Cyberbullying

Yik Yak, the anonymous, location-based messaging app once popular with high school and college students, is shutting down at the end of this school year. The mobile app, which for a time allowed for anonymous messaging on school campuses, raised concerns about cyberbullying and was blamed for conveying numerous bomb and other threats that temporarily closed down many schools. Eventually, the unfiltered vulgarity and threats so prevalent on the site prompted the company to implement mandatory user names, much like Twitter. The lack of anonymity led many of the site's most ardent users to delete their accounts, seeing little use for a group messaging app when more established apps like Twitter or Snapchat offered the same functionality.

Numerous surveys show that Snapchat is one of the most used messaging apps by teens, but many parents have never used the app. In case you are not aware, Snapchat is an application for mobile devices, where photo and video messages disappear after they are viewed by the recipient. To help parents get up to speed on the app, USA Today has created a primer, or a Snapchat 101 for parents. The primer covers what the app is, what it does and why it is so popular. It also covers why many parents are concerned about this app (the disappearing content has been known to foster sexting and cyberbullying) and suggests ways to protect teens who use the app. If you find the article useful, you might also want to check out USA Today’s intro for parents to Musical.ly, an ultra addictive lip syncing app.

Numerous surveys show that Snapchat is one of the most used messaging apps by teens, but many parents have never used the app. In case you are not aware, Snapchat is an application for mobile devices, where photo and video messages disappear after they are viewed by the recipient. To help parents get up to speed on the app, USA Today has created a primer, or a Snapchat 101 for parents. The primer covers what the app is, what it does and why it is so popular. It also covers why many parents are concerned about this app (the disappearing content has been known to foster sexting and cyberbullying) and suggests ways to protect teens who use the app. If you find the article useful, you might also want to check out USA Today’s intro for parents to Musical.ly, an ultra addictive lip syncing app.

No one says the risks of using social media are not real, but with millions of kids using these kinds of apps every day, only a tiny fraction of them misusing it. Is it okay to stop worrying about your kids and social media just a bit? Common Sense Media takes up the topic in a new article entitled 5 Reasons You Don't Need to Worry About Kids and Social Media, reminding us that social media strengthens friendships, offers a sense of belonging, and offers support to those who feel marginalized. Social media can even help kids do good by providing chances to participate in community service or raising awareness for people in need. Check out this collection of sites that awaken a sense of social responsibility in kids.

No one says the risks of using social media are not real, but with millions of kids using these kinds of apps every day, only a tiny fraction of them misusing it. Is it okay to stop worrying about your kids and social media just a bit? Common Sense Media takes up the topic in a new article entitled 5 Reasons You Don't Need to Worry About Kids and Social Media, reminding us that social media strengthens friendships, offers a sense of belonging, and offers support to those who feel marginalized. Social media can even help kids do good by providing chances to participate in community service or raising awareness for people in need. Check out this collection of sites that awaken a sense of social responsibility in kids.

Tim Berners-Lee, who is largely thought of as the creator of the Internet, thinks the World Wide Web needs a bit of a rethink to cut down on spying, cyberbullying and the general nastiness often associated with life online. "How come nasty, mean ideas, seem to have traveled more prevalently than constructive ideas on Twitter sometimes? Is that the way it has been designed? Could Twitter be tweaked?" he asks. He also questions why even though the web gives school children from India, China and Syria the ability to interact with each other, people are broadly parochial, choosing to communicate only with others like themselves.

Tim Berners-Lee, who is largely thought of as the creator of the Internet, thinks the World Wide Web needs a bit of a rethink to cut down on spying, cyberbullying and the general nastiness often associated with life online. "How come nasty, mean ideas, seem to have traveled more prevalently than constructive ideas on Twitter sometimes? Is that the way it has been designed? Could Twitter be tweaked?" he asks. He also questions why even though the web gives school children from India, China and Syria the ability to interact with each other, people are broadly parochial, choosing to communicate only with others like themselves.

A newly updated list of resources on cyberbullying and digital safety is available on the web site of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Washington. A wide range of topics is included such as sexting, cyberbullying and family background resources.

A newly updated list of resources on cyberbullying and digital safety is available on the web site of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Washington. A wide range of topics is included such as sexting, cyberbullying and family background resources.

You probably already know that there are both federal and state laws in place for adults who engage in sexting with minors, but did you know that many states have adopted sexting laws that address sexting between teens? A recent article reviews the specifics of teen sexting laws, including a break down by state so you can see the specific law that applies to you. It’s a good idea to review with your teen so they understand the laws and what the legal consequences are if they do not follow them.