Increased youth suicide rates linked to Netflix ’13 Reasons Why’

Study associating youth suicide with Netflix '13 reasons why'
Study associating youth suicide with Netflix ’13 reasons why’ – Image: Beth Dubber/Netflix

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. The first study found that the suicide rate among 10 to 17-year-olds boys increased significantly in the month after the release and remained higher for the subsequent 2 months. They found no significant changes in the suicide rates among older age ranges. The second study, conducted by a separate team, came to the same conclusion. In the 3 months after the Netflix show’s release, youth suicide rate for 10 to 19-year-olds rose by 13%. This study was done on both male and female youths.

Continue Reading

New teen study shows more phone use leads to unhappiness

Anti-social teenagers on phones

New study on teenager phone usage and unhappiness

A new study on teen smartphone usage from San Diego State University showed that teens who spent more time on their smartphones were markedly unhappier. Professor Jean M. Twenge, Gabrielle Martin and W. Keith Campbell analyzed data of a survey given to more than a million U.S. 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. This survey asked the youth about their phone, tablet and computer usage as well as various questions about their happiness, relationships and social interactions. The study showed that teens who spent more time on the screen, whether playing games, browsing the internet, using social media, or watching videos, were considerably less happy than those who spend more time playing sports, reading books or participate in other face to face social activities.

Continue Reading

Teen Cyberbullying on the Internet [Infographic]

The Parents Guide to Bullying

The truth about bullying, how it effects your child, and what you can do to help.

Some sobering statistics from the infographic:

  • 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
  • 1 in 10 students drop out of school due to repetitive bullying.
  • yet… 80% of bullying acts aren’t reported to parents
  • 43% of kids were bullied while online
  • 35% of kids have been threatened online
  • yet… 58% who experience cyberbullying have not told their parents or an adult

Results in:

  • 14% of high school students have considered suicide
  • … 7% have attempted it

 

Know the warning signs:

It’s important that we all understand that it’s very possible that bullying could be occurring without our notice. Below are some “warning signs” that are recommended from the infographic. However note that these signs are just potential signs and it’s also important to not assume things or overanalyze behavior that is often just common to teens. One advice is to just be involved in their lives, know what’s going on, what is stressing them, what makes them happy so that communicate stays open.

  • disconnects from people and isolates self
  • physical problems such as headaches and stomachaches
  • difficulty concentrating
  • difficult falling/staying asleep or experience frequent nightmares
  • seems listless, unenthusiastic and disinterested in many aspects of life
  • hyper vigilant, extremely nervous, depressed or emotionally explosive

Teen Bullying and Cyberbulling Guide

Continue Reading

The Impact of the It Can Wait Campaign on Teen Driving Culture

Texting & Driving Teens Danger

Major mobile carriers like AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon have banded together, spending millions to convince teens not to use their services, according to The Dallas News. The powerful It Can Wait campaign urges teens (and drivers of all ages) to wait until they get to their destination before reading, writing or sending text messages. According to Distraction.gov, drivers are twice as likely to crash if they are texting while in motion.

The campaign’s adverts depict gut wrenching stories in an aim to save lives. One ad tells the story of a driver who hit and killed three Amish youngsters after texting “I love you” to his wife. Another features an 8 year old who lost his legs after being hit by a texting driver. These shock-worthy tales are changing the driving culture, making it socially unacceptable to text and drive.

The Documentary

One of the first facts to scroll across the screen in the 35-minute It Can Wait documentary: 100,000 people die each year due to texting and driving. The documentary has been viewed by more than 2.7 million people since it was first uploaded to YouTube in August.

However, the first story in the film is not about someone who died as a result of texting and driving. Instead, the film details the tragic story of Xzavier, an eight year old, who has been living incapacitated since he was hit by a texting driver as a toddler. The documentary expands on the ideas in the ads, and by getting deeper into the reality victims face every day, it has an impact on teens.

Integration of Social Media

Part of the effectiveness of the It Can Wait is that it goes beyond simple TV adverts. By inviting teens to get involved, the movement has gained a larger, more effective reach than it would have without cross-platform engagement. Teens can upload their stories to the It Can Wait website through short videos, take the It Can Wait Pledge on Facebook or Tweet their stories using the dedicated It Can Wait hashtag.

Texting_While_Driving_iphoneIncreased Parental Involvement

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic accidents continue to be the No. 1 killer of teens, but in an effort to change this grim fact, parents have become more active in encouraging kids to wear seat belts and to never text while driving. Parents have also realized the importance of ensuring their teen drivers understand the rules of the road before they get behind a wheel and are focusing on finding free resources for practice tests and safety guides.

Safety apps have also sprung up as part of the cultural response. DriveMode, an app created by AT&T, can be set before a driver starts the car. As the teen drives toward their location, the app reads their texts aloud to them. This allows teens to quench their social curiosity without becoming a danger to others.

Continue Reading

Cyber Monday Sets a New Sales Record. Mobile Soars.

Was it ever in doubt?

This year’s Cyber Monday set a new one-day online shopping record.

Cyber Monday 2013 Sales IBM

Cyber Monday Sales Statistics in 2013

Cyber Monday Online Sales increased by over 20% year over year. Sales were boosted by a strong 55% growth in mobile sales according to IBM Digital Analytics Benchmark. Mobile sales accounted for 17% of all total online sales. 11.7% of sales were from tablets. Amazing.

It seems inevitable that every year, Black Friday & Cyber Monday will hit new sales records. The continued growth is remarkable considering cyber monday spending surpassed $1 Billion back in 2010.

Cyber Monday online sales accounted for 31.5% more than Black Friday. The entire thanksgiving Day to Cyber Monday period was up 16.5% year over year.

Top Five Cities for Cyber Monday Sales:

New York led the way, followed by Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta

iOS vs. Android

Fun fact. IOS users spent $120.29 per order compared to $106.70 per order for Android. iOS traffic accounted for 22.4 percent of all online traffic compared to 9.1% for Android.

Cat on Laptop Cyber Monday ShoppingCyber Monday Statistics by Industry

Department Stores: Cyber Monday online sales grew 70% versus 2012. Mobile sales grew 52%.
Health & Beauty: Cyber Monday online sales grew 65% versus 2012. Mobile sales grew a whopping 84%.
Home Goods: Cyber Monday online sales grew 27% versus 2012. Mobile sales grew 41%.
Apparel: Cyber Monday online sales grew 23% versus 2012. Mobile sales grew 58%.

  • Did you shop on Cyber Monday?
  • Did you get a good deal?
  • Did you shop on a tablet or phone?
Continue Reading

Sobering Cyberbulling Statistics [Infographic]

Sobering Cyber Bullying Statistics

1 in 6 teens are cyberbullied.

Teens who are cyberbullied are 3,5x more likely to attempt suicide than those who aren’t bulled.

Cyberbullying is defined as the “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell
phones, and other electronic devices.” Currently 80% of teens are on cell phones and on social media sites giving them the almost unhindered ability to communicate with one another for good or bad. The most sobering of them all is the higher likelihood of suicide from those cyberbullied than those who are not, or even bullied off-line. Check out this cyberbulling infographic below.

cyberbullying online infographic

More Cyberbullying Thoughts

Cyberbullying is a real problem that often goes unnoticed by parents. We all remember our childhood and the cruelty the young are capable of. Just imagine the same thing played out online where users can be anonymous and the stage is not just 1 or 2 kids but the entire school. In previous studies some have shown that 1 in 4 kids have been targets of cyberbullying and 2 of 3 teens have witnessed cruel behavior online. Yet only 10% of parents are aware that their own teens are on the receiving end of these cyberbullying behaviors. This cannot happen.

Cyberbullying Statistics

  • 1 in 6 (16.2%) of teens are cyber bullied [22.1% girls / 10.8% boys]
  • 18.6% of white [25.9% girls / 11.8% boys]
  • 8.9% of blacks [11% girls / 6.9% boys]
  • 13.6% of hispanics [18% girls / 9.5% boys]
  • 15.5% of 9th graders [22.6% girls / 8.9% boys]
  • 18% of 10th graders [24.2% girls / 12.6% boys]
  • 16% of 11th graders [19.8% girls / 12.4% boys]
  • 15% of 12th graders [21.5% girls / 8.8% boys]

Off-line bullying rates

  • 1 in 5 are bullied offline [22% girls / 18% boys]

Top 15 Highest Cyberbullying Rates by State

  1. New Hampshire [21.6%]
  2. Maine [19.7%]
  3. South Dakota [19.6%]
  4. Montana [19.2%]
  5. Indiana [18.7%]
  6. Wyoming [18.7%]
  7. Louisiana [18%]
  8. Michigan [18%]
  9. Kentucky [17.4%],
  10. North Dakota [17.4%]
  11.  Idaho [17%]
  12. Arkansas [16.7%]
  13. Utah [16.6%]
  14. Wisconsin [16.6%],
  15. Iowa [16.8%],

Current Cyberbullying Laws

  • 49/50 states have bullying laws (Montana does not)
  • 47/50 include electronic harassment.
  • 44/50 include school sanctions.
  • 18/50 specifically include “cyberbullying”
  • 12/50 include criminal sanctions.

cyberbullying childCyberbulling and Suicide Correlations

  • Teenagers who are cyberbullied are 3 times more likely to commit suicide.
  • Teenagers who are traditionally bullied are 2 times more likely to commit suicide.

Suicide attempts that require treatment:

  • 1.5% for youths not bullied
  • 2.3% for youths physically bullied
  • 5.4% for youths cyberbullied
  • 6% for youths physically and cyberbullied
  • Only 1/10 victims ask their parents for help.
  • Leaving 9/10 to deal with the abuse alone.

Tips for Parents against Cyberbulling

Tips for Educators against Cyberbulling

  • Teach that cyberbullying is wrong.
  • Listen and respond to all reports of bullying.
  • Have students work on projects against cyberbullying.
  • Have a system for complaints to be documented.
  • Host speakers on the topic of bullying.
  • Ensure that school is a safe place; free from cyberbullying.

Chime In: What Cyberbulling Statistic is the most Sobering to you?

  • Have you or your children ever been targets of cyberbulling?
Continue Reading

Christopher Columbus Sold Slaves & Fed Natives to Dogs

Christopher Columbus Day – Celebrating a Hero or Horrible, Horrible Man!

So Columbus Day has arrived. A nice national holiday to celebrate great Christopher Columbus who found the new world and proved that the earth was round. That is what he did right? Or did he?

We celebrate Christopher Columbus Day just as we do with the likes with the likes of Martin Luther King & Abraham Lincoln. An amazing group to be associated with. There must be good reasons right?

There is no way we celebrate a man who heartlessly murdered the natives for sport in search of gold, and callously allowed his men to feed them to live to the dogs? Someone who regularly led men who cut of body parts of native as a way to control them and force them to pay tribute? Someone who used young girls as sex slaves rewards for his men?

We do no such thing. Our history books, what we see on TV, what we’ve read in books, what we intake in, I’ll say it.. media, says otherwise… right?

Enjoy (be horrified by?) this Infographic.

Warning: Not for the faint of heart. Lot of cruelty.

 

Christopher Columbus Day Infographic
Bartolome de las Casas Day  Infographic

 

Infographic from is from The Oatmeal
Sources of Information
A People’s History of the United States: 1492 to Present by Howard Zin
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Lowewen.

  • Were you surprised?
  • What was the most shocking?
  • Who would you nominate to take over this national holiday?

How about William Wilberforce!

Continue Reading

Are Teenagers bored of Facebook? [Infographic]

Are Teenagers bored of Facebook?

Did you know…

  • Facebook usage among teens in the US has declined 7% in the last 6 months?
  • Facebook users are getting older?
  • Tumblr has become the biggest player in teen usage?
  • Mothers are taking over Facebook!?

Amidst the article after article describing the growth of social media or the ill-effects of Facebook on children, there are some statistics that suggest we are seeing a shift away from a Facebook dominated world. As more mothers come onto Facebook and it becomes more popular among the young, the ever “trendy” teens may be seeking other venues to share their lives. Instagram, SnapChat, and Tumbler are being adopted quickly especially as more and more teens are being granted smartphones and thus constantly connected to the internet.

Enjoy this, bright and slightly nauseating infographic from Right Mix Marketing.

  • What social media app do you use the most?
  •  Have you unfriend your parents before?

Teens Facebook Social Media Use

[poll id=”17″]

Continue Reading

What Happens Online in 60 Seconds [Infographic]

Online in 60 Seconds Infographic

In our hyperconnected world and ever growing presence of social media, the question is asked – what exactly happens online in any given minute? How about…

  • 2 million searches on Google
  • 72 hours of video uploaded on youtube
  • 1.8 million likes on facebook
  • 11,000 searches on linkedin
  • 20 million photo views on flickr
  • 278,000 tweets on twitter
  • 204 Million emails sent
  • $83,000 worth of Sales on Amazon

see what else below!

  • Which online activity statistic do  you contribute to the most?

Online Internet 60 Seconds Infographic
Infographic by Qmee

Continue Reading

Three Easy Ways to Protect Your Child on Facebook

Kids Social Network Facebook Connections

The Parent-Kid Cyber-Safety: Facebook Edition

From the bus stop to the home computer, kids are vulnerable little creatures. Even in the comfort of home sitting right beside you on the couch, your child is essentially exposed to online predators and Internet dangers while playing on a laptop. And the moment they log onto Facebook, they’re open to whole new world that, without boundaries and limitations, threatens their safety. While accepting your child’s plea to join Facebook, keep the following in mind:

Familiar Friend Requests

As part of your child’s Facebook privileges, explain that every friend request will be run by you. Kids should treat social interactions on Facebook just like they do in real life, which is why enforcing the “stranger danger” rule for Facebook is a good approach. Communication can only move forward if the child knows and trusts the person with your approval. After a quick friend request, kids can become targets of stalkers, sexual predators, a phishing scam and identity theft. Know your child’s Facebook login and password and regularly monitor their account. You can also manage your child’s social media habits by keeping the computer in an open space in your home. Permit them to log on for a certain amount of time during a particular time of day.

Cyberbullying Online

No longer is bullying restricted to buses, playgrounds, cafeterias and beneath football stadium bleachers. Adolescents, tweens and teens are cyberbullied or cyberbullies themselves — and Facebook becomes the weapon of choice. Insulting status updates and photos can create serious personal anguish, resulting in low self-esteem and anti-social behavior. Cyerbullying can be so detrimental that school authorities and police officials become involved. Earlier this year, a 15-year-old boy in Colorado cyberbullied another student using the photo-sharing app Instagram. Photos were captioned with “derogatory or sexual comments,” explains CBSNews.com.

Create an open forum about malicious communication on Facebook and the topic of bullying on the Internet, whether you suspect that your child’s a victim of bullying or bullying others. Foster a relationship with your child so that they feel comfortable coming to you to handle a cyberbullying scenario.

If you suspect that your child’s the bully, the first step is to avoid denial. No parent wants to admit that their kid is causing harm to others. Do your best to not turn a blind eye to your child’s behavior. The consequences of cyberbullying are far-reaching and can even become fatal. A decisive lack of attention and responsibility for bullying behavior is practically advocating verbal violence and psychological harm among your child and peers. Avoid avoidance.

Facebook Friend Your Kids

Becoming friends with your child on Facebook invites you into their social network. Your child may even feel more protected and secure having you on their side. As mentioned by SociallyActive.com, the most harm children experience on Facebook isn’t caused by their own actions but rather the actions of their connections. Even if children don’t act like it, adolescents and teens actually need and want structure and boundaries set before them. During such impressionable ages, children feel safer and more in control with parental guidance. A presence in your child’s digital life, whether you’re initiating open conversations or installing online controls to safeguard information, creates a harmonious relationship between the Internet and your family.

 

  • What are some other great ways to protect your children online? Please share!

 

Continue Reading

Is Marketing why Samsung got so big this year?

Samsung Outspends Apple in Marketing

Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 2

This past year there was a significant shift in the smartphone world. Samsung has vaulted up the charts and have become a huge player alongside Apple. With the launch of Apple iPhone, the smartphone industry was for a while a one big-player industry. As blackberries and palms faded into obscurity, there was Apple and everyone else.

Was their increased market share due to marketing?

Here’s a question: How much of that has been due to Samsung’s increased marketing spend? No one likes to think that just seeing more advertising is affecting them in anyway, but companies would not spend millions of dollars if there was no evidence of it working. I see Samsung ads everywhere I go. They’ve plastered billboards and their commercials are all over the media. Not long ago, Samsung was just another player, but now the attitude of most is that Samsung is very good alternative – perhaps the only real alternative to the iPhone.

Samsung made a strategic play to attack Apple directly in their ads as well as blanket media with their brand. Check out the new spend figures below. Samsung increased their advertising by 5x.

Samsung Apple Ad Spend

What do you think?

  • How much do you believe marketing played in the role of their increased brand awareness?
Continue Reading
1 2 3 6