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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.

"The familiar narrative of teens and technology is one of natural proficiency - that young people just get technology in a way that older generations don't. But research suggests that just because children feel at home using smartphones, it doesn't mean they're more aware of the nuances of how the web works. In a new report published by the UK's telecoms watchdog Ofcom, researchers found that only a third of young people aged 12 to 15 knew which search results on Google were adverts, while this figure was even lower - less than one in five - for children aged 8 to 11"

"Social media is here to stay. Never before have people been able to connect, share, and learn from one another as we do now. As a result, our students need skills to win at life in a digital world. The ability to use social media to support life goals and possibilities can be a game-changer. I know it has been very powerful for me in my professional life." & reasons are discussed by the author.

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

"A post that offers advice on how to spot a fake website in relatively simple terms. This advice may save a lot of frustration. Everyone needs to be sure that they know what is being clicked on. Some basic advice that will help you from becoming victim of a phisher or an identity thief.

Ideas for a lesson, complete with handout, about teaching students about critically assessing the credibility of sources they find. It is aimed at secondary school students.

An interesting article about the skills today's students need. "teaching students to find reliable sources, synthesize research findings and communicate results is more urgent than ever in a world where every blogger with a keyboard can pose as an expert."

Useful presentation."Understanding the difference between a fact and an opinion isn't difficult. What matters is being able to apply that knowledge responsibly. When someone presents information in the form of a fact, like "the blue whale is the largest animal on earth." They are stating something that can be proven with evidence. That's different from an opinion, like "blue whales are the most beautiful whales." Here, they are sharing a personal belief that can't be proven"

Some useful advice/tips about how to assist students understand how to identify "fake" news.

Mike Caulfield, who created and advocates for the SIFT method, has explained why the CRAAP checklist is insufficient in these two interviews that are best read in this article

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. "

"While you want to encourage teenage students to develop a healthy sense of independence and make their own decision, you also want to protect them from the dangers in the world. In order to make sure their experiences with social media are positive, consider the tips in this post "

"A good infographic encompassing some important netiquette rules for students to keep in mind whilst they are using the net. These rules would be easy to run through with students, making sure they understand them, before going on to do their research "

A useful guide offering very necessary advice. Seven ways to fortify passwords offers information that seems commonsense but these things often get overlooked