Archive Index: June 2006
Archive: June 2006
Give Us Your Book Recs!
Nothing beats a good summer read, but sometimes finding that perfect beach book for your kids can be a hassle.
The New Moon magazine Girls' Editorial Board have given us their list of favorite summer books for kids 12 and up...but we want to hear from you, too!
What are your favorite summer books for kids, and how did you find them? Did you read them as a kid, or did you read them to your kids? Who are some of your favorite characters from children's books?
Use our comments section to let us know!
Reality, Sci-Fi and Music Videos Are What's On-Demand
Video On-Demand (VOD) use has been growing exponentially in recent years.
So what, exactly, is it that On-Demanders are demanding?
According to a new study, it's reality television, music videos, science fiction programs and news magazines. The study, conducted by Scarborough Research, finds that VOD users are 27 percent more likely to identify reality television as their favorite type of programming. Further, they are 20 percent more likely to watch science fiction and news magazines, and 24 percent more likely to watch music videos.
The study also found that VODers are typically younger (big surprise), more affluent and more likely to be African American.
Check out the story here (it's at the bottom of the page).
Should Your Kid Tune In to Baby Media?
We often get emails from our parent members asking for help with the conflicting messages surrounding media for the under-2 crowd.
"I read that this baby video will help my child’s brain develop better," one member wrote. "Is this true?" Or this from another mother: "You say that pediatricians don’t recommend TV for kids under 2. Then why are you reviewing materials for them on your site?"
What you need to know is after the jump:
Teachers, Too, Use TV as a Babysitter
Last month, the Kaiser Family Foundation released the results of a study that found more and more parents are using TV as a babysitter.
And if you think kids are getting a rest from the tube while they are in school, well, think again.
A new piece of research suggests that the "TV as a babysitter" trend is not limited to the home. More than 50 percent of respondents in a telephone survey of teachers who use film as a teaching tool reported that non-instruction use of media was "common" or "quite common".
Check out the full story here.
MySpace Restricts Adult Access to Teens
In an effort to balance an ambushing from the press, and an increasing popularity, MySpace.com has created yet another new restricition for itself, limiting access to 14- and 15-year-old by adults, 18 and older.
Under the new model, adults can no longer request to be on a minor's friends' list unless they have thier e-mail address or first and last name.
Part of the youth's profile will still be available and searchable, but gaining access to them through IM'ing (instant messaging), according to MySpace, will be more difficult.
So how much information is in this partial profile? Hometown, age, sex, and hobbies. Additional info can be added as well.
More importantly, and most alarming, there is no standard for verifying a user is creating a truthful profile on MySpace.com. In order to get around this new standard, a user needs only to create a new profile, with a false identity.
As a parent/guardian, do you feel safer that MySpace is creating such restrictions, and making an effort to keep their growing users secure?
