This document discusses both the benefits and risks of internet use for kids and teens. It describes how excessive internet use can lead to social isolation, depression, physical health issues like obesity, and in some cases, cyberbullying and eating disorders. However, it also notes that the internet allows kids to connect with friends and family, find helpful information, and develop valuable computer skills. Overall, the conclusion is that with appropriate guidance from parents on setting limits and quality of interactions, most kids can benefit from safe internet use.
Brook Anderson interviewed Ayman Itani, Think Media's CEO, about Facebook's recent announcement that they are considering to allow kids under 13 years old to join Facebook while providing parental supe...
High Impact Seminars
www.mannrentoy.com
Email Mann Rentoy: info@mannrentoy.com
For more information on seminars for teachers, parents and students: www.mannrentoy.com
Brook Anderson interviewed Ayman Itani, Think Media's CEO, about Facebook's recent announcement that they are considering to allow kids under 13 years old to join Facebook while providing parental supe...
High Impact Seminars
www.mannrentoy.com
Email Mann Rentoy: info@mannrentoy.com
For more information on seminars for teachers, parents and students: www.mannrentoy.com
Updated Online Safety 3.0 Talk for Mediterranean Association of International...Larry Magid
A newly revised Online Safety 3.0 talk prepared for the Mediterranean Association of International Schools by ConnectSafely.org co-director and SafeKids.com founder Larry Magid
An updated look at the research and definitions around bullying and cyberbullying. Presented to the Youth Online Safety Working Group assembled by NCMEC, this talk unpacks both what current research can tell us about cyberbullying as well as where the gaps our understanding of this issue lie.
Amanda Lenhart delivered this presentation to the Year of the Child summit at the National Association of Attorneys General Year of the Child Conference, Philadelphia, PA, this talk surveys the current research on cyberbullying and online harassment, pulling in Pew Internet data as well as the work of the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire, Internet Solutions for Kids and other academics and scholars researching this topic. 5/13/09
Rumination, Cyberbullying, and the use of Cell Phones among 11 and 12 year oldsYTH
Educating youth about cyberbullying and online privacy is important, but all too often it's done through fearmongering, and focusing on what kids shouldn't do. Unfortunately, these approaches tend to be ineffective because young people don't perceive online spaces to be unsafe, and deem the adults in their lives who suggest otherwise to be technically out of touch.nInstead, educators and parents need to give kids the confidence to see themselves as active agents of change who can positively impact the virtual worlds that they already inhabit, thereby increasing the level of digital citizenship, which will help all youth make good decisions about their own and others' privacy. This presentation will talk about the CyberKids research project, which is a 4-year longitudinal study involving 11 and 12 year olds. In particular, the presentation will focus on the interface of access to technology and mental health.
67% of admissions officers surveyed in 2015 said they had looked up college applicants on Facebook. And 40% didn’t like what they found.
These days, social media comes with great responsibility, whether you're just starting high school or finishing up college. On one hand, it’s a convenient way to communicate and connect with others...but on the other hand, it can be detrimental if used irresponsibly. It can impact the impression college admissions officers or employers have of you and cost you a spot at your dream school or a job.
The good news is that most of the bad consequences are preventable and easy to avoid with some foresight.
Here are 10 social media mistakes high school students should avoid...and keep in mind that social media circumstances vary by school, user and situation, so use your best judgement and think twice when you share something publicly.
Are you the parent of a high school student? We have tips for planning for college, writing college application essays, applying to and affording college at our site, http://yourcollegeconcierge.net. We help YOU help YOUR CHILD succeed.
Thanks for checking out our presentation!
Teaching the Digital Generation with Impact: Teachers as Agents of Character Formation
and
Tried-and-Tested Strategies That Form Students’ Character: Empathy, Resilience and Grit
Safeguarding Children Online. Training from Stephen Carrick-Davies for Southw...Stevecd
Presentation on Safeguarding children online produced and presented by Stephen Carrick-Davies to the Diocese of Southwark. This training presentation was for a 3 hour session and looked at key issues of
Understadaning the reality
Understadngin the risks
Understanding our responsibilities.
Updated Online Safety 3.0 Talk for Mediterranean Association of International...Larry Magid
A newly revised Online Safety 3.0 talk prepared for the Mediterranean Association of International Schools by ConnectSafely.org co-director and SafeKids.com founder Larry Magid
An updated look at the research and definitions around bullying and cyberbullying. Presented to the Youth Online Safety Working Group assembled by NCMEC, this talk unpacks both what current research can tell us about cyberbullying as well as where the gaps our understanding of this issue lie.
Amanda Lenhart delivered this presentation to the Year of the Child summit at the National Association of Attorneys General Year of the Child Conference, Philadelphia, PA, this talk surveys the current research on cyberbullying and online harassment, pulling in Pew Internet data as well as the work of the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire, Internet Solutions for Kids and other academics and scholars researching this topic. 5/13/09
Rumination, Cyberbullying, and the use of Cell Phones among 11 and 12 year oldsYTH
Educating youth about cyberbullying and online privacy is important, but all too often it's done through fearmongering, and focusing on what kids shouldn't do. Unfortunately, these approaches tend to be ineffective because young people don't perceive online spaces to be unsafe, and deem the adults in their lives who suggest otherwise to be technically out of touch.nInstead, educators and parents need to give kids the confidence to see themselves as active agents of change who can positively impact the virtual worlds that they already inhabit, thereby increasing the level of digital citizenship, which will help all youth make good decisions about their own and others' privacy. This presentation will talk about the CyberKids research project, which is a 4-year longitudinal study involving 11 and 12 year olds. In particular, the presentation will focus on the interface of access to technology and mental health.
67% of admissions officers surveyed in 2015 said they had looked up college applicants on Facebook. And 40% didn’t like what they found.
These days, social media comes with great responsibility, whether you're just starting high school or finishing up college. On one hand, it’s a convenient way to communicate and connect with others...but on the other hand, it can be detrimental if used irresponsibly. It can impact the impression college admissions officers or employers have of you and cost you a spot at your dream school or a job.
The good news is that most of the bad consequences are preventable and easy to avoid with some foresight.
Here are 10 social media mistakes high school students should avoid...and keep in mind that social media circumstances vary by school, user and situation, so use your best judgement and think twice when you share something publicly.
Are you the parent of a high school student? We have tips for planning for college, writing college application essays, applying to and affording college at our site, http://yourcollegeconcierge.net. We help YOU help YOUR CHILD succeed.
Thanks for checking out our presentation!
Teaching the Digital Generation with Impact: Teachers as Agents of Character Formation
and
Tried-and-Tested Strategies That Form Students’ Character: Empathy, Resilience and Grit
Safeguarding Children Online. Training from Stephen Carrick-Davies for Southw...Stevecd
Presentation on Safeguarding children online produced and presented by Stephen Carrick-Davies to the Diocese of Southwark. This training presentation was for a 3 hour session and looked at key issues of
Understadaning the reality
Understadngin the risks
Understanding our responsibilities.
I created this slide show for Middle and High school students to help educate them about cyberbullying and how it can start out so innocently, and become so very hurtful. I hope you will be able to use parts or all of this presentation with your students.
Save the Children and Embassy of Sweden, in cooperation with the Department of Children under the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, launched “Netsmart” booklet today at the Viet Nam Internet Forum 2017. This easy to read booklet aims to provide parents, teachers, educators, policy-makers, NGOs and adults an effective solution to protect children on the Internet.
Bullying: A Case Study
Essay On Cyberbullying
Cyber Bullying Essay example
Essay about Cyber Bullying
Cyber Bullying Essay
Essay about Dealing with Cyberbullying
Part 2 of the Bully In The Bedroom news article.
News articles provide great practice material to listen and improve your British accent
Get the training at www.learningbritishaccent.com
DR JON GOLDIN - THE RISKS AND BENEFITS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE MENTAL HEALTH O...iCAADEvents
The Internet and social media now impact almost every aspect of people’s lives and have altered social interactions and ways of being. Many young people use the Internet and social media in a way that is detrimental to their mental health, with the potential of developing symptoms traditionally associated with addiction. Despite this desperation to use the Internet and social media, a recent study showed that the more time young people spend on social media, the less happy they feel about everything except their friendships. More speci cally, they felt less happy about school and school work, their appearance, their family, and life in general. It appears that girls are more a ected than boys. It is important however that we don’t blame the medium but the message. There are positive messages out there on social media, which can help young people with mental health di culties but also some very harmful messages and practices can be found online too. This talk will explore ‘The risks and bene ts of social media on the mental health of adolescents’.
Back to web versionSunday, Mar 14, 2010Posted on Sun, .docxrock73
Back to web version
Sunday, Mar 14, 2010
Posted on Sun, Mar. 14, 2010
Constant techno communication brings lack of focus and
loss of privacy
By ERIC ADLER and LAURA BAUER
The Kansas City Star
Just days ago, Elliot Kort, 22, woke in his Lawrence apartment, yawned, brushed his teeth and greeted his
girlfriend, Elyse, in the way he does most every morning.
“Hi, sweetie.”
“Hi, baby,” Elyse responded. “How did you sleep?”
“It took me a little bit to get there, but I slept OK. How about you?”
“Very well,” she told him.
Intimate? Ordinary?
Absolutely.
And yet, experts said, it is the fact that such a conversation is now deemed routine — happening, as this one
did, by computer, with Kort electronically chatting to his girlfriend at her apartment in Washington, D.C. — that
makes it remarkable.
“It’s our morning breakfast table in the digital realm,” Kort said.
Cyber-savvy experts view it as far more than that. It’s an example of how technology — and especially the
growth in text messaging and live video chatting — is allowing people to keep in such constant
communication that it has begun to radically change the sense of what it means for people to feel together, or
alone, or apart.
Researchers even have names for it: “connected presence” or “persistent presence” — the feeling, through
technology, that you are with someone when you are not.
“It’s having this sense, this ambient awareness, of your friends or family,” said Mary Madden, senior research
specialist with the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. “Even if you’re not communicating
or interacting, they have a sense of you being there and being OK, just by you being logged on.”
But the boom in constant connections also is raising significant concerns, from fostering poor focus and lack
of independence to the real difficulty of cutting ties in an era of Facebook “friend” connections.
More privacy questions are sure to arise with the evolution of new phone applications. Foursquare or Gowalla
now tell people where you are, using Global Positioning System satellites.
Some worry, too, about stalking, domestic violence and being connected to people who are truly unwanted.
“We are seeing persistent texting,” said Parry Aftab, a lawyer and executive director of WiredSafety.org, an
Internet safety organization. “People wanting to know where you are at every hour of the day, who you are
with. When does it go from, ‘I care about you,’ to ‘I’m a stalker, I’m a punching bag?’ There’s a thin line from
what’s reasonable and what’s manic.”
www.kansascity.com | 03/14/2010 | Constant techno communica... http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/13/v-print/1810942/with-te...
1 of 4 3/14/10 4:26 PM
•••
To be sure, technology’s role in helping bring people closer is older than the chariot. Trains, planes,
telegraphs, telephones have all played roles.
But social scientists said that nothing had so narrowed that gap as the unprecedented rise in technologies
(text messages, Skype vi ...
Basavarajeeyam is an important text for ayurvedic physician belonging to andhra pradehs. It is a popular compendium in various parts of our country as well as in andhra pradesh. The content of the text was presented in sanskrit and telugu language (Bilingual). One of the most famous book in ayurvedic pharmaceutics and therapeutics. This book contains 25 chapters called as prakaranas. Many rasaoushadis were explained, pioneer of dhatu druti, nadi pareeksha, mutra pareeksha etc. Belongs to the period of 15-16 century. New diseases like upadamsha, phiranga rogas are explained.
Ethanol (CH3CH2OH), or beverage alcohol, is a two-carbon alcohol
that is rapidly distributed in the body and brain. Ethanol alters many
neurochemical systems and has rewarding and addictive properties. It
is the oldest recreational drug and likely contributes to more morbidity,
mortality, and public health costs than all illicit drugs combined. The
5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-5) integrates alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence into a single
disorder called alcohol use disorder (AUD), with mild, moderate,
and severe subclassifications (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
In the DSM-5, all types of substance abuse and dependence have been
combined into a single substance use disorder (SUD) on a continuum
from mild to severe. A diagnosis of AUD requires that at least two of
the 11 DSM-5 behaviors be present within a 12-month period (mild
AUD: 2–3 criteria; moderate AUD: 4–5 criteria; severe AUD: 6–11 criteria).
The four main behavioral effects of AUD are impaired control over
drinking, negative social consequences, risky use, and altered physiological
effects (tolerance, withdrawal). This chapter presents an overview
of the prevalence and harmful consequences of AUD in the U.S.,
the systemic nature of the disease, neurocircuitry and stages of AUD,
comorbidities, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, genetic risk factors, and
pharmacotherapies for AUD.
NVBDCP.pptx Nation vector borne disease control programSapna Thakur
NVBDCP was launched in 2003-2004 . Vector-Borne Disease: Disease that results from an infection transmitted to humans and other animals by blood-feeding arthropods, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. Examples of vector-borne diseases include Dengue fever, West Nile Virus, Lyme disease, and malaria.
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- Video recording of this lecture in English language: https://youtu.be/lK81BzxMqdo
- Video recording of this lecture in Arabic language: https://youtu.be/Ve4P0COk9OI
- Link to download the book free: https://nephrotube.blogspot.com/p/nephrotube-nephrology-books.html
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New Drug Discovery and Development .....NEHA GUPTA
The "New Drug Discovery and Development" process involves the identification, design, testing, and manufacturing of novel pharmaceutical compounds with the aim of introducing new and improved treatments for various medical conditions. This comprehensive endeavor encompasses various stages, including target identification, preclinical studies, clinical trials, regulatory approval, and post-market surveillance. It involves multidisciplinary collaboration among scientists, researchers, clinicians, regulatory experts, and pharmaceutical companies to bring innovative therapies to market and address unmet medical needs.
Report Back from SGO 2024: What’s the Latest in Cervical Cancer?bkling
Are you curious about what’s new in cervical cancer research or unsure what the findings mean? Join Dr. Emily Ko, a gynecologic oncologist at Penn Medicine, to learn about the latest updates from the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 2024 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer. Dr. Ko will discuss what the research presented at the conference means for you and answer your questions about the new developments.
Tom Selleck Health: A Comprehensive Look at the Iconic Actor’s Wellness Journeygreendigital
Tom Selleck, an enduring figure in Hollywood. has captivated audiences for decades with his rugged charm, iconic moustache. and memorable roles in television and film. From his breakout role as Thomas Magnum in Magnum P.I. to his current portrayal of Frank Reagan in Blue Bloods. Selleck's career has spanned over 50 years. But beyond his professional achievements. fans have often been curious about Tom Selleck Health. especially as he has aged in the public eye.
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Introduction
Many have been interested in Tom Selleck health. not only because of his enduring presence on screen but also because of the challenges. and lifestyle choices he has faced and made over the years. This article delves into the various aspects of Tom Selleck health. exploring his fitness regimen, diet, mental health. and the challenges he has encountered as he ages. We'll look at how he maintains his well-being. the health issues he has faced, and his approach to ageing .
Early Life and Career
Childhood and Athletic Beginnings
Tom Selleck was born on January 29, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Sherman Oaks, California. From an early age, he was involved in sports, particularly basketball. which played a significant role in his physical development. His athletic pursuits continued into college. where he attended the University of Southern California (USC) on a basketball scholarship. This early involvement in sports laid a strong foundation for his physical health and disciplined lifestyle.
Transition to Acting
Selleck's transition from an athlete to an actor came with its physical demands. His first significant role in "Magnum P.I." required him to perform various stunts and maintain a fit appearance. This role, which he played from 1980 to 1988. necessitated a rigorous fitness routine to meet the show's demands. setting the stage for his long-term commitment to health and wellness.
Fitness Regimen
Workout Routine
Tom Selleck health and fitness regimen has evolved. adapting to his changing roles and age. During his "Magnum, P.I." days. Selleck's workouts were intense and focused on building and maintaining muscle mass. His routine included weightlifting, cardiovascular exercises. and specific training for the stunts he performed on the show.
Selleck adjusted his fitness routine as he aged to suit his body's needs. Today, his workouts focus on maintaining flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular health. He incorporates low-impact exercises such as swimming, walking, and light weightlifting. This balanced approach helps him stay fit without putting undue strain on his joints and muscles.
Importance of Flexibility and Mobility
In recent years, Selleck has emphasized the importance of flexibility and mobility in his fitness regimen. Understanding the natural decline in muscle mass and joint flexibility with age. he includes stretching and yoga in his routine. These practices help prevent injuries, improve posture, and maintain mobilit
Ozempic: Preoperative Management of Patients on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Saeid Safari
Preoperative Management of Patients on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists like Ozempic and Semiglutide
ASA GUIDELINE
NYSORA Guideline
2 Case Reports of Gastric Ultrasound
Title: Sense of Taste
Presenter: Dr. Faiza, Assistant Professor of Physiology
Qualifications:
MBBS (Best Graduate, AIMC Lahore)
FCPS Physiology
ICMT, CHPE, DHPE (STMU)
MPH (GC University, Faisalabad)
MBA (Virtual University of Pakistan)
Learning Objectives:
Describe the structure and function of taste buds.
Describe the relationship between the taste threshold and taste index of common substances.
Explain the chemical basis and signal transduction of taste perception for each type of primary taste sensation.
Recognize different abnormalities of taste perception and their causes.
Key Topics:
Significance of Taste Sensation:
Differentiation between pleasant and harmful food
Influence on behavior
Selection of food based on metabolic needs
Receptors of Taste:
Taste buds on the tongue
Influence of sense of smell, texture of food, and pain stimulation (e.g., by pepper)
Primary and Secondary Taste Sensations:
Primary taste sensations: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Umami
Chemical basis and signal transduction mechanisms for each taste
Taste Threshold and Index:
Taste threshold values for Sweet (sucrose), Salty (NaCl), Sour (HCl), and Bitter (Quinine)
Taste index relationship: Inversely proportional to taste threshold
Taste Blindness:
Inability to taste certain substances, particularly thiourea compounds
Example: Phenylthiocarbamide
Structure and Function of Taste Buds:
Composition: Epithelial cells, Sustentacular/Supporting cells, Taste cells, Basal cells
Features: Taste pores, Taste hairs/microvilli, and Taste nerve fibers
Location of Taste Buds:
Found in papillae of the tongue (Fungiform, Circumvallate, Foliate)
Also present on the palate, tonsillar pillars, epiglottis, and proximal esophagus
Mechanism of Taste Stimulation:
Interaction of taste substances with receptors on microvilli
Signal transduction pathways for Umami, Sweet, Bitter, Sour, and Salty tastes
Taste Sensitivity and Adaptation:
Decrease in sensitivity with age
Rapid adaptation of taste sensation
Role of Saliva in Taste:
Dissolution of tastants to reach receptors
Washing away the stimulus
Taste Preferences and Aversions:
Mechanisms behind taste preference and aversion
Influence of receptors and neural pathways
Impact of Sensory Nerve Damage:
Degeneration of taste buds if the sensory nerve fiber is cut
Abnormalities of Taste Detection:
Conditions: Ageusia, Hypogeusia, Dysgeusia (parageusia)
Causes: Nerve damage, neurological disorders, infections, poor oral hygiene, adverse drug effects, deficiencies, aging, tobacco use, altered neurotransmitter levels
Neurotransmitters and Taste Threshold:
Effects of serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) on taste sensitivity
Supertasters:
25% of the population with heightened sensitivity to taste, especially bitterness
Increased number of fungiform papillae
1. Connected To Nowhere -- Internet use can isolate kids instead of linking them to the world
Byline: Johanna Ambrosio
Section: IN DEPTH/ Kids & The Net
Volume: Issue: 1087
Mary Ellen Handy, now a junior in a private high school for girls in northern New Jersey, has a
message for anyone who thinks cyberbullying isn't so bad. Not only was her freshman year of high
school absolute hell emotionally, but she developed ulcers and other physical ailments from her
experience.
Things got so bad that Handy couldn't keep food down and would lie on her couch at home,
holding her stomach and crying for long periods. Mary Lou Handy, Mary Ellen's mother, says her
daughter is usually unflappable and, with two older brothers, is accustomed to teasing around the
house. But this was different, and Mary Lou-a middle-school teacher who has seen her share of
schoolyard fights- says she was surprised at "what that type of stress can do to someone
physically."
Mary Ellen is just one example of a paradox of online life: Kids use the Internet to connect to
other people, with E-mail, instant messaging, blogs, and social networking services like
MySpace.com. But the Internet also can be a place where kids are harassed or become so
engrossed that they're practically swallowed by their computers.
Some kids who run into these problems become isolated and depressed, their grades suffer, they
develop eating disorders, and they fail to develop real-world social skills. And online role- playing
can turn kids into habitual liars.
One 16-year-old boy who was dumped by his first serious girlfriend over the phone found a fuller
explanation for her actions on her instant messenger profile. Their entire network of social
contacts-friends of friends in multiple high schools and so on-also learned that the breakup was
about a lack of "chemistry" between them. The boy skipped school the next day, and he wondered
aloud to his stepmother why the information had to be on the Internet for all to see.
Parry Aftab, a privacy lawyer who founded Teenangels, an organization that teaches kids about
online safety, says the breadth and depth of new types of behavior among children related to
Internet use has made her rethink Teenangels' mission. Its focus is now what she calls "cyber-
wellness" instead of just safety. Parents can take action to mitigate some of the negative effects
on their kids (see box, above).
Dr. Robert Kraut, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who has studied online behavior for
more than 10 years, says that happy people use technology to support their in-person
relationships instead of using it to make new friends online. "Lots of people are figuring out where
E-communication is fitting into their lives and, in many cases, are doing it successfully," he says.
Of course, nobody can know for sure what the future will bring for this most-wired generation of
12- to 18-year-olds. It may be pointless to think too far ahead, because technology changes too
quickly for anyone to measure its effects with certainty. Parents have always worried about the
spread of new technology-including television in the 1960s-and most people ultimately adapt
innovations into their lifestyle in a healthy way, or at least in a way that does no long-term harm.
Still, the Internet and technology are so pervasive in the lives of children and teens that one can't
help but wonder how harmful they might be. Some 82% of kids are online by the seventh grade,
according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project. And a Kaiser Family Foundation study
last year found that people from ages 8 to 18 spend an average of 6.5 hours each day connected
to something electronic. If you count the time spent multitasking- updating a MySpace Web page
while listening to an iPod, for instance- that number jumps to 8.5 hours of online activity packed
2. into 6.5 actual hours.
SOCIALLY INEPT
Carnegie Mellon's Kraut has been tracking online behavior and its effects since 1995, when his
HomeNet program handed out Internet- connected PCs to families. The program now tracks 400
adults and 100 teens. Among Kraut's findings: The more people use the Internet, the less they
socialize and the less they communicate with family members.
For teenagers especially, increased Internet usage corresponds with a decline in social support.
Although Internet communications and sites like MySpace are supposed to expand people's
networks of friends, "we're not seeing that expansion leading to social benefits," Kraut says. In
other words, many hours trolling online for casual conversation with strangers does not a
relationship make.
Certain kids become too isolated, says Dr. David Fassler, a child and adolescent psychiatrist. A
shy or overweight kid with acne can become a football star or cheerleader by creating an avatar
on a multiplayer game or a persona on MySpace. "A degree of this is healthy," Fassler says, "but
if it starts to become the primary focus, it can become a problem."
One 14-year-old was setting his alarm clock to get up at 2 a.m. to participate in a real-time,
online fantasy game. His single- parent mom was unaware of this activity until she just happened
to be awake one night and saw her son straggle to the PC, half asleep. When confronted, his
response was that his gaming team needed him.
It's a vicious cycle: A shy or depressed kid stays online for hours at a clip and becomes even more
shy or depressed. When kids are online so much, they sometimes don't do their homework or pay
full attention in school because their energy is sapped by their online world. They miss out on
other activities, including sports, and they don't spend time with their "real-world" peers and
family members. Obesity, a rising epidemic in America, is especially problematic for the kids who
sit and snack at their PCs for hours at a time.
Obesity isn't the only eating disorder linked to the Internet, however. Fassler warns about a
growing number of sites that teach kids how to stay thin by developing eating disorders. Known
as "pro- ana" sites, they present anorexia as a lifestyle choice.
Experts talk about the "opportunity costs." Instead of taking the opportunity to have dinner with
family members or talk with an older sibling about a new crush, kids are holed up in their rooms,
playing a game or sending text messages to friends.
BULLIED AND TORMENTED
As for cyberbullying, it's not just the latest pop psychiatry hang-up. A team at York St. John
University College in the United Kingdom recently released a survey, four years in the making, of
more than 11,000 children. Some 15% of the kids reported receiving nasty or aggressive
messages from peers.
Mary Ellen Handy's problems began with a friend. The trouble started when Handy began dating
the friend's former prom date. "I asked her if she was OK with it, and she said yes because she
only liked him as a friend," Handy says. But the friend had a big problem with the relationship-and
the IM and MySpace attacks came fast and furious. The other girl recruited her circle of friends to
help with the harassment, Handy says. "I just couldn't get away from it," she explains.
Handy's school requires students to have notebook computers for doing homework and referring
3. to virtual textbooks. "So I'd be sitting in class or the library," Handy says, "and then this horrible
message would pop up, calling me a name." The same thing would happen when she went home.
MySpace posters, on her page and others, would refer to her as a slut.
She tried changing her IM screen name a few times, but that didn't solve the problem. It took a
year for the situation to calm down. Now the two girls avoid each other.
In other cases, "kids are being taunted and tormented and told not to tell anybody," Fassler says.
"There have been cases of extortion: 'Bring money to school or I'll beat you up.'" And even
though this is all done online, it's just as real to kids and has the same emotional ramifications as
schoolyard bullying, he says. Some victims won't go to school, while others become depressed or
even suicidal. Unlike in the schoolyard, no teachers are around to break things up or help the kids
make up.
TAUGHT TO LIE
Kids face relentless marketing online, and they're bamboozled into giving up personal information
with the promise of prizes. Young children especially must be taught not to give out their personal
information, because their inclination is to tell the truth.
There are dozens of recent cases where online sexual predators used social networking sites to
lure underage victims (see story, p. 34). Experts say parents are starting to react to those stories
and work with their kids to help keep them safe.
Some parents advise kids to give out phony names and false information to protect their privacy
and shield them from would-be predators. That creates its own problems, attorney Aftab says.
"We're raising situational liars," she says. "Do they know when they're lying and when they're
not?"
What's more, kids are learning that they can engage in high-risk activities online, often
anonymously and with no consequences. A teenager can slur a black classmate on a white
supremacist site. Or a girl can post seductive photos of herself and claim to be 17 when she's only
14.
Aftab says many kids, particularly between the ages of 11 and 14, have no impulse control.
"There's nothing uglier than a 12-year-old who's online," she says. "They've got the power before
they're prepared for it emotionally."
It's not just the younger set that's unprepared. Older teens are having more virtual sex-where
they chat via IM or E-mail about having sex with each other-and that, too, is having a real-world
effect, says Doug Fodeman, a former high school science teacher and now IT director at
Brookwood Elementary School in Manchester, Mass.
Fodeman, who gives parental workshops on online safety, says teens who start talking online may
feel they know each other better than they really do. When they actually meet for the first time
after sharing intimate details of their lives on IM or MySpace, the physical relationship may
progress much more quickly than it would have otherwise.
Fodeman also notes a marked increase in the amount of IM-speak such as LOL-laughing out loud-
showing up in kids' homework and papers. Students don't capitalize or try to spell words correctly,
and they overuse acronyms. "You might say I sound like an old curmudgeon, but it's abhorrent,"
he says. "Instead of students learning skills in school that find their way into the virtual world,
we're seeing the opposite."
4. NOT ALL BAD
Even with all the potential dangers, child-development and other experts are quick to point out many
benefits. Children can, and often do, stay in touch with friends who have moved away, or with far-
flung family members. Shy children can sometimes find a community and say things from the comfort
of their home that they're not able to say in person. A child with a rare medical condition has a ready-
made support network. Rural kids can stay in touch with others who are isolated geographically.
And then there's the matter of information online. Kids routinely look up all sorts of things that have
nothing to do with their schoolwork, from information on a parent's illness to online quizzes about their
own sexuality. "Kids who are struggling to define their own sexual orientation can find helpful
information and reassurance from kids who have been through a similar experience," Fassler says.
When this generation enters the workforce, its computer skills will be superior to those of past
generations. They will know how to find and manipulate information, and this group is particularly
adept at analyzing images and visual data. Multimedia is no challenge to these kids; indeed, it's the
only way to go. Children as young as 7 are learning how to embed audio and video files in text.
NETTING IT OUT
The bottom line is that, with appropriate rules and guidance from parents, most kids who venture online
will do just fine. Whether a child is vulnerable depends in part on his or her personality, whether
they're involved in other (nonvirtual) activities, and whether the Internet is being used to connect with
existing friends, family, and schoolmates instead of merely making idle chitchat with strangers.
"The jury is out in terms of big-picture impact," says Dave Greenfield, director of the Center for
Internet Behavior and author of Virtual Addiction (New Harbinger, 1999). But he says there's no doubt
there will be some effect. "Does trying to talk to someone as you're text messaging dilute interpersonal
interactions? Does it remove the ability to be fully present-the light is on, but you're not really at
home?"
5. Greenfield recalls one client who took away his daughter's cell phone because she refused to stop text
messaging whenever her parents tried to introduce her to someone. "I really have to work hard to not
let technology encroach, and I think teens are less conscious of the encroachment," he says.
Ultimately, Greenfield says, this is as much about our society as it is about any one child. "It's a
statement our culture is making- that convenience, portability, and managing and extending our time
are more important than the quality of human interaction," he says.
What's important is knowing when to turn technology off-how to say no. Or as the site Lifehacker puts
it, "Geek to live, don't live to geek."