What We’re Reading This Week: Internet Fasting Camps, Impact of Social Media on the Brain, What COPPA Changes Mean to Kids' Privacy

Sep 4, 2013 10:25 AM ET
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TrendMicro: Internet Safety for Kids and Families

Week of August 26, 2013

To help you keep up with what’s going on with kids, families, schools, and technology, we’ve compiled a list of stories, tips, and insights, we’ve found most useful over the past week.  What have you been reading? Tell us below or Tweet @TrendISKF.

  • DIGITAL DETOX FOR KIDS: According to Japanese experts, over 500,000 teens are addicted to their screens, so the country is pumping money into fasting camps designed to help kids close tabs, sign off and breathe in some fresh air.
  • STUDY OF BRAIN AND SOCIAL MEDIA: The first study by neuroscientists to relate brain activity to social media use shows that those who use Facebook heavily are those who crave approval from others.  Really.
  • POLICY UPDATE: Advocacy groups including Consumers Union pressed the Federal Trade Commission to ensure that the latest innovations were covered for parents and kids under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). After years of debate and review, the FTC has revised rules in place to widen the definition of children’s personal information. To help you understand how this will impact you, they’ve also provided parent tips.
  • PRIVACY STUDY: Our friend and industry expert Larry Magid comments on a Pew research study finding that teens know and care about online privacy.
  • MOBILE TIPS:  Six quick tips for parents who’ve just bought their kids smart phones.  Worth the quick read! 

​See you next week!