Ushahidi: Social Media, Kids, & A Penny of Perspective

When kids toss pennies in the trash from cleaning their room, bypass them as ‘nothin’ or maybe add them to a jar if you're lucky (Pamela Poole's blog reports 13% of Americans treat pennies exactly this way) it begs the consumption question...“How can we give kids a global worldview beyond a self-absorbed cocoon?” How do we open the eyes and minds of … [Read more...]

MC Milker Reports on New Digital Toys for Shaping Youth at CES

Shaping Youth continues our series of guest commentary by MC Milker at the Sandbox Summit which wrapped up yesterday in Las Vegas. (full CES media coverage here) Figure I'd better cut to the chase and offer her academic and marketing bio at the end of this piece so you can jump right into browsing the 'new era of play,' what's new in digital content...and see who earned … [Read more...]

Digital Babies & Techno Toys At The CES Sandbox Summit

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we're privileged to have coverage at the International Consumer Electronics Show Sandbox Summit via MC Milker, who we'll no doubt be hearing more from as she navigates the early phases of motherhood amidst a plethora of new beeping, blipping, (some would say bleeping!) toys and products commanding childrens' mindshare. (hear keynote & … [Read more...]

Taking Aim at Target: Think That V is a CoinkyDink?

The Flickr photographer, Bennett says this billboard is in Times Square, NYC, about 20' x 20'. I'm waiting for a corporate callback with an explanation from a 'Target Team member.' Meanwhile, the universal issue is sexualized ad slop, and how we need to just freakin’ STOP it. The tasteless toddler tee “Hooters Girl in Training” (hat tip to Corporate … [Read more...]

Slimy Santa Innuendo Gets The Heave-Ho-Ho-Ho…

Ho. Used to be a trio of chuckles from jolly ol’ Saint Nick, or the classic 'heave-ho' given to moldly expired fridge food… Lately, between hip-hop lyrics, MTV2 misogyny and Don Imus’ media gaffes we wrote about here, the term's shifted to a noun form, and not even ol' Santa escapes the senseless drek. This latest BuzzFeed won't make your days merry and … [Read more...]