Two separate studies were released assessing the monthly suicide rates among various age groups with the release of the Netflix show ’13 Reasons Why’. The popular Netflix show depicted the suicide of its main protagonist which had alarmed mental health experts who were concerned about how this may influence and it’s effect on young viewers.

 
This study is a few months old but worth sharing for parents with toddlers.
A study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics showed a direct association between screen time for toddlers (age 2-3) and their development at age 3-5. Development, in this case, included development in communication, problem-solving, social skills and motor skills.
Here is a snippet from CNN and link to the larger article
Among toddlers, spending a lot of time staring at screens is linked with poorer performance on developmental screening tests later in childhood, according to a new study.
The study, published …

There’s not a single exception. All screen activities are linked to less happiness, and all nonscreen activities are linked to more happiness. Eighth-graders who spend 10 or more hours a week on social media are 56 percent more likely to say they’re unhappy than those who devote less time to social media.

Eighth-graders who spend 10 or more hours a week on social media are 56 percent more likely to say they’re unhappy than those who devote less time to social media. Click in to Read More About the Impact of Smartphones on this Generation.

– 85% of bullying occurs inside of school
– 82% with learning disabilities have been bullied at school
– 70% of student say bullying is a problem at their school
– 44% middle schoolers experience bullying problems
– 43% of kids have been bullied online
– 35% of kids have been threatened online
yet… 58% who experience cyberbullying have not told their parents or an adult

Click to see more sobering statistics

Twitter has announced through it’s blog that it could “reactively withhold content from users in a specific country”. Basically, Twitter is saying it has the right to remove content if it is against the laws of a particular country or if needed by special request…

So the question is…
Is upholding Freedom of Speech important enough to break local laws?

The impact of social media on actual live social interaction really cuts both ways. Yes it does open a venue in which people can hide behind computer, interact through online personalities, and perhaps under-develop their social abilities. It’s so much easier to comment or like someone’s post or post up updates about your own life. But in the same time, it does open a venue in which friends can interact more often which in itself can lead them to hang out more in the real world and keep up with one another when you probably wouldn’t have done so in the real world to begin with.

Where do you stand?

“…virtually all of the practices that nearly wrecked the global economy back in 2008 were legal—all of which goes to prove that just because something is legal doesn’t make it ethical or right… So the question isn’t “why?” but “why not?” If the only thing standing between you and millions, even billions, is other people’s disapproval, why not do what you want to do?”

Click the Post to Read More

In early August, Pretzel Crisp launched an an ad campaign in New York City with several slogans including “You can never be too thin”… it immediate brought anger throughout the blogsophere as a thinspiration slogan promoting unhealthy weight loss…

Prepare for an overload of Teenager Texting Statistics:

Half of teens send 50 or more text messages a day, or 1,500 texts a month. One in three send more than 100 texts a day (or more than 3,000 texts a month.)

15% of teen texters send more than 200 texts a day, or more than 6,000 texts a month.

See More Interesting Statistics:

Sexualization of Girls Report by the APA
American Psychological Association came out with a report that shows girl as young as 4 and 5 years old are wearing new clothing styles such as push-up bras, thongs, mini skirts and other adult type outfits. Following the onslaught of media images they see on TV, there is a changing standard born out of the pressure these images give to children to “get with it” or “fit in”. This report brings up the decrease in self-esteem, the increase in depressions and eating disorders linked to the increasing sexualization by the media. It also emphasizes the increasing underage sex rate.

Nominees for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize includes a Russian human rights group, a Chinese dissident and of course the Internet.

Say what?

The Internet to Win the Nobel Peace Prize?

Yes, the Internet was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. This is the year after Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for doing nothing at the time he won.

Does the Internet really warrant consideration?

Have you ever heard of a viral video that no one has seen? Focus on the Family has shot a pro-life spot featuring the college superstar and former Heisman Winner Tim Tebow. The spot will star Tim Tebow and his mother who will discuss how she went against the doctor’s advice to abort her son due to a life threatening infection. After contracting a dangerous infection during a mission trip to the Philippines, doctors recommended she terminate her pregnancy, fearing she might die during childbirth. They named their son “Timmy” who later was known to the world as Tim Tebow, the University of Florida’s Quarterback who led his team to national championships in 2006 and 2008.