ARTICLES: Young people and social media: Docs examine pitfalls

Editor's note: Former CNN correspondent Pat Etheridge is a journalist specializing in children's health and family issues. She previously hosted CNN's "Parenting Today."

(CNN) -- They're called "Generation M2": highly tech-savvy children ages 8 to 18, whose lives are immersed in electronic media.

Now, the nation's top pediatric organization is mobilizing efforts around their well-being.

"As pediatricians who are trying to help children behave in ways that keep them healthy and safe, we have to pay a lot of attention to what's happening in social media," said Dr. David Hill, chairman-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics' council on communications and media.

The council led a panel called "Social Media: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," at the group's annual conference last month in New Orleans. The goal of the presentation: getting pediatricians current on issues to discuss with young patients during regular wellness checkups.

The American Academy of Pediatrics established the council in 2007 with the recognition that growing media platforms touch on virtually every health concern pediatricians have about young people: aggression, sex, drugs, obesity, self-image and eating disorders, depression and suicide -- even learning disorders and academic achievement.

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NEWS / IT: Vodafone launches Digital Parenting magazine (UK)

Vodafone has published a new magazine called ‘Digital Parenting’ to help parents get to grips and get involved with their children’s digital world.

The magazine brings together experts from around the world to give parents the latest advice on digital issues, such as online reputation, location services, sexting, cyberbullying and illegal content. Parents, teenagers and grandparents also share their personal experiences and a series of ‘How to...’ tutorials guide parents through the safety and privacy controls on Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Vodafone.

“With so many parents telling us that they sometimes feel baffled by their children’s digital world, we decided to take a new approach,” comments Annie Mullins OBE, Global Head of Content Standards at Vodafone. “Our website already offers comprehensive advice about the digital issues affecting young people but some parents
still prefer paper-based information. Whatever their level of experience and expertise, this magazine will help parents to keep up with digital technologies and stay in control.”

Digital Parenting is available in hard copy and online on the Vodafone Parents’ Guide website. Free copies are being distributed to parenting groups, local education authorities and other relevant organisations. To order a copy of the magazine, please email publications@parentfocus.co.uk.

Source: Ofcom Media Literacy Bulletin Issue 39