Popular Blog Site Polices Harmful Content

Thanks to the Internet, today’s adolescents have a one-stop-shop for information of all types right at their fingertips. Websites like Wikipedia, Ask.com, About.com, etc. can tell them everything they need to know, from history to word definitions; and then there are blogs sites with information and how-to material on everything else they might be interested [...]

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Your Kids May Be Tweeting

In the United States alone Facebook.com has over 155 million users, with the largest percentage represented by the 25-34 age group.  This may be why more and more teens are also beginning to use Twitter.com. According to a survey conducted in July 2011 by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 12- to 17-year olds [...]

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New Study: Blogging Can Help Teens with Social Anxiety

We have all heard the phrase “Get it off your chest,” encouraging one to talk about what is troubling or concerning them. With the advent of the computer age and all of the social media that has followed, this phrase has become much easier to follow, on a regular basis.  Sites like Facebook and Twitter [...]

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National Cancer Institute Speaks Directly to Teens Using Texting and Social Media Technology

Most adults know by now that smoking cigarettes is caustic to our health, partially because of the warning information printed on cigarette boxes and the intense media buzz provided by anti-smoking agencies and the United States government. Despite all that we know about the dangers of smoking, the prospect of smoking nicotine cigarettes is still [...]

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New High School Trend: Beer Mile

A dangerous college activity has made its way to high school students and campuses.  Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS) has seen a new trend in our programs: teens participating in a Beer Mile.  What is a beer mile?  According to the “official” Beer Mile website, “The most common format of the beer mile requires a single [...]

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Facebook

On Tuesday, December 13, 2011, Facebook announced their latest service that uses social media to provide crisis support for those  contemplating suicide or posting indicators that they may hurt themselves or someone else.  Adolescent Counseling Services is pleased to see that Facebook has partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and [...]

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Teen Anonymity of Online Environment Leads to Perverse Discourse

Even wonder how your teen could possibly spend so much time online? Maybe your teen’s witty nature comes alive on Facebook, maybe your teen feels more comfortable discussing personal issues when its not in person,  whatever it may be, it may also be likely that your child is engaging in in discourse that you may find [...]

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Facebook Linked To Poor Mental Health in Teens

Facebook has been the center of attention for the past few years for a number of things. Some are positive, such as staying connected with family, re-connecting with old friends, finding new friends, streaming global events live, starting movements, and bringing attention to social issues. However the negative ramifications of Facebook have also been at [...]

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California Law Updated to Include Cyberbullying by Students Through Social Networking Sites

Bullying in school has been an issue for as long as anyone can remember. Each and every parent had their own method of teaching their child how to deal with this inevitable right of passage. ”ignore them” or “be a man and stand up to them” was often advised by parents. Whatever technique was preferred, you could rest assured that [...]

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Facebook Privacy Controls

Parents can use current news to start important conversations. The popular social networking company, Facebook, made some changes recently that mean you need to be more active in protecting your privacy on that site. FB is tracking your interests and sharing that information with ‘partners’. So far, this includes Pandora, a music website, Yelp, a [...]

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