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As part of its multi-year publicity campaign to address the emerging issue of teen digital abuse, MTV partnered with the AP on a study that provides an in-depth look at the prevalence of digital abuse among young people today.

Draw a line between digital use and abuse via cell phone and Internet. Great place to learn about digital disrespect, innocent and appropriate online behaviors. Learn how to identify, respond to and stop the spread of digital abuse. The site contains a number of great videos for kids created by their peers. See: http://www.athinline.org/videos

THE JOURNAL (arcticle) by Mike Ribble and Gerald Bailey. Provides a five-step program for creating a digital citizenship program in your school.Over the last two years, it has become evident that a behavior pattern of misuse and abuse with respect to technology is \nbeginning to emerge in our society. This outbreak of \ntechnology misuse and abuse is documented in continual news \ncoverage on TV, in newspapers and on the Internet - both \ninside and outside of schools. The endless list of misuse and \nabuse includes hacking into school servers, using e-mail to \nintimidate or threaten students, illegally downloading music, \nplagiarizing information from the Internet, using cellular \nphones during class time, accessing pornographic Web sites, \nand playing video games during class. Therefore, if you are \nusing technology in your district, you must begin to deal with \ndigital citizenship in a significant way. \n

A New Ad Warns About Abusive Texting\nA new public service ad highlights the growing problems of "textual abuse," where harassment of children occurs by way of text messages.

Brilliant and meaty post from Alex Couros about what "digital citizenship" encompasses and really means for pedagogy.

A survey of 1200 teens and young adults (conducted by Knowledge Networks for the Associated Press and MTV) found that 22% of the digital youth reported they have been targeted for digital abuse, either through cell phone, email or internet monitoring by someone they were dating.

Over the Line? With half of all 14- to 24-year-olds admitting they've been digitally abused, it's a timely, integral question. And MTV is trying to help teens answer it--by asking each other. Ever type something you wouldn't say in person? Ever had someone trash you online, then later claim they were "just joking"? Think your digital drama might be over the line? Submit your story, rate others' stories and help define the line between innocent and inappropriate.

Merle Marsh wrote this highly informative article on Teaching Children to Be Responsible Users of Technology, which includes real-life incidents involving legal and ethical abuses of technologies. She also provides recommended educator activities and teaching suggestions.

From the National Teenage Dating Abuse Helpline. Your cell phone, IM, and social networks are all a digital extension of who you are. When someone you're with pressures you or disrespects you in those places, that's not cool.

A history of childhood abuse and use of a provocative online identity increase the risk that girls will be victimized by someone they meet on the Internet, according to a study appearing in the June issue of Pediatrics.

A griefer is a player who plays an online game simply to aggravate and harass other players. Griefers find fun in embarrassing and pushing others around in the online gaming world. They may use tools such as stalking, hurling insults, and exploiting unintended game mechanics.Griefers scam, cheat and abuse, often victimizing the weakest and newest players.

The author illustrates how he went about authenticating whether a Twitter plea for help (buried under rubble in Chile) was for real or a hoax. Great teachable moment not to believe everything you read. This story could be used to launch a classroom discussion.

The Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) is made up of police forces from around the world working together to fight online child abuse. Check out their PSA, "Think You Know Who You are Talking To?"

This 10th grade student has written an exceptional post-project reflection. I hope you'll take time to read it. Here is an excerpt:\n\n"There is no doubt that this technology is dangerous. It is apparent that few people, not adults, not teenagers, truly understand how collaboration, conduct, and manners affect the internet. This project has to teach others that as well. It is necessary to know how to handle yourself on the internet. That's why Horizon Project is so important. We have to educate tomorrow's leaders how to use new technology without abusing it. The highlight of this project is the education we are giving every single person who has been a part of the Horizon Project."

An excellent post about how doing global collaborative projects can educate students on the safety they need. This is from a 10th grader.

Videos From the National Teenage Dating Abuse Helpline targeting teens and covering topics such as electronic harrassment through excessive text messaging, badgering to send nude pictures and hacking the private spaces of others. Can be used as a springboard for discussion among kids.

A teen posing as a girl on Facebook convinced 30 male classmates to send him nude photos of themselves and then blackmailed them. The student is being held on a $25,000 bond and is now facing a 300 year prison sentence.

The Internet was built on freedom of expression. Society wants someone held accountable when that freedom is abused. And major Internet companies like Google and Facebook are finding themselves caught between those ideals.

Kidscape is the first charity in the UK established specifically to prevent bullying and child sexual abuse. Their site offers cyberbullying advice for kids on Text/Video Messaging, Chatrooms & IM, Email and cyberbullying done via web sites.