The Net and nothing but the Net

Ever wanted to know what you can do to become popular on Facebook? This is the article for you!

A step-by-step video tour of facebook.com to help you protect your kids online. This 20 minute video explains:
The dangers of facebook.com

Tips for teens:
1. Only friend people you know
2. Never share your password
3. Think before you post
4. Your friends see your posts

Tips for parents:
1. You are in control of your computer
2. Check in on your teen
3. Know your teen’s password
4. Create your own facebook profile
5. Friend your teen on facebook

Bonus:
How to create your own profile
How to find your child on facebook

Read more…A Parent’s Video Guide to Facebook.com

THOUSANDS of people could be slapped with fines for offences that would never have attracted police attention in the past under sweeping reforms to police powers.

Experts fear swearing in public, with a fine of $100, will be a major money spinner and could become the weapon of choice for frustrated officers on the beat.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced the new powers for the state’s police to issue on-the-spot notices for public nuisance offences.

Ms Bligh said the move would increase efficiency, save time and fast-track more important matters in the courts by stopping minor public nuisance offenders from clogging the justice system.

She said the measures, targeting offences such as public urination, disorderly conduct and abusive language, would save the Government between $18 million and $30 million.

The power to issue on-the-spot fines of between $100 and $300 could result in public nuisance prosecutions soaring 20 per cent, based on figures from a 12-month trial in South Brisbane and Townsville.

Read more…Queensland police win new powers to fine for public nuisance offences | News.com.au

16-YEAR-OLD teen sailor Abby Sunderland says she’s being judged by ordinary teen standards, and if people knew her they wouldn’t be criticising her.

The California girl’s dream of sailing solo around the world was dashed by a massive wave that snapped her mast.

Sunderland acknowledged that her adventure “can look pretty crazy. But the thing is, those people don’t know me. And if they did, they wouldn’t be criticising my age”.

She spoke by phone from the remote Kerguelen Islands, near Antarctica, where her rescue boat stopped briefly en route to Reunion Island and a true reunion with her family.

“I think that a lot of people are judging me by the standards they have for their teens and other teens that they know … and thinking ’she’s exactly like them’,” Sunderland said.

“They don’t understand that I’ve sailed my whole life and I do know what I’m doing out there.”

Read more…Abby Sunderland says she’s judged by ordinary teen standards | News.com.au

A PROMINENT psychologist has urged schools to ban children under the age of nine from using computers because the technology is damaging their brains.

Speaking at a conference of childcare specialists in the UK, psychologist and author Dr Aric Sigman said technology affected children’s attentions spans and was harmful to their under-developed brains.

Dr Sigman said rules introduced in the UK in 2008 which recommend toddlers be introduced to computers as early as 22 months of age were “subverting the development of children’s cognitive skills”.

“There is evidence to show that introducing information and communication technology (ICT) in the early years actually subverts the very skills that government ministers said they want children to develop, such as the ability to pay attention for sustained periods,” Dr Sigman said.

“The big problems we are seeing now with children who do not read, or who find it difficult to pay attention to the teacher, or to communicate, are down to attention damage that we are finding in all age groups.”

The Early Years Foundation Stage or “nappy curriculum” suggests computers should be introduced from 22 months and that from 40 months children should be able to “perform simple ICT functions, such as select a channel on the TV remote control and use a mouse and keyboard to use age-appropriate software”.

Primary schoolchildren in the UK have at least one ICT lesson a week and computer use is widespread.

Debate about the benefits of introducing children to technology at a young age is mixed.

Research evidence shows that technology can help children’s learning, social development and health. A number of studies in the US show that age-appropriate software can help language development.

Dr Sigman said that even though screen technology can assist learning, children should be introduced at a later stage.

“It must be introduced and used judiciously at much later ages — ideally at least age nine — or it can subvert the development of the cognitive skills and curiosity it was intended to foster and enhance,” he said.

Dr Sigman has previously spoken against social networking sites and TV as potentially damaging technologies. He is the author of two books, Remotely Controlled: How Television is Damaging Our Lives and The Spoilt Generation.

Read more…Psychologist says children should be banned from computers until the age of nine | News.com.au