to contact teens who post profiles online or who participate in social networks like Facebook or MySpace, according to a new survey by the Pew Institute.

It did not matter if a teen's profile was public or private. Strangers contacted about one-third of the teens in the survey. Of that group, one-fourth reported feeling scared or uncomfortable when contacted. Girls were more likely to be contacted by strangers than boys.

The survey was conducted in August 2007 among 935 adolescents ages 12 to 17 years old.

Find boarding schools and other programs for troubled teens at TeenBoardingSchools.com.

Labels: internet, teenagers, online_safety

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Cyber-bullying and cyber cruelty are prevalent on social networking and blog sites. The News Courier in Athens, Alabama recently ran a story about a young girl who received cruel and perverted comments on a memorial video she posted on YouTube to honor a friend who had died.

"'There's the perception when we post something online we're invisible, no one can see us,' she said. 'When you're invisible, you can engage in activity that might cause harm but the perception is that no one in authority knows who you are. It removes fear of detection. It makes them oblivious to the potential harmful impact on those who lost a teenager. They have no remorse because they're distanced from any concept of what harm they're actually causing.'"

Nancy Willard, executive director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use, and others remind parents that monitoring of a child's online activity is important not only for the child's safety but for the safety of others with whom he or she may be interacting. Read more at TahlequahDailyPress.com.

Read Cyber-Bullies: What You Need to Know to learn more.

Labels: internet, cyberbulling, online_safety

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

There's no shortage of special news reports and newspaper articles about the dangers of on line social networking sites like MySpace. But most of MySpace is positive and safe.

"Kids raise money for mission trips, they raise the profile for their music or art, and they have direct access to millions of people without wading through the corporate cesspool. Composers of all sorts still post their music on their pages, and in our rootless society, friends and family from around the world can log on and hear it."

MySpace Chief Security Officer Hemanshu Nigam says that safety remains a top priority for the web site, but that technical solutions only work if parents are teaching teens to be safe, too. Read more at VailTrail.com.

Drugs and teens don't have to go together. Learn how you can prevent your child from going down the wrong path at Adolescent-Substance-Abuse.com.

Labels: safety, internet, positivies

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

"Online predator" is a phrase that's become well-known thanks to shows like Dateline's To Catch a Predator. Social networking sites have been the subject of news stories and all-school events where kids are warned not to post pictures or personal information on line. But Anastasia Goodstein, author of the book Totally Wired, thinks some of the scare tactics might be overstated.

"The biggest myth that has been perpetuated by well meaning law enforcement, Internet safety advocates, and the media is that the Internet is teeming with predators who are waiting for your child to post just enough information so they can find them and abduct them."

The truth is that, of the 800,000 kids that are reported missing every year, only about 150 are actually kidnapped by strangers. Most men who seek out kids and teenagers online aren't secretive about their identity. Most, about 80% are very open about who they are and what they want. The kids who talk to these men are often kids who have suffered some kind of physical or sexual abuse or have an otherwise troubled home life. Read more at PBS.org.

Labels: media_infuences, safety, internet

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

A comprehensive survey of Canadian children ages 13 and 14 years old found that the vast majority had seen pornography over the Internet or watched it as a rented movie. The most dramatic finding was that one-third of the boys told researchers they used pornography deliberately and had seen it "too many times to count."

Boys in rural areas viewed more porn than their urban counterparts.

Sonya Thompson, a graduate student at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, was the author of this study.

Labels: internet, boys, porn

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Over 40% of children ages 10 to 17 who used computers told researchers that they have looked at pornography online, according to a new study by the University of New Hampshire. This represents a 25% increase from a similar study in 2000. The study compared children's internet use between 2004-2005 with that of 1999-2000.

The good news from the study was that children were experiencing less sexual solicitation on line, but there were increases in reports of bullying and harassment. This study appears in the February issue of Pediatrics.

Labels: internet, research, pediatrics

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Last year, social networking sites like MySpace came to the forefront in the media, but the focus was online predators. While it's true that teens need to be mindful of who they're interacting with online, social networking sites aren't all bad. They can, in fact, provide information or clues as to whether a teen is engaging in dangerous or inappropriate behavior.

"...some experts [are] urging parents to use social networking Web sites as an early warning system to alert them to problems from substance abuse to eating disorders to violent fantasies."

Some parents admit they're hesitant to view their children's MySpace or Facebook profiles, because they feel it's an invasion of privacy. But Ann Collier, of Net Family News, hopes parents will reconsider. There's a big difference, she says, between viewing a web page on the internet and looking through - for example - a diary hidden in a drawer. And the information found in a child's profile could help a parent steer him or her away from dangerous or even life-threatening behaviors. Read more online.

Labels: internet, myspace, warning_signs

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Most parents (hopefully) have friends and family who can offer guidance and help during their children's trying teenage years. But for some, that support system isn't available, or is inadequate. Nancy Brown, PhD, has collected a handful of websites and blogs that give insight into the world of teenagers and also offer guidance regarding movies and other media.

"The term 'blog' come from 'Web log', and is a form of 'social media' (e.g. MySpace and Wikipedia). The word 'blog' can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog."

Websites include information on teen health, media and marketing, and entertainment. Read more at HealthLine.com.

Labels: internet, myspace, support

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Too often, parents who are misinformed about today’s social networking sites (such as Facebook and MySpace) will simply prohibit their kids from logging on to them. Unfortunately, most kids will do it anyway, so the best thing parents can do is education themselves about the benefits and dangers on online social networking.

"If [parents] engage and have their own experiences on Facebook, LinkedIn, [etc], they will better understand the attraction, the possibilities, and the issues that their teenagers face," said Sue Blaney, author, speaker and teen parenting blogger at PleaseStopTheRollercoaster.com.” [Source: Mashable]

Blaney goes on to suggest that parents guide their teenagers through the process of creating privacy settings on social networking sites. If there are things you don’t understand about a certain site, ask your teenager, he’s probably an expert -- and asking for his help shows that you recognize and appreciate his level of expertise.

Of course, permitting children to use the Internet and social media sites isn't the same as allowing them unfettered access to the online world. Responsible parents should work with their children to develop realistic plans to limit and supervise children's use of computers and other technology.

 

Labels: internet, computers

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Parents should be more concerned about online bullying and harassment, identity theft, loss of reputation from posting embarrassing photos, and the overuse of technology than online sexual predators, according to a new report from the government.

"Youth Safety on a Living Internet " produced by the Online Safety and Technology Working Group found that sexual predators are "not nearly in the prevalence once believed." Using statistics from the US Department of Justice, the Crimes against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire, and other studies, the authors found that teenagers who use MySpace and other social networks are not at increased risk from online predators.

However, cyberbullying is more common than most parents believe, and starts as early as second grade, according to the report. Sending suggestive pictures over the Internet is also not as common as parents believe. Identity theft is common among teenagers, who usually have clean credit histories.

The advice from the government group was for parents "to teach children respectful, civil behaviors to foster a safe Internet environment."
 

Labels: internet, online_safety, cyberbullying

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 1 Comment

Teens are dropping out of the popular online social network Facebook -- and one of the the most common reasons is that too many adults have discovered "their" network.

• A survey of 600 teenagers was performed for an online gaming company called Roiworld.
• Almost 80% said they had a Facebook profile, and 69% were still using it.
• However, among these teenagers, one in three was going on Facebook just to play online games and not to connect with friends.
• One in five no longer is using Facebook because they have lost interest (45%), too many adults and older people are there (14%), their parents have set up profiles (14%), and they are concerned about privacy issues (13%).

The survey indicated that 43% of the teenagers have spent money online, and 75% play online games.
 

Labels: internet, social-networking, facebook

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 1 Comment

Almost half of the 1000 teens in a survey commissioned by McAfee and conducted by Harris Interactive said they had given out information to strangers online, including their first names (36%), ages (28%), and e-mail addresses (19%).

Only 10% have given out more information, such as photos, names of their schools, last names, and cell phone numbers. No one reported giving out a Social Security number.

About 11% admitted to bullying someone online, and 8% had been victims of cyberbullying.

Over 90% said their parents trust their online behaviors, although more than half said their parents are unaware of exactly what those behaviors are.

 

Labels: internet, online_safety, cyberbullying

Posted By: By Parents For Parents 0 Comments

Parents need to learn how to use text messages and e-mails to better communicate with their children, especially about the risks of drugs and alcohol, according to a new study from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

• A research team from that organization surveyed 1,200 parents and found that they worry that their teenagers are over-using the new electronic media.
• Twenty-seven percent of parents expressed concerns about texting
• Twenty-seven percent worried about Facebook and social networks
• Nineteen percent had concerns about Twitter.

The Partnership for a Drug-free America recommends that parents use the new media to connect with their teenagers and to text them about risky behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse.

"It is more important than ever for parents to break through the media noise and make their voices heard," said Steve Pasiert, president of the Partnership. "Some parents may still feel apprehensive about embracing media and technology as a way of communicating with their children, but in today's world it is vital that they connect with their kids in every way possible."

Labels: internet, social-networking, parental influence, text messaging

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 1 Comment