Keeping track of a number of stories relating to ‘Raising Children in a Digital Age‘ in the news:
Child online protection made paramount by UNICEF and the ITU: Technological innovation has advanced in unprecedented ways over the past decade. Digital and mobile technology, when used safely can give children and adolescents the chance to make a difference and voice their concerns in schools and communities. With the right tools and information, young people are better placed to access opportunities for healthcare, education and employment. UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have been closely collaborating on two specific work streams, giving children and youth a voice in a digital era: the Global Youth Summit: BYND 2015and the draft Child Online Protection (COP) Guidelines.
- The Case Against Monitoring Teens Online: One day after school, 16-year-old Amelia was in her room scrolling through her Facebook updates when she took a break to get a snack. When she came back, her mom was at her computer, busy reading the status updates posted by Amelia’s friends, which alluded to “gossip about who got drunk last weekend and who likes who, stuff like that,” Amelia remembered. “It was nothing, most of it probably wasn’t even true — everyone exaggerates about everything — but my mom totally flipped out.” Amelia, meanwhile, “flipped out” too, accusing her mother of spying, and having no respect for her privacy.
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KidsGoMobile startup launches Kickstarter campaign: The KidsGoMobile software is a timely development as device access is set to increase with the introduction of Bring Your Own Device policies in New Zealand schools, which seeks to put devices in the hands of every child. The KidsGoMobile software helps parents identify risky activity, and equips them to raise digitally responsible kids with scenario-specific expert advice. After installing the KidsGoMobile app parents receive email or SMS notifications with important information about their child’s device activity and provides steps for resolving potential risks.
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Chinese Company, UNICEF to Support Ugandan Education: The Beijing Honghe Technology Group and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched the ‘UNICEF—Honghe Innovation Research Collaboration’ in Beijing on November 25, 2013, according to which Honghe Technology will provide Mobi-Stations to support children’s education in Uganda over the next six months.
- Try your hand at making waves in digital world of sound and vision: Ignite Somerset and Red Brick Building, in Glastonbury, have teamed up to host an afternoon and evening of noisy digital art titled Echoes and Waves on Sunday. The afternoon slot is designed for children and young people and they can try their hand at stop-frame animation, create weird sound effects with computers and have a go at becoming a human beatbox.
- BT calls on young digital champions to bring internet skills to the adults: To date over twenty thousand school children have pledged their support for the initiative which aims to build the confidence and skills of people in their local communities to get online and get more out of life. This could include trying simple activities, such as keeping in touch with family or making major changes to their lives, such as finding a job.
- McAfee study reveals perils children face online: The youngest digital natives of the country — those in the age group of eight to 12 with access to the Internet via multiple devices — are prone to the dangers of cyber bullying and getting drawn into malicious social engineering schemes, a study has warned.
- Parenting tips for the digital age: Randi Zuckerberg: “When I was working at Facebook, I didn’t have children. I was always thinking about the present, and what we were doing right now. But a very curious thing happens when you have a child – you stop thinking all about right now and more about the future. It got me thinking that, yes, the tools we’re working on right now are amazing, but they’re also making it very complicated for the future.”
- Digital Media Helps With Adoptions: The explosion of digital and social media has allowed children, whose parental rights have been terminated and available for adoption, to advocate for themselves through a photograph, video spot or audio clip. (Bit wary about the idea of putting children up for adoption via photographic display!)
- Docs to parents: Limit kids’ texting, tweeting and posting: The digital landscape’s allure on children has not escaped the attention of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The influential medical group recently released a new policy that advises parents to limit their kids’ use of digital devices and the Internet, including smartphones, computers and other devices. Excessive use of the devices has been linked to violence, cyberbullying, school woes, obesity, lack of sleep and other problems.
- ‘Center of the universe’: Experts warn against too many kid photos: With the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, and digital cameras, children find themselves the stars of their own photo shoots. Focusing the camera on children too frequently might make them feel overly important, some experts say. Some toddlers grab their parents’ smartphones and snap their own selfies. Other children give creative direction — “Take my picture, Mom, I’m being cute.”
… and there’s opportunities to teach children about finances.