A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
In today's society school age children are at risk from excessive screen time. Here are some interesting but alarming facts gathered by an American organisation; Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood. Research shows the negative impact of time spend by young people in front of the "box". Including multitasking, children ages 8 to18 years old spend [...]
75% of teens own mobile phones 54% use mobile phones for texting 25% log onto social media sites more than 10 times a day The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a clinical report, The impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families, on the benefits and risks of social media. They stressed that [...]
In the UK a concerned parent, Dr Paddy Clarke, has developed the world’s first cyber bullying alert system for Facebook. The application is called KnowDiss and it monitors children’s Facebook accounts for hostile or telltale keywords and phrases. “If any text is picked up that’s suspicious an email is immediately sent to parents so they [...]
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is dedicated to eradicating the sexual abuse of children and is part of the UK police force. The CEOP also overseas specialist areas such as their: Behavioural Analysis Unit Victim identification Child Trafficking Unit Most Wanted initiative In fact the [...]
To young people in Australia, the online world is a place where the virtual and the real collide. For many teenagers, the internet and mobile phone are their social lifeline. Online technologies are so important to them that teens’ online and offline friendships may be lost if they are not able to text or post [...]
A recent study carried out by the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, looked at the link between screen-based entertainment time and cardiovascular events later in life. It seems that sitting in front of a screen (TV, computer games, internet etc) and viewing screen based entertainment for long periods of time can [...]
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recently released its 2011 Sleep in America Poll, Exploring Connections with Communications Technology use and Sleep. The poll found that many teenagers from Generation Z (13 to 18 year olds) are using some type of electronic device like a television, computer, video game or mobile phone in the bedroom during [...]
A number of concerned organisations and experts have come together to hold a forum called Right2childhood to examine the convergence of sex, violence, media, commerce and popular culture. It explores the impact on our children and what we can do about it. When: 9am-5pm, Friday, April 29, 2011 Where: Wesley Conference Centre, Sydney CBD Many child development [...]
Useful link: BBC Radio 4 regularly broadcasts Teenage Kicks which looks at youth issues. Go to BBC Radio 4 to check out when it next airs While researching a BBC Radio 4 documentary for the program Teenage Kicks, producer Lizz Pearson uncovered some very disturbing views held by teenagers regarding what is and is not [...]
The Australian Council on Children (ACCM) and the Media and the Children and Families Research Centre, Macquarie University are holding a one day seminar. Details: Tuesday 1 March 2011 NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre 37 Reservoir Street Surry Hills, NSW 2010 EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION EXTENDED TO TUESDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2011 In the post holiday [...]
