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The Internet has created a whole new world of social communications for young people who are using e-mail, social networking Web sites, instant messaging, chat rooms and text messaging to stay in touch with friends and make new ones. While most interactions are positive, increasingly kids are using these communication tools to antagonize and intimidate others. According to a 2008 University of Toronto cyber bullying survey, nearly one in five Canadian students surveyed reported having been bullied online in the past three months.[1] An Alberta study found that one-third of students who had cyber bullied, had also been victims themselves.[2]

"Crashing machines, slow boot times and agony dealing with technical support have Digital Age people suffering from Computer Stress Syndrome, a study available online this week has found."

Despite warnings from privacy advocates to protect your personal information while online, many adults are still engaging in risky behavior via social networking sites, according to a new study from Consumer Reports.

Apparently, the adults are not getting the safet message. Are young digital citizens getting it?

"The survey found lonely children and teenagers communicated online much more frequently about how they felt, serious problems and confidential topics. Lonely children and teenagers also reported communicating online in order to belong to a group and to relax - much more so than those who were not lonely. "Lonely kids found great company on the internet," Associate Professor Campbell said. She said the study found lonely children and teenagers viewed the internet as a "protected" environment in which they could better express their inner selves. "We also found that kids who were socially anxious felt they could be more themselves when communicating online," she said. "They were not as anxious in developing friendships because they were at that one remove.""

Would lonely people be more likely to become 'addicted' to the Internet?

An example of digital literacy (if a person learns how to use it).

Diigo offers a fantastic way to tap into the way our students operate by allowing the annotation of web pages which can then be shared with your students and, by doing so, you facilitate the process of research for your students and you set them on the right track for further independent study.

"FREQUENTLY playing computer games appears to reduce a teenager's chances of going to university"

Different perspectives from parents and their kids' technology usage

There is much importance in protecting yourself online. Studies have shown that most of the cyber security breaches resulted from something you did or failed to do.

The University of Texas at Austin found in accordance with the WHO study in May 2011, released a tentative warning suggesting pragmatic measures to reduce exposure when using radiofrequency electromagnetic power-emitting devices near the body. "The evidence, while still accumulating, is strong enough to support a conclusion… that there could be some risk," wrote Dr. Jonathan Samet, chairman of the WHO's working group on the subject. "Therefore, we need to keep a close watch for a link between cellphones and cancer risk."

As teenagers we are always faced with certain distractions and time-wasters, but our cell phones, social networking places, and other technology are by far the worst. It is proven that it is more powerful for younger people because our brains are just now developing and can easily be habituated. When you are trying to do your homework and you hear your phone beep alerting you that you have a new text message, what do you do? Continue studying or rush to you phone to check this new message? If you rush to your phone, it might be time to try to set a limit on your use of technology. Quote; "The worry is we're raising a generation of kids in front of screens whose brains are going to be wired differently." - Michael Rich, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and executive director of the Center on Media and Child Health in Boston.

The study shows that everything from iPods to smartphones to tablet computers are now a regular part of kids' lives, with kids under 8 averaging two hours a day with all screen media. Among the key findings: 42% of children under 8 years old have a television in their bedroom. Half (52%) of all 0- to 8-year-olds have access to a new mobile device, such as a smartphone, video iPod, or iPad/tablet. More than a third (38%) of children this age have used one of these devices, including 10% of 0-to 1-year-olds, 39% of 2- to 4-year-olds, and more than half (52%) of 5- to 8-year-olds. In a typical day, one in 10 (11%) 0- to 8-year-olds uses a smartphone, video iPod, iPad, or similar device to play games, watch videos, or use other apps. Those who do such activities spend an average of 43 minutes a day doing so. In addition to the traditional digital divide, a new "app gap" has developed, with only 14% of lower-income parents having downloaded new media apps for their kids to use, compared to 47% of upper-income parents. Clearly, media has become a staple in young kids' daily lives and influences them in ways we don't yet fully understand. But by getting involved in your kid's media life, you can help them create healthy lifelong patterns that will truly make a difference in their lives

"Wamogo infusing more technology into education- The Register Citizen ""Students are driving the learning,"" LITCHFIELD - You may have heard of No Child Left Behind, but have you heard of no child left offline? Ricky Campbell talks about the technology innovation is the classroom at Wamogo Regional High School. Technology has inspired students to pay more attention to learning and reaches them in more of their way. Principal William Egan states, "Students are driving the learning." He means that because of all the help the web brings, and having teachers that know how to use it, the students are able to create their own ways to study, learn, and do assignments."

Abstract Online social networking offers a new, easy and inexpensive way to maintain already existing relationships and present oneself to others. However, the increasing number of actions in online services also gives a rise to privacy concerns and risks. In an attempt to understand the factors, especially privacy awareness, that influence users to disclose or protect information in online environment, we view privacy behavior from the perspectives of privacy protection and information disclosing. In our empirical study, we present results from a survey of 210 users of Facebook. Our results indicate, that most of our respondents, who seem to be active users of Facebook, disclose a considerable amount of private information. Contrary to their own belief, they are not too well aware of the visibility of their information to people they do not necessarily know. Furthermore, Facebook's privacy policy and the terms of use were largely not known or understood by our respondents.

The study consisted of three major steps. First, participants typed a story of their choice (usually a simple fairy tale) and also read and answered questions related to another story, both on their smart phone in a laboratory setting. They were trying to prove that texting while driving impairs your ability.

Researchers and safety advocates have known for years that driving performance worsens when the driver is texting. Now we know just how much worse. Federal statistics suggest that distracted driving contributes to as much as 20 percent of all fatal crashes, and that cell phones constitute the primary source of driver distraction.

Report January 2010 - Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year Olds