Archive for Common Sense Media
One of our favorite Internet safety organizations - Common Sense Media – has just updated their list of Social Networking Sites for Kids. The organization does an outstanding job of reviewing, ranking, and regularly updating their list of kid-oriented social networks.
According to Caroline Knorr, parenting editor at Common Sense Media, “The key to all of this for parents — for getting the most out of social networking and all technology – is understanding the technology, setting usage rules, setting privacy settings and, most importantly, training your kids to practice responsible online behavior.”
Here’s their latest list:
1. ScuttlePad (2010) Age 7+
Social network with training wheels is safe but limited.
2. Togetherville (2010) Age 7+
Kids’ social site connects to parents’ Facebook friends.
3. WhatsWhat.me (2011) Age7+
Tween social network with top-notch safety features.
4. Yoursphere (2009) Age 9+
Kid-only social network promises to block dangerous adults.
5. Franktown Rocks (2009) Age 10+
Music and social networking combine in safe, cool hangout.
6. GiantHello (2010) Age 10+
Facebook-lite gets a lot right, but watch out for games.
7. GirlSense (2009) Age 10+
Safe, creative community for tween fashionistas.
8. Sweety High (2010) Age 11+
Fun, closed social network for girls is strong on privacy.
9. Imbee (2011) Age 10+
Safer social networking if parents stay involved.
10. YourCause (2009) Age 13+
An easy, fun, socially networked way to fundraise.
If you have any feedback on the above sites, or know of a site that should be added to the list, please jump in and add a comment.
PBS KIDS GO! recently launched its Digital Citizenship Initiative that features several new resources. Among them, a free interactive, online game called Webonauts Internet Academy. The game is designed to teach kids how to be safe and respectful online. The game gives kids 8 to 10 years of age an opportunity to have some fun while exploring what it means to be a good cyber citizen.
The game’s motto: Observe… Respect… Contribute…
As new recruits to the Webonauts Internet Academy‚ players are sent on training missions on the planet Bambu. While there‚ they encounter a mysterious enemy‚ The Great Static‚ who is set on stealing the Bamdudes’ cookie recipe. During the course of the game‚ players receive on-the-job training and help the Bamdudes save their cookie recipe!
Players answer questions that are centered around the following topics: good citizenship, identity‚ privacy‚ credibility and Internet safety.
The game takes about 20 minutes to play and you have the opportunity to login to save your game – you can easily pick up where you left off.
Parents can learn more about the Webonauts Internet Academy by clicking here. Parents can also find helpful supporting information on PBSPARENTS.org, including tips for kids’ Internet use from Common Sense Media.
The Webonauts Internet Academy can also be a great tool for classrooms. Teachers can click here to access the helpful tips page for educators.
One of our favorite sites for parents and teachers is Common Sense Media.
Amid growing concern about how much information students are revealing about themselves in their personal profiles on social networking web sites and other online services, the national child advocacy group Common Sense Media is asking industry, educators, policy makers, parents, and teens to help make a stand for online privacy by demanding that companies provide an “opt-in” feature for sharing the information of all children under the age of 18.
Common Sense Media’s national campaign, called “Do Not Track Kids,” began from what the group considered to be startling statistics about online privacy.
According to the Wall Street Journal, 50 of the most popular U.S. web sites are placing intrusive tracking technology on visitors’ computers—in some cases, more than 100 tracking tools at a time. Fifty sites popular with U.S. teens and children placed more than 4,000 “cookies,” “beacons,” and other tracking technologies on their sites, the Journal reported—and that’s 30 percent more than were found on similar sites aimed at adults.
“Tracking technology scans in real time what people are doing on a web page, then instantly assesses their location, income, shopping interests, and even medical conditions,” explained Common Sense Media. “Individuals’ [personal] profiles are then bought and sold on stock-market-like exchanges that have sprung up in the past 18 months.”
The worst part, says Common Sense Media, is that children over the age of 13 have no say on whether or not their personal information is collected—or their personal profile is shared.
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