2WebWatchers would like to thank Microsoft for the excellent free resources they have created on key topics of digital citizenship:

• Digital Citizenship and Creative Content - Excellent set of four lessons for teaching about copyright and more. You’ll need to register to download the handouts, but that process will take less than 30 seconds.
• The Naked Truth: Beware What You Share – Scary – but telling – stats on cyberbullying and sexting - presented on an eye-catching poster:

Image from Microsoft

Thank you, Microsoft!

How often do you see drivers texting or talking with hand-held cell phones? California is taking a stand against this dangerous practice. Across the country and up and down the state, law enforcement kicked off the first-ever Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The California Highway Patrol is partnering with more than 200 other law enforcement agencies to maximize enforcement this month. A ticket for violating either the hands free or no texting law costs a minimum of $159, and subsequent tickets cost $279.

Want to read more about more reasons to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road? Check out the Distracted Driving Fact Sheet and FAQs from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Here are a few more sites to learn more about distracted driving and what YOU can do:

• National Safety Council – Info, studies, tips on distracted driving
• Focus Driven – advocates and families of distracted driving victims give you the facts, stories and tools you need.
• Impact Teen Drivers – working to share with teens the dangers of reckless and distracted driving through their effective campaigns online and in schools.
• Distracted.Gov – the US government’s official website on distracted driving.
• No Phone Zone – Oprah Winfrey’s distracted driving website.

Too many lives are destroyed every year because of distracted driving. It’s time to remind family, friends, and co-workers that “it’s not worth it!”

One of our readers suggested that we take a look at this NBCAction News YouTube video.  We felt that it was important enough to share with our readers.

Social Network stalking on Smartphones
Some people voluntarily tell the world where they are and what they’re doing by ”checking in” on social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter. Most social networking websites have made it very convenient for you to post your status and whereabouts by using your smartphone. Gowalla and Foursquare have turned “checking in” into a fun way to earn badges, titles, and other rewards. Not only do these sites keep a log of your check-ins, they also let you automatically send status updates to Facebook and Twitter.

You could be very careful not to give away your location on your Facebook or Twitter pages, but the camera on your smartphone could be supplying people with that information. Many people take photos or video and upload them to social networking websites. A few years ago you needed to be careful that the background in your photos didn’t include any personal information – street address, license plate number, street signs, easily identifiable landmarks, etc. Now most smartphones come equipped with GPS (Global Positioning System) technology, which allows many smartphones the capability of geotagging your photos when you take them. The geotag data is then uploaded along with your photo, revealing when and exactly where it was taken. Photos posted to photo sharing sites like Flickr and Picasa can also be tagged with location, but it is not an automatic function.

In August of 2010, Adam Savage, of the television show “MythBusters,” took a photo of his vehicle using his smartphone. He then posted the photo to his Twitter account including the phrase “Now it’s off to work.” Since the photo was taken by his smartphone, the image contained metadata reveling the exact geographical location the photo was taken. So by simply taking and posting a photo to Twitter, Savage revealed the exact location of his home, the vehicle he drives and the time he leaves for work.

Web Photos That Reveal Secrets – Like Where You Live – New York Times

Please pay attention to the camera settings on your smartphones. It’s too easy for your location information to become public. If you are interested in turning off  ”location services” on your cell phone, you can usually find the information in your general phone settings. Call your service provider or look online for model specific instructions if you need assistance.

Vote for your favorite Elk Grove High School PSA on News 10

News10 partnered with the California Office of Traffic Safety to conduct a student-produced Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest about the dangers of texting and driving.  The students of Elk Grove High School’s Technology and Digital Arts Academy created submissions for the contest. 

Check out the student submissions here and cast your vote for the PSA you think does the best job of communicating to teens the dangers of texting and talking while driving. 

Please support our amazing students and their PSA videos. Winners will be broadcast on News10.  Voting ends January 21.  One vote per person, per day.

>>>>>Click Here to Cast Your Vote Today!<<<<<

Link to past post on 2WebWatchers - don’t temp f8, that txt can w8 – Texting while driving!

Spreading rumors and playground bullying is nothing new to students. There has been a huge shift. Children are now using their mobile phones and the Internet to hurt, humiliate, and harass each other. They are receiving and sending inappropriate texts, instant messages, and embarrassing photos. This type of bullying is especially disturbing because it is constant and very public.

1. Make sure you set clear expectations about your child’s online activity.
2. Set family guidelines around the use of Internet and mobile phones.
   • Let them know what they can and can’t access or share with their friends.
   • Let them know how much online time is deemed appropriate in your eyes.
3. Discuss what the consequences might be if you find that your child is not meeting your expectations.
4. Monitor your child’s use of the computer and their mobile phones. Have regular conversations with your children about how they are interacting on the Internet and how their online behavior might impact others.
   • Have an action plan if your children feel that they are being bullied online.
   • Periodically view text messages and photos on your children’s mobile phones.
   • Question them if you find something inappropriate.
5. Most importantly – keep the lines of communication open. Your child’s ability to use the Internet is a privilege. Don’t be afraid to be a parent if you feel they are abusing it.

From the front page of today’s SacBee: Teens Love Their Phones. If you are the parent of a teen, it’s doubtful that this news item comes as a surprise. The statistics are from the latest Pew Internet and American life Project study, which was released on Tuesday:

33% of teens send more than 100 text messages a day.

Number of texts typically sent and received per day: 80 (girls); 30 (boys); 10 (adults).

62% of parents say they have taken away a cell phone as punishment.

26% of teens have been bullied or harassed through text messages and phone calls.

48% of parents use the phone to monitor their children’s location.”