July 2, 2015 This summer has been heating up with a slow burn in social media maneuvers starting in June when female scientists set Twitter ablaze with the #DistractinglySexy hashtag in response to … [Read more...]
The Girls Q&A Book: 50 Ways to Fix A Friendship
November 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Nov. 13, 2014 "There is no girls’ friendship drama that can’t be made WORSE… through staying silent, venting behind a friend’s back, or pretending things are just peachy," writes tweens and teens … [Read more...]
Her Next Chapter: Media Literacy Puts Mothers-Daughters On Same Page
May 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment
April 17, 2015 Update In honor of National Library Week as I put the finishing touches on my presentation tomorrow about gender stereotypes and navigating unhealthy cues to kids, I'm sending a loud … [Read more...]
Mattel’s Manipulative Monster High Marketing Machine: Unkind.
June 15, 2012 by
June 15, 2012 Last year when I wrote about Mattel’s vampy campy Monster High dolls I purposely didn’t even name their brand, hoping it would quietly fizzle and bury itself in the outcry of parents … [Read more...]
Using Media to Uplift and Inspire: When to Tune In, Not Out.
December 20, 2011 by 2 Comments
Dec. 20, 2011 True confessions, it’s been a heckuva challenging year, and it got me thinking about what different people do to bootstrap themselves out of adversity in its many forms whether it’s … [Read more...]
Best Childrens’ TV You’ve Never Seen: Ameba TV
December 2, 2011 by 6 Comments
Dec. 2, 2011 Heard of Ameba TV yet? For world-weary parents of kids aged 2-12 who'd like to allow media in moderation but are sick of monitoring cruddy channels of influence being served up by … [Read more...]
Rachel Simmons Chats About Mythbusting “Mean Girl” Media
August 31, 2011 by 7 Comments
Aug. 31 2011 Transitioning back to school is tough, especially when media and marketing blitzes the ‘what could be’ fear dynamics of peer acceptance based on what you wear, how you look, and who you … [Read more...]
Using Media With Mindfulness
April 1, 2011 by 31 Comments
Update Jan. 14, 2016 Fame focus...don't bite the hook! Adding this excellent post by Ryan Holiday of the NY Observer calling out the recent Rolling Stone ratings raunch along with a slough of … [Read more...]
Recap of White House Conf on Bullying Prevention, Pt.1
March 18, 2011 by 7 Comments
Mar. 17, 2011 Unplugging for a day is a respite, but being gone for a week amidst news of tsunami disasters and first ever media moments like the March 10 White House Conference on Bullying Prevention … [Read more...]
Vamp Tramp Toys: A Monster Problem
March 16, 2011 by 18 Comments
Mar. 16, 2011 Show and tell time on this Wordless Wednesday. Not going to give them the pleasure of naming names here to add to their search engine buzz, since research has shown that one of … [Read more...]
Letting Go of 2010: Thoughts On Media Messaging
January 1, 2011 by 5 Comments
Jan 1, 2011 No secret I’ve been challenged in 2010 on various fronts, and I’m trying really hard to ‘let go’ of some of the frustrations knowing there’s no quick fix for some of the blindingly surreal … [Read more...]
Teen Girls: Ready For A Rebel Yell? SPARK Change Now!
September 7, 2010 by 12 Comments
Sept. 7, 2010 Girls, are you tired of being wrapped up, marketed and sold like a slab of meat? Having the media tell the world what your priorities are? Sick of slimy innuendos aimed at toddlers, … [Read more...]
COPPA: Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Filing
July 1, 2010 by 6 Comments
July 1, 2010 For those mumbling, "COPPA schmoppa, there goes Amy into policy wonk land, please translate media jargon into usable tidbits" I'll offer a few primers... What is COPPA? Why do we … [Read more...]
A Huge Conversation: Media Literacy Talking Points (Pt 2)
June 27, 2010 by 9 Comments
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 … [Read more...]
Sexualization Summit: Save the Date Oct 22, 2010 NYC
May 17, 2010 by 22 Comments
May 17, 2010 As irony would have it, on Thurs, May 13, in New York City, a small tribe of thought leaders convened on how to best address rampant sexualization of youth in media and marketing. Each … [Read more...]
Babies Movie: Through The Lens of a Young Teen
May 11, 2010 by 15 Comments
May 11, 2010 I tried to warn her, “This isn’t some wham- bam fast-paced action thriller or rom-com dramedy, but Babies IS my movie choice for Mother’s Day, ok?” In preparation, I showed her the … [Read more...]
Girls Are Not Candies. Tweens Are Not Teens. Thongs Are Not Undies.
May 4, 2010 by 22 Comments
May 4, 2010 A few years back I commented on the post Confessions of a Lingerie Lover by Fae Goodman on Alternet and copped to being “one and the same.” Fae uncorked a doozy of a conversation that … [Read more...]
Commodification of Kids: The Backlash Has Begun
April 16, 2010 by 17 Comments
April 16, 2010 About a year ago, TruthOut featured a poignant article called "Commodifying Kids, The Forgotten Crisis" by academic Henry A. Giroux, and though I read it with lots of head bobbing … [Read more...]
Green Hedgehogs in Virtual Worlds? Let Your Leprechauns Loose!
March 17, 2010 by 3 Comments
Mar. 17, 2010 This morning I changed my Firefox 3.6 "persona" to shamrocks for the day, eliciting a green with envy response from my not so lil’ leprechaun teen who delighted in a green apple sour … [Read more...]
ALLY Awards: Architects of Change Amidst Brands: Tween Town Hall
March 12, 2010 by 2 Comments
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 … [Read more...]
