Linkage: Web Predator Myths, Twitter & Oprah

Study DeBunks Sexual Predator Myths: Sorry Chris Hansen, but a new study reveals that much of what people "know" or report about social networks and sexual predators is, well, just wrong.

Twitter and NASA: The Mars Rover is sending live updates to Twitter.

Virtual WWII Exhibit: The online collection features items and stories selected from a collection of World War II materials housed at the Lee Library at Brigham Young University.

Constructing Modern Knowledge '08: The Constructivist Consortium is sponsoring a four-day institute focusing on "intensive computer-rich project development with peers and a world-class faculty." The conference will be held at the Radison Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire.

O Ambassadors: Oprah Winfrey, in partnership with Free the Children & Oprah's Angel Network, have announced the launch a new social change organization for youth called O Ambassadors.

Want to Reach Teens? Think Mobile: Teens are already totally wired, so it's natural that teens will use their mobile devices as a way to connect with the brands they love. And advertisers are all too happy to oblige.

Get the Pulse on Totally Wired Teens

Anastasia Goodstein is an award-winning blogger and expert on how American tweens, teens and twentysomethings use technology. She is also the creative genius behind the Ypulse blog and Ypulse Mashup conferences (including the Tween Mashup in NYC this month).

Most recently she is the author of a book about teens and technology called Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens are Really Doing Online.

In her book Anastasia explores what Gen Y is doing on the Internet and with social media and mobile technology. She also delves into issues around cyberbullying, MySpace (and other social networks), as well as how all this technology is impacting schools and educators.

Anasatasia, thanks to the folks over at Proctor & Gamble, is going on a fall book tour. In addition to being incredibly knowledgeable in how teens are using technology, she is also keenly aware of how technology is being (or not) integrated in the classroom to support these burgeoning digital learning styles.

From personal experience, I can tell you that Anastasia is an engaging and interesting speaker who has the ability to explain (in real English, not geek speak!) how teens use technology, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of their total immersion in technology.

If you have the opportunity to hear her speak, please do so! You'll be glad you did.

Related Resources

• Schedule > Totally Wired Book Tour
• Powell's Books > Totally Wired
• Totally Wired Blog
• Proctor & Gamble > Being A Girl
• YPulse Blog
• YPulse Tween Mashup
• YPulse Mashup '07

Yahoo! Safely: Net Safety Resources for Teachers & Parents

How does Yahoo! help keep kids safe online? Find out on the recently launched Yahoo! Safely site! As the most trafficked internet destination in the world, Yahoo! is committed to ensuring that the 30 million children on the internet in the US are exploring it safely.

The new Yahoo! Safely site collects resources, knowledge and expertise from across the Web for children, parents, and educators to raise awareness about the importance of safety, ethics and piracy.

Check out some of the interactive features on Yahoo! Safely that help kids form safe and smart Internet habits early in life:

• Games and Activities – Play cyber-safety games online
• Clips and Videos – Watch educational videos that help kids become good cyber-citizens
• Weekly Poll – Vote on opinions about safe practices
• Avatar ID Card – Submit Avatars to be featured in the gallery
• Online Safety Forum for Parents – Join in the discussion about online child safety
• Tech Advisor Articles – Get expert advice from Yahoo! Tech bloggers

Related Resources

• Media Awareness Network (MNet)
• Be Web Aware (en)(fr)
• eSchool News: "Programs Aim to Stop "cyberbullying"
• New York Times: Cyberbullies
• GetNetWise.org
• BBC > Safe Surfing