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" As teachers, we all have assumptions -- and likely some opinions -- about teenagers and social media. But are those assumptions correct? Now we have research to help us find out. Common Sense is releasing (Sept 18) its latest research report, Social Media, Social Life: Teens Reveal Their Experiences, a deep dive into the social media habits of American teenagers. This research is the second wave in an ongoing study tracking teens' attitudes about social media; the original report was released in 2012."

A good post from Common Sense Media about where teens are with social media today. The questions "Are teens totally over Facebook? Or are they using it even more than ever? are asked and an answer is attempted. From reports it is evident that there are many and varied social media being used by young people. Teenagers are dividing their attention between a sizeable number of apps and tools. These all allow them to write, share, video-chat, and even shop for the latest trends. The advice is:"You don't need to know the ins and outs of every app and site that's "hot" right now (and frankly, if you did, they wouldn't be trendy anymore). But knowing the basics -- what they are, why they're popular, and what problems can crop up when they're not used responsibly -- can make the difference between a positive and a negative experience for your kid." A few of these media are discussed in light of this.

"Common Sense Media parenting expert Caroline Knorr answers questions about keeping kids safe online."

Short video published on 2 Oct 2015 by Common Sense Media. "Social Media is a way of life for many teens, and even some tweens. Here are 5 rules to share with your kids before they start posting, uploading or sharing online"

From Common Sense Media. " Scope & Sequence tool to find age-appropriate lessons that address digital literacy and citizenship topics for your classroom. You can browse by grade band or click a category to highlight the lessons that address that topic. From professional development materials, to student interactives, to lessons and assessments, and family outreach materials, our comprehensive curriculum is turnkey to implement."

Youtube short pPublished on 1 Jul 2015 by Common Sense Media. Kids love watching funny videos, learning cool stuff or uploading their own creations on YouTube. Discover 5 ways to make YouTube Safer for kids, whether they are watching or creating a channel. "

Best practice videos for digital citizenship

"We all know we need to teach students how to behave appropriately on the internet, avoid scams, be safe and how to be digitally literate. Digital citizenship should be part of every classrooms curriculum, not just the responsibility of a tech class. Common Sense Media has a wealth of resources and lesson plans for teachers on digital citizenship. The presentation in this post is a crowd sourced document of one liners of digital citizenship that can be used in faculty meetings, with students or professional development workshops. You canAdd your own digital citizenship one liners @ http://goo.gl/7mSvhK"

"You don't have to be an expert on texting, Instagram, Minecraft -- or whatever else your kids are into -- to have The Talk. Start by reading up on what's going on in your kids' world (for younger kids and older kids). Ask them to show you what they like online, and why. Make sure to listen :) Then, express a few basic expectations, with the understanding that this isn't a one-and-done kind of chat. Good luck (you'll be fine)! Here are the 5 basics to cover during The Talk:"

This is a good place if you want to teach a digital citizenship program. It links to several valuable teaching resources that are free.

"Teacher librarians. Also known as library media specialists, play a unique role in our schools. Often asked to take on a wide range of duties, these passionate and savvy educators deserve more than only a week of praise. And in case you need a reminder of all that librarians do for our students and our schools, we've put together a list -- but it's only a start."