Texas girl arrested for online harassment

http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/101409kvue_teen-arrested-charges-eh.214f548af.html

We'll talk more about this new law in the next blog post.

Social networks are mostly good for us...

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2009-09-27-social-networking_N.htm

What are the implications for educators and students?

online safety working group met 9/24

Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act created a working group to discuss Internet safety education. The group met again last Thursday and here's a recap of the meeting:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/01/scitech/pcanswer/main5354648.shtml

My and the author of the linked new story's favorite part was a quote from a DC middle school student who said, "The only person who can protect you on the Internet is you."

A Positive Place- Cyberactivism

My colleague brought to my attention the "cyberactivist" section on New Jersey's Tobacco Prevention/Anti Tobacco Industry website for youth.

As a cyberactivist you can commit to anything from sending an e-card, getting 10 friends to play Rebel's online game, to becoming a blogger.

We hear so often about the negatives of social networking and how often youth mess up online that we sometimes forget the positives. What a great way to make a difference. Locally, Nationally, Globally. Think of the potential!

http://www.njrebel.com/Learn/HOWTOREBEL/Beacyberactivist/tabid/74/Default.aspx

On the lighter side...

Emoticons deciphered!

http://www.radicalparenting.com/2009/09/07/emoticon-translations-top-teen-emoticons-defined/

MySpace Back to School Internet Safety

http://www.myspace.com/pressroom?url=/article_display.cfm?instance_code=myspace&article_id=1062

Texting while driving

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/technology/01distracted.html