Pandora’s Blog

In addition to the Pediatrics study released a couple weeks ago, a new study by the National School Boards Association (NSBA) and Grunwald Associates LLC exploring the online behaviors of U.S. teens and ‘tweens. The study is based on three surveys: an online survey of nearly 1,300 9 to 17-year-olds, an online survey of more [...]

If you read my blog here, there is one thing you can easily deduce – both from my tone and my ramblings – I hate social networks. I don’t hate them because they are dangerous or filled with predators and pedophiles. No, I hate them for a much more philosophical and basic-caring-for-the-human-race reason.
You see, the [...]

Larry King (not the CNN guy) over at Philly.com wrote an EXCELLENT piece on the ridiculous flaws with age-verification and those quick to applaud MySpace’s new agreement.
PLEASE READ THIS: My unsafe space? Experts say a new pact won’t faze predators on MySpace.com. Age verification is a weak link.
At the very end, he writes:
But police say [...]

I love it when experts downplay the sexual predator problem on MySpace and the Internet in general. They often say it is an extreme case and usually doesn’t happen – or is not the norm.
Alright… but does that mean that these incidents are OK? No. Fine. So then, why should be parents be afraid?
Look here [...]

An interesting study was released that shows most of the unwanted solicitation of minors actually happens in chat rooms and via instant messaging. [Study comes from February issue of Pediatrics]
Steven Reinberg of HealthDay Reporter compiled a report here: Social Networking Sites Safer Than IM or Chat Rooms. I, of course, encourage reading his article - [...]

Another bill has been proposed to help protect kids online. But, to me, this one seems to make a bit more sense – as it is more committed to locking up the guys who are caught, rather than trying fruitlessly to deter the crime from happening.
There’s no way you’re going to stop predators, but there [...]