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ThatsNotCool: Where do you draw the digital line?
The etiquette of relationships (aka hooking up) has always been thorny.
But our kids now deal with new layers of issues, far more complicated than we could have even imagined waiting by the phone or passing notes or slam books around in class. Texts drive their communication worlds and their cell phones present new dilemmas for line drawing.
Today everyone seemed to be talking about s/textual abuse–my buddy Ken, Dr. Phil. When I checked Twitter this evening, I saw Wendy Stephens’ tweet about ThatsNotCool.com.
Aimed at teens, the site addresses growing real concerns our kids face in and outside their own portable digital spaces–text harassment, rumor spreading, bullying, MySpace or Facebook hacking, the pressure to share inappropriate photos.
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Your cell phone, IM, and social networks are all a digital extension of who you are. When someone you’re with pressures you or disrespects you in those places, that’s not cool.
Thatsnotcool.com is attempting to raise awareness about digital dating abuse and stop it before it gets worse. Sponsored and co-created by the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the Office on Violence Against Women and the Ad Council, the site is designed to address new and complicated problems between teens who are dating or hooking up—problems like constant and controlling texting, pressuring for nude pictures, and breaking into someone’s e-mail or social networking page.
The site includes 2-Sided Stories (videos designed to spark discussion); Call Out Cards that present heavy-duty text responses to harassers for posting on social networks or sending via email;
Talk it Out–a comment-driven issue discussion space for teens; as well as advice and a variety of resources to guide those seeking immediate help from abuse.
Share this one with with middle and high school counselors and your PTA.
Filed under: Uncategorized
About Joyce Valenza
Joyce is an Assistant Professor of Teaching at Rutgers University School of Information and Communication, a technology writer, speaker, blogger and learner. Follow her on Twitter: @joycevalenza
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