Saturday, January 31, 2009
TheCabin.net ·· Challenging assumptions about online predators 01/30/09
TheCabin.net ·· Challenging assumptions about online predators 01/30/09how many sexual predators are too few to worry about?
How to outsmart a teenager - San Jose Mercury News
How to outsmart a teenager - San Jose Mercury News we need software for everything? Parry doesn't think so!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Sending nude photos of myself is a crime? Teens surveyed say that's news to them - Metro - cleveland.com
Sending nude photos of myself is a crime? Teens surveyed say that's news to them - Metro - cleveland.com I have been watching this case. So many jurists don't get it and either sentence too hard or barely slap the kids on the wrist. When this case was brought to my attention as part of a Today Show appearance I did last week, I was intrigued.
After checking further, we decided that this judge needs national attention.
I would ask even more than if they knew it was a crime. I would ask them if they knew what being added to a sex offenders list would do to their future?
At our WiredKids Summit next month, this judge will be honored. I wish we had more like him.
After checking further, we decided that this judge needs national attention.
I would ask even more than if they knew it was a crime. I would ask them if they knew what being added to a sex offenders list would do to their future?
At our WiredKids Summit next month, this judge will be honored. I wish we had more like him.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
the WiredKids Best of the Web Awards
For the last ten years young people have nominated their favorite websites for the WiredKids Best of the Web Award. And for ten years moms have reviewed them for their approval. The list shortens with each step, but few pass the final scrutiny of Internet lawyer, Parry Aftab, to determine which sites understand safety and responsibility when young people are involved.
This year, more than 50,000 students were polled. They nominated thousands of sites, but only 143 were nominated by enough students to qualify. Our team of moms then reviewed the 143 sites and cut them back to 62 sites. Only a handful in each age category passed Parry’s scrutiny. Those will be announced on February 25th in Washington, DC.
Each year, since the WiredKids Best of the Web Awards were launched, the process has forecasted trends in use of the Internet by kids, tweens and teens. Ten years ago, the final nomination list was hundreds of websites long. The same one made the grade. The websites controlled youth traffic or their hearts, other than those that controlled their traffic and hearts offline (Disney, Nickelodeon and Sesame Street).
Then, as AIM grew in popularity and the Internet crash and COPPA (the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) took its toll and children’s sites dropped like flies, fewer sites held their interest. They nominated the same 50 sites and had no major loyalty to any one of them, other than Yahoo, AOL and AIM and the same offline cast of characters. Some students told us that they didn’t have a favorite site. Those were lean years in the industry, but forecasted the growth of communication tools and networks driving youth Internet use.
In late 2004 and 2005 as social networking grew in popularity, MySpace, Xanga and LiveJournal jumped to the top of the nomination pack, but never got past moms or Parry. Virtual worlds like Neopets, Webkinz and Club Penguin gained in popularity, but didn’t have their counterparts with older preteens and teens. Only Google was on all age-groups’ favorite lists.
At the same time, the kids Internet industry figured out new business models that had failed in years past. Club Penguin succeeded when others failed in the subscription model. Webkinz used offline sales of plush animals to fuel their online community for kids and preteens. KidZui got the formula right when it built an “Internet for kids” that allowed fun and age-appropriate Youtube videos and avatar social networking tools where kids can share their favorite websites, without sharing their personal information. Old ideas, spun with gold this time around. Parents are finally ready to pay for content and communities if they feel their children enjoy them and are safe.
But this year shows changes once again. More sites have gained the youth loyalty in the earlier years than ever before. Why? The overwhelming popularity of Webkinz and Club Penguin has spurred the development of more virtual worlds. And Facebook has become the single most popular website among teens. Until the recent economic downturn, the VCs and investors have responded to the success of Club Penguin (acquired by Disney for about 700 million plus earnouts) and the retail plush sales of Webkinz and the huge returns in networks like Bebo (acquired by Time Warner for 800 million dollars last year). The richness of choice is better than it has been in years. Hopefully, given the small pricetag to parents for what their kids want in a virtual world or what parents want in safe communities, this growth and the investment in our kids online will survive the general economic climate.
Most sites are biting the COPPA bullet and going through the steps needed to allow preteens to build communities. Many are learning innovative ways of giving them community without sharing personal information with others. Safety has caught on. Sadly, Parry has been knocking more off the list than usual. While the sites want to do the right thing, they are often adopting “do it yourself” methods that violate the law or put kids at risk unintentionally. Best practice standards for the kids Internet industry are new and require professional guidance.
But the ones that do it right for the kids, their parents and Parry are winners and will continue to lead the pack. In the 8 years since COPPA became effective there is one thing for certain – The Kids Internet Industry is Back!
This year, more than 50,000 students were polled. They nominated thousands of sites, but only 143 were nominated by enough students to qualify. Our team of moms then reviewed the 143 sites and cut them back to 62 sites. Only a handful in each age category passed Parry’s scrutiny. Those will be announced on February 25th in Washington, DC.
Each year, since the WiredKids Best of the Web Awards were launched, the process has forecasted trends in use of the Internet by kids, tweens and teens. Ten years ago, the final nomination list was hundreds of websites long. The same one made the grade. The websites controlled youth traffic or their hearts, other than those that controlled their traffic and hearts offline (Disney, Nickelodeon and Sesame Street).
Then, as AIM grew in popularity and the Internet crash and COPPA (the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) took its toll and children’s sites dropped like flies, fewer sites held their interest. They nominated the same 50 sites and had no major loyalty to any one of them, other than Yahoo, AOL and AIM and the same offline cast of characters. Some students told us that they didn’t have a favorite site. Those were lean years in the industry, but forecasted the growth of communication tools and networks driving youth Internet use.
In late 2004 and 2005 as social networking grew in popularity, MySpace, Xanga and LiveJournal jumped to the top of the nomination pack, but never got past moms or Parry. Virtual worlds like Neopets, Webkinz and Club Penguin gained in popularity, but didn’t have their counterparts with older preteens and teens. Only Google was on all age-groups’ favorite lists.
At the same time, the kids Internet industry figured out new business models that had failed in years past. Club Penguin succeeded when others failed in the subscription model. Webkinz used offline sales of plush animals to fuel their online community for kids and preteens. KidZui got the formula right when it built an “Internet for kids” that allowed fun and age-appropriate Youtube videos and avatar social networking tools where kids can share their favorite websites, without sharing their personal information. Old ideas, spun with gold this time around. Parents are finally ready to pay for content and communities if they feel their children enjoy them and are safe.
But this year shows changes once again. More sites have gained the youth loyalty in the earlier years than ever before. Why? The overwhelming popularity of Webkinz and Club Penguin has spurred the development of more virtual worlds. And Facebook has become the single most popular website among teens. Until the recent economic downturn, the VCs and investors have responded to the success of Club Penguin (acquired by Disney for about 700 million plus earnouts) and the retail plush sales of Webkinz and the huge returns in networks like Bebo (acquired by Time Warner for 800 million dollars last year). The richness of choice is better than it has been in years. Hopefully, given the small pricetag to parents for what their kids want in a virtual world or what parents want in safe communities, this growth and the investment in our kids online will survive the general economic climate.
Most sites are biting the COPPA bullet and going through the steps needed to allow preteens to build communities. Many are learning innovative ways of giving them community without sharing personal information with others. Safety has caught on. Sadly, Parry has been knocking more off the list than usual. While the sites want to do the right thing, they are often adopting “do it yourself” methods that violate the law or put kids at risk unintentionally. Best practice standards for the kids Internet industry are new and require professional guidance.
But the ones that do it right for the kids, their parents and Parry are winners and will continue to lead the pack. In the 8 years since COPPA became effective there is one thing for certain – The Kids Internet Industry is Back!
Data Privacy Day's messages for Obama, consumers | Security - CNET News
Data Privacy Day's messages for Obama, consumers | Security - CNET NewsWiredSafety's Teenangels help advise on privacy for the new policymakers. Britney Bacon, one of the first five Teenangels, first began working with Parry in 1999, while a 14 year old in middle school. Now, as a soon to be law school graduate, she is advising the industry as she has always done - but better. Teenangels is the teen cybersafety expert group founded and run by Parry through WiredSafety.org. Their annual summit is scheduled for February 25th in Washington DC, where Britney will be joined by 75 other Teenangels and Tweenangels to help policymakers and industry alike understand the real Internet - the one used and built by young people.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The ISTTF (Internet Safety Technical Task Force) Report and Process
WiredSafety: the world's largest Internet safety, help and education resource.read WiredSafety's thoughts on the task force report.
The ISTTF (Internet Safety Technical Task Force) Report and Process
The ISTTF (Internet Safety Technical Task Force) Report and ProcessTell Parry what you think about the task force report stating that cyber predators are overhyped.
2009_summit_invite.png (PNG Image, 919x710 pixels) - Scaled (81%)
2009_summit_invite.png (PNG Image, 919x710 pixels) - Scaled (81%)for members of the industry - this is a must not miss event. given by expert teens and preteens for industry, policymakers and media.
New Technology to Block Car Phone Use Far From Perfect | The National Safety Commission Alerts
New Technology to Block Car Phone Use Far From Perfect | The National Safety Commission AlertsI hate when companies exploit parents' fears and offer something they don't need. The National Safety Commission noted my reaction to tech companies offering tools for a fee to shut down cell phones when driving. I appreciate their noticing and their common sense and expert advice. Somethings require common sense instead of new and expensive technology. This is one of them.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Bloomberg.com: Opinion
Bloomberg.com: OpinionKorean star commits suicide after being cyberharassed. and the power of bloggers to change governments is discussed.
Mike Musgrove - Challenging Assumptions About Online Predators - washingtonpost.com
Mike Musgrove - Challenging Assumptions About Online Predators - washingtonpost.comWhile we know that the fear of Internet sexual predators is overblown, we don't know how often it happens and realistically how to measure the risks.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Parry talking to Robin at the good morning america
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5201650
Parry talking about the ISTTF on the Today Show
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Parry talking about sexting on Today Show
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Monday, January 19, 2009
internetsafetyreport.pdf (application/pdf Object)
The response to the ISTTF report by the AG if S. Carolina is one more negative reaction to the report. We need concrete recommendations, more research (before we can state anything definitively,working as a team with law enforcement experts and funding to conduct independent research and take testimony. internetsafetyreport.pdf (application/pdf Object)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The ISTTF (Internet Safety Technical Task Force) Report and Process
The ISTTF (Internet Safety Technical Task Force) Report and Process
want us to listen to what you have to say? share your thoughts. Parry's listening.
want us to listen to what you have to say? share your thoughts. Parry's listening.
Percentage of kids solicited online drops, Harvard report says - Los Angeles Times
Percentage of kids solicited online drops, Harvard report says - Los Angeles TimesNow what? it's the question everyone is asking and will ask. Let's figure out what we need to do next. Take our survey and tell us.You can find it at wiredsafety.org.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Harvard-led task force says technology alone won't protect children at social-networking sites
Harvard-led task force says technology alone won't protect children at social-networking sitesParry Aftab, as head of wiredsafety.org, served on the task force. We need more and better research and more and better collaborations. But this is a start.
Report Finds Online Threats to Children Overblown - NYTimes.com
Report Finds Online Threats to Children Overblown - NYTimes.com although someone leaked the report before the embargo date, those of us on the task force spent almost a year looking at the issues. The conclusion? We need more research, it has to be timely and relevant and this is only a first step, not the answer.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Saturday, January 03, 2009
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