Facebook Depression?

Video courtesy of the Today Show

During the past week I have read at least five articles that talk about “Facebook depression.” Apparently this happens when kids (or adults) becoming obsessed with the social networking website and feel they are not getting as much attention as they would like.

Pediatricians and psychologists warn that Facebook puts vulnerable children at risk for depression. Being shunned on a social networking website may even be more serious than if a child is ignored by their friends in real life, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

For the first time, the AAP has published a set of social media guidelines. They believe that that cyber-harassment “can cause profound psycho-social outcomes.” Sometimes these cases can lead to suicide.

The AAP guidelines state that teenagers need to be monitored when using Facebook. And it goes without saying that children under thirteen should not have a profile on Facebook at all.

Parents should not think that the Facebook site causes depression. They just need to realize that some dramas that used to play out in the cafeteria or the locker room are now taking place in social media.

Learn more:
Pediatricians Should Discuss ‘Facebook Depression’ with Kids, Time
TechBytes: Facebook Depression, ABC News Technology
Aren’t We All Suffering From ‘Facebook Depression?’, PCWorld

Middle School Sexting Goes Viral

This morning an article about middle school “sexting” made the front page of the The New York Times.

At first I was wondering if the Times had gotten caught up in the media’s recent fixation with teen sexting. After reading the article and learning how may states are dealing with cases of middle schoolers allowing nude photos to get into the wrong hands, I have to admit this is a wide-spread problem. There are not clear laws in place to protect the victims of sexting. Some states have gone so far as to charge minors (12- to 16-year-old kids) with dissemination of child pornography, a Class C felony, because they took a girl’s personal message and sent it out virally.

According to a 2010 AP poll, 25 percent of teens admit to having engaged in “sexting,” where they have ether sent or received sexually explicit photos or messages. The issue is become fairly common so lawmakers, parents and schools need to think about the best way to protect young people form doing serious harm to themselves and their peers.

A middle school in Maryland had a case last year where a group of boys were charging their classmates to see nude photos of girls from the school.

There was a similar case in Westlake, Ohio.

The New York Times article has already generated 168 comments. Most readers find the prosecutor was overzealous in charging these kids as distributors of child pornography. They add that law is supposed to protect minors from adults sharing nude photos, not their own peers. However these kids are disciplined, they need to become reacquainted with the “golden rule.” How would they feel if someone did this to them?

Protected: Drawing the Line on Digital Abuse

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“A Thin Line” takes on Digital Abuse

After reading about the White House Summit on Bullying Prevention I decided to check out some interesting campaigns produced by main stream media properties. MTV has a multi-platform campaign called “A Thin Line” that addresses the issue of digital abuse. The term digital abuse is meant to be broader than “cyberbullying” since texting or digital spying are just as central in how young people can be bullied with technology.

Are you playing a part in someone’s digital drama? This quiz from MTV may help you figure it out.

 

MTV is leveraging all digital platforms to spread the word about “A Thin Line.”

The MTV “Thin Line” site includes “Draw Your Line,” which features an interactive map that shows some of the positive steps being taken against digital abuse. On the map you can read about where young people have helped to disarm an online attack.

Also MTV and Common Sense Media have started a road show to promote the campaign in communities across the nation. Here is an example from Omaha, Nebraska:

Today’s teens and tweens encounter more sophisticated forms of bullying that are taking a real toll. It is really hard for parents or schools to know what is going on. They often make the mistake of thinking that it is less real, just because it is happening digitally.

More on this topic next time…

White House Conference on Bullying Prevention

Photo courtesy of athinline.org

This week their was a lot of talk about bullying, both the schoolyard variety and the cyber kind. The White House hosted a conference on bullying prevention, hosted by Barack and Michelle Obama. The administration hopes the summit and the Stop Bullying website will help Americans change their attitudes toward bullying and tolerate less of this behaviour in schools.

As senior adviser to the president, Valerie Jarrett explained to The Washington Post, “There is a perception that bullying is a rite of passage. And it’s not….It’s just not acceptable.” She continued, “Coming up with strategies that help us solve the problem…is a collective obligation, responsibility. The purpose here is to engage people in that conversation and to give it the spotlight of the White House so that perhaps people who’ve been ignoring this issue or weren’t aware of it — we can capture their attention… Everybody in the community has a role to play. Not just parents and students.”

The White House summit is meant to provide students, teachers, administrators and parents the tools they need to keep schools and communities safe.

In October 2010 Secretary Arne Duncan already reached out to schools with a “Dear Colleague” letter to provide facts about federal education anti-discrimination laws. Now the Department of Education will open a new technical assistance center that will specialize in dealing with cases of bullying and cyberbullying.