Hi! I wanted to share with you a programming note. Anderson Cooper has been working on a story for the past couple of years about our teenagers and the world THEY are living in. The special airs tonight. I started this topic for discussion and comments. Here is the program information:
Anderson Cooper - CNN
#BeingThirteen
Inside the Secret World of Teens
Monday, October 5, 2015
9:00 PM ET

If you were able to watch this program. Let me know what you thought. I would love to hear from teens as well as adults.

This report left me amazed, worried, saddened and frightened. I learned about certain aspects of Social Media Life I had never considered. Maybe you knew all that happens in this world of communication, maybe you didn't. Let's start a conversation here.

Oh darn!! I didn't get to see this.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts Chel! I have a 16 year old, and she's a bit of an introvert. Her best friend in the world is an online friend. Though I do know his family, and we see each other a couple of times a year.

But still - she's told me about online stuff, and it's BLOWN my mind!! Like SnapChat?? WT???

Deanna, as I was preparing to write this week's article, I was trying to collect a list of sites and apps for Social Media. It's impossible. Things are changing so fast, and there are so many ways that teens, and adults, can connect with their families, friends and COMPLETE STRANGERS! I know a few times I have visited sites about young adult reading. I have introduced myself as an adult, told them I was there to ask about what they were reading, their favorite characters and I came across trolls! It's incredible and scary at the same time.

Oh that is so scary!!

My daughter used to be on a game site - MineCraft I think. There she met the young man who is now her boyfriend.

Earlier this year we met him, and I got to spend a LOT of time with his family, which made me feel so much better - but seriously, I think we got really lucky. He's a good kid, and I'm happy to know him.

We've had "the talk" with both our kids about how may of those "kids" they call friends could really be pervie ol' dudes living in their mother's basement (an episode of South Park comes to mind).

Deanna - I've seen the South Park episode which is truly more fact than fiction!
You never know who you are really meeting online. And, it's a theatre of people who pretend to be someone else. Have you ever watched an episode of MTV's Catfish?

Deanna, I also think it's wonderful that both families are friends. And . . . MineCraft . . . one of those things I've yet to figure out.