Kids, Media & Intimacy: What’s Love Got to Do With It?

Update Feb. 13, 2018 Related research and an excellent NYT read on the need for "porn literacy" given that teens exposure to online porn sites is distorting their lens of peer social norming, healthy intimacy, and respect and consent. WAY past time for comprehensive sexed and critical thinking on consent to prevent misinformation and disinformation. Oh, and by the way, could we … [Read more...]

A Huge Conversation: Media Literacy Talking Points (Pt 2)

June 27, 2010 In Part Two of this HUGE conversation (premiering tomorrow on ABC Family, my Part One is here) we'll try to unpack some of the core questions that SHOULD be top of mind to embrace the media literacy side of the body image, obesity, nutrition and kids' health dialog. I’ll start with the universal disclaimer that I am NOT a medico, eating disorder pro or body … [Read more...]

What Does a 13-Year Old Boy Know About DATING Violence?

Feb. 2013 update:  First and foremost, yesterday's US Senate/VAWA vote overwhelmingly passed reauthorization and now moves on to the House of Representatives. What IS the Violence Against Women Act, specifically? Here's a comprehensive snapshot of content and history, from the National Domestic Violence Hotline. In recapping these vast resources and Twitter handles at the … [Read more...]

ALLY Awards: Architects of Change Amidst Brands: Tween Town Hall

March 12, 2010 Today I soared through my first ever Virgin Airlines’ experience bemused by two giddy tween girls excitedly chirping to their mom about the pink and purple “mood lighting” befitting a nightclub and the free WiFi and touchscreen inflight services, as she flashed me one of those, “Where do these girls hear this stuff?” mutual-mama looks. I wanted to ask if they … [Read more...]

Girl World Tour Meets Tween Town Hall to Speak Up & Share: Mar 13

March 5, 2010 What's on the minds of tween girls' today? We're about to find out next Saturday at the Tween Girl Town Hall as 150 girls age 8-14 clamor for FREE swag bags and freebie finds from sponsors eager to hear their points of view. Hosted by marketing consultancy and tween social networking site AllyKatzz.com, creator of the inaugural Tween Summit (photo gallery … [Read more...]