Pandora’s Blog

A new poll shows that kids are texting more than ever… duh! I don’t think kids even know how to talk anymore – they just talk, IM and Facebook. Even email is archaic to them…

It’s a wonder that not every parent is using monitoring software to know exactly who their kids are talking to and if they are talking about taking risks (think drugs, sex, etc)…

If you don’t have PC Pandora, you have no clue what your kids are saying (typing)…

September 1, 2010
Increased texting should send msg to parents
Russ Jones, OneNewsNow

A new Nielsen poll has confirmed what many have already observed — the nation’s teens are increasingly using texting as a major source of communication, but a communications expert feels parents should be aware that this trend may have some hidden dangers.

While it may not come as any surprise that teens text more than other age groups, what could be disturbing is exactly how much time they spend twiddling their thumbs on their cell phones. According to Nielsen, American children under the age of 18 send and receive roughly 2,800 texts per month, or about 93 per day. Read more ›

I do not understand the appeal of little Biebs… I have never understood the appeal of the flavor of the month teen sensation – even when I was a teen. But when you take fan mania like this, and add the Internet – the result is sheer stupidity.

You can Google Syndey Dalton and read a hundred different blog posts and stories. I put one of the better (more official) ones below. The skinny is that this young Bieber fan decided to get “out” one day and posted a video of her and friends tearing up Bieber posters.

The Internet responded…

August 31, 2010
Sydney Dalton, Bieber Fever And The New Cyber Bullying
By Meghan Casserly, Forbes Blogs

Twitter is blazing with references to today with a teen named Sidney Dalton. Who? What? Why? The bottom line? Sydney Dalton is a victim of mean girls. Read more ›

Being dubbed the “anti-Facebook,” the new Dispora launches in just 2 weeks… it’ll be interesting to see how this pans out. You can read both articles below that describe the network. From what I gather, it’s not a network like Facebook, rather a piece of software you download and set up like a social network page, which then connects to others… the difference here is that you have total control over the contents – rather than being subjected to Facebook’s idea of “privacy.”

Take a read and tell me what you think… Remember, no matter what new social network pops up, PC Pandora 6.0 is there to keep an eye on your kids’ Internet activity and tell you what they are up to…

August 27, 2010
The Anti-Facebook Arrives September 15: Will You Switch?
By Ian Paul at PC World

Diaspora, the open source social network and potential Facebook challenger, will be ready to launch on September 15, according to the project’s developers. Read more ›

August 28, 2010
‘Anti-Facebook’ project nears launch
By Dave Rosenberg, cnet

The open-source social networking project Diaspora reported on its blog this week that the code for its much-hyped “anti-Facebook” software will be released September 15. Hatched by a team of New York University programming students, Diaspora raised $200,000 through a microfinancing strategy–nabbing small chunks of money from a lot of individuals. Read more ›

Another week of round-ups of our foes, the nasty Internet predators. Every week, I serve this column as a reminder that guys like this DO exist – and in many cases, they succeed! Parents, you need to talk to your kids and you need to be vigilant. You need to know what they are doing online and who they are talking to. You also need to know who might be trying to talk to them… Keep in mind, your kids may still meet people the good old fashioned way (in person) and then carry out a relationship on the internet… a new “friend” is still a stranger… it is essential to use a tool like PC Pandora 6.0 to have completely knowledge of your children’s Internet activity…

Police were investigating one case, and stumbled onto this one – a man sending sexually explicit messages to a REAL 13-year-old girl…

August 26, 2010
Prospect man held on online-sex corruption charges

A Prospect man faces felony charges linked to allegedly engaging in sexually explicit online communication with teenage girls. The Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force arrested 36-year-old David Vance Pierce Wednesday at his home in the 400 block of Red Blanket Road. He was charged with two felonies, second-degree online sexual corruption of a child and luring a minor, as well as prostitution, which is a misdemeanor, the task force reported in a news release today. Read more ›

A man in Washington was arrested for molesting and having sex with 14-year-old girls he met on MySpace…

August 27, 2010
Silverdale Man Arrested on Suspicion of Molesting Teen Girl
By Kitsap Sun

PORT ORCHARD — A 22-year-old Silverdale man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of molesting a 14-year-old girl he met via MySpace. A Port Orchard man told police his 14-year-old daughter had been getting text messages from the suspect, including one in which he asked her to meet him behind Givens Community Center. The daughter told police the suspect had been dating a girl she knew, who also is 14. The daughter said she’d seen the suspect put his hand down the other girl’s pants. Read more ›

An Alabama man arrested in April in a sting op for trying to lure what he thought was a 13-year-old girl online, was sentenced to 10 years in prison last week…

August 27, 2010
Walker County man receives 10 years for child exploitation
BIRMINGHAM, AL -WBRC-TV

A Walker County man was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday on charges of child exploitation. 50-year-old Charles William Elliott pleaded guilty in April to attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, possessing child pornography and attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor. Read more ›

A 20-year-old California man was convicted of “sextortion”… you have to read about this case – it’s a terrible developing trend…

August 30, 2010
Jury Convicts Man In ‘Sextortion’ Case; Davis Resident Accused Of Threatening Teenage Girl
KCRA-TV

WOODLAND, Calif. — A Davis man has been convicted in what officials are calling a “sextortion” case. Prosecutors said Michael Hien Artz, 20, forced a teenage girl to perform sexual acts on him and documented the incident with photos and video. Months later, Artz found the girl on Facebook and threatened to post the footage online unless the victim agreed to have sexual encounters with him again, according to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office. Read more ›

This is great info for everyone to read over and at least be aware of. If you don’t want to use – or don’t want your kids using – the new Facebook Places feature, here’s how to turn it off…

August 27, 2010
Facebook Places just too much information? Here’s how to opt out
By Sharon Gaudin at Computerworld

With the launch of Facebook Places, users need to figure out if this service is a cool new tool or an overbearing feature best avoided. The social networking site’s new location-based feature, dubbed Places, was unveiled last week. The smartphone -based service is designed to let users tell their friends where they are, while also helping them track their own friends. The service also enables users to give away their friends’ current location. Read more ›

By the way, you can use PC Pandora 6.0 monitoring software to make sure your kids aren’t revealing too much about themselves online… like where they are right now!

This resource is a great start for education, but remember – you can teach a child, doesn’t mean they are going to listen. You want to stop cyberbullying ins schools? Use PC Pandora monitoring software to see exactly what they are doing online – then confront them about it!

Though this was launched in Illinois, it can be used by any school system, anywhere… The news article below showcases the program. Here is the link to the AG’s page: http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/children/internet.html

August 23, 2010
New Tool for Teachers to Protect Students from Internet Dangers… Will protect kids from cyberbullying
C. Hayes & Attorney General Madigan’s office WGN News

There’s a new tool for teachers to protect their students from cyberbullying and other threats on the internet.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan and the Illinois State Board of Education Monday launched an Internet safety training program.

On Tuesday, more than 365 educators throughout Illinois will participate in the Attorney General’s first-of-its-kind Webinar to introduce educators to the benefits of the training program.

“Educators constantly tell me they need resources to educate their students on Internet safety issues,” said Attorney General Madigan. “We’ve created this training program to address the real need to teach our children how to be safe when using vital technology.” Read more ›

This is so ridiculous. Nothing to do with monitoring, but it’s worth sharing here. Facebook has sued a website called Teachbook… claiming trademark infringement on the ___book name scheme.

What a bunch of cry babies… I can’t wait to see how this pans out.

Facebook Sues Startup Over Use Of Word ‘Book’

August 26, 2010
Educator social network Teachbook is trying to trade on Facebook’s popularity, says lawsuit.
By Antone Gonsalves, InformationWeek

Facebook has filed a federal lawsuit against Teachbook, claiming that the use of the word “book” in the startup’s name infringes on the popular social network’s trademark. The complaint, filed last week in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif., claims the problem arises from the fact that Teachbook is a kind of social network for teachers, and is using “book” in its name to ride on Facebook’s coattails. Read more ›

More stories that showcase the stupidity found on social networks. Remember, there are no red ropes… everyone comes in. if you child is on MySpace, you need to use PC Pandora computer monitoring software to know who your kids are friends with and what they may be doing on there…

Three teen girls met men on MySpace and then stole their cars…

August 20, 2010
Teenagers prey on theft victims through MySpace and Quest chat lines
By Jade Mingus, KVUE News

Austin police are investigating three vehicle thefts after they say teenagers girls met men on MySpace and Quest phone chat lines and stole their vehicles. An arrest affidavit states that a girl known as “Abby” began chatting with a man who would later become a victim of auto theft. The man agreed online to pick “Abby” up near at Reagan High School last Saturday evening. Read more ›

A graffiti artist was arrested for vandalism… when he left his tags all over town and then proudly displayed the tag on his MySpace page…

August 27, 2010
Newark man charged with graffiti crimes
By Don Voltz

A 32-year old Newark man has been arrested and charged with 30 graffiti incidents, dating back to January 2009. Brian Durkee of Nathaniel Drive in Newark, is charged with illegally applying his tag to 30 locations, all along Main Street. Read more ›

This piece was written by William J. Bennett, a former U.S. Secretary of Education. Though it’s a good look at the problem, it does little to offer an actual solution and tips (despite the fact he is now pimping new software that is a competitor of ours)…

So, let me take the time to tell you, parents, that if you want to stop the ‘Sextortion’ and Cyberbullying, you need to use PC Pandora monitoring software. When you know exactly what your kids are doing online, you can keep them safe. If you aren’t monitoring, you don’t really know…

August 23, 2010
‘Sextortion,’ Cyberbullying, Texting — The Challenge for Parents As Kids Head Back to School
By William J. Bennett

As students prepare to head back to school, and as parents begin to prepare them for this very American annual ritual, a great many concerns are on every mind of every participant in this venture—from parents to students, from teachers to administrators. And just lately, the headlines have given cause for greater and greater concern. For some time we’ve been reading about the threats to (and from) our children in their digital world, threats such as cyber-bullying and sexting. It seems that everyday we learn about a new level of pernicious assault on our children in the digital world. Read more ›

The very well-written piece below is the second of 2 parts… The first looks at bullying as a whole, but this one is a look at cyberbullying specifically – which is where we come in as a solution… PC Pandora 6.0 computer monitoring software will let you know if your kids are being victimized online – or if they are bullying others!

August 19, 2010
Teachers, parents can put a stop to cyberbullying
Christiaan Ramsey, Ashville Citizen Times

As technology has advanced and young students have gained greater access to communication devices such as cell phones and the Internet, bullying has taken on the more covert and sinister form of cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is intimidation or harassment through electronic means, and it is usually anonymous. Students, who once picked on peers out in the open, now do it from the privacy of their own home or cell phone, using pseudo-identifiers. The efficiency and speed of communications also means bullying can be more widespread. Bullies can spread rumors or threats to hundreds or thousands of recipients simultaneously. To make matters worse, school officials are often unable to stop the problem because doing so would require them to search students’ personal cell phones or e-mail accounts. This practice is problematic for two reasons: Officials do not have the time or the staff for such an undertaking, and the practice may be construed as a violation of student privacy. Unrestricted and poorly monitored cell phone harassment that began at home can end up as a major disruption at school the next day. Read more ›