Image Credit: Haller Park, Kenya
Don’t be afraid to
make a friend who seems
different from the others…
If you look you’ll find
the true-blue kind
come in the most interesting
sizes, shapes and colors.~ J. J. Cannon #sophiequote
Image Credit: Haller Park, Kenya
Don’t be afraid to
make a friend who seems
different from the others…
If you look you’ll find
the true-blue kind
come in the most interesting
sizes, shapes and colors.~ J. J. Cannon #sophiequote
Have you heard? Ryan Seacrest Productions has confirmed they will start casting new reality show “Paps on PaTroll” shortly.
To be eligible for casting you must possess zero perspective, perception or empathy for others as evidenced by an ability to spew hateful and hurtful vitriol towards celebs online. The cast will also be made up of some of the most notorious “stalk-arazzi” who make their living preying on celebs and their children.
During an intense thirty day period, the tables will be turned and the unsuspecting cast members will be followed and hounded relentlessly by private detectives who will wait outside of their homes with high-powered lenses and extra-super-bright flash bulbs. They will be followed everywhere, day and night as they try to go about their daily lives while viewers live tweet commentary and fake headlines for tabloid rags to make gazillions…
Hmmm, in theory, this seems like a great idea to give some very small minded people the perspective they so clearly lack, however, it’s not going to work for a host of reasons. The first of which is that I just made all of this up.
I do believe the old adage “two wrongs don’t make a right”, but c’mon, wouldn’t a proper dose of putting one’s self into someone else’s shoes be fitting here?
Okay, maybe not.
Because of our insatiable appetite for all things Hollywood, celebrities who, because of their choice to entertain us, are apparently not ever allowed a day off, even when on vacation. The latest to jump the Good Ship Twitter-pop due to mean comments made about her (super hot!!) bikini bod is Minnie Driver.
Recent Tweet Favorited by Minnie
Having had the distinct pleasure of live tweeting with her while watching NBC’s About A Boy, I hope she’ll notice all of the positive, supportive sentiments and come back soon!
For now, I’m “Seacrest out!” *winks
Thanks for stopping by,
xo Jen
J. J. Cannon (Author Photo Credit: Seven Souls Studios) Article in Saudi Gazette
This is proof that no matter where you live in this great big world, no matter your perceptions, if there are kids with access to social media, there are parents who are concerned about keeping their kids safe online.
Heather Schotke, Founder Creator of gramMarch reading @Sophie Takes a #Selfie – March 2014
The gramMARCH challenge is the brainchild of middle school teacher Heather Shotke, who has seen these abbreviated forms of language migrate from the screens of smartphones to the pages of her students’ work product. She is shocked at the type of writing that comes across her desk – even in formal essay assignments.
“I am disappointed and appalled,” Shotke said. “Kids are using ‘text language’ in their academic work and they think it is acceptable because that is how they are communicating with their friends on social media. It worries me that they cannot differentiate between a formal, school assignment and a text to a friend.”
Shotke, a graduate of the Annenberg School of Communication at USC, is concerned that society has become too acceptant of this new-era shorthand. Students are not the only ones at fault. Adults too have adopted this lax method of prose. Through gramMARCH, Shotke is challenging the nation to slow down and think about what they are writing, so that thoughts and words are concise and given respect.
Needless to say I am very happy to have connected with Heather via Twitter – once again reinforcing my love of this powerful social media tool. Looking forward to finding a way to join forces with Heather in the future for the greater good of grammar everywhere.
Let’s all take a moment to PAUSE. PONDER. PROSE.
Thanks for stopping by!
xo Jen
Image via gsmnation.com
I see a lot of people focused on trying to keep up with and provide extensive details about the latest apps and why they are potentially harmful to our kids.
This is a monumental, energy sucking, eye-gouging endeavor.
Fingers have been recently pointed at Yik Yak, a new social app making headlines for being used inappropriately, and dangerously, by high school students across the country, as outlined in Huffington Post Screen Sense. My favorite line in the article:
After finding out how Yik Yak was being used by watching the news, the pair immediately contacted Apple and requested an expedited review for their new app, which they were granted; this enabled them to quickly change the app’s age rating to 17+ (parents take note: you can place restrictions on under-17-year-old children’s phones that block them from downloading apps based on this rating).
The apps will change, but my message is universal. I will continue to focus on promoting more thoughtful communication among young people (and adults) and encourage parents to carefully consider when to allow their kids to become “socially active”.
Thanks for stopping by!
xo Jen
Sheinelle Jones, Mike Jerrick, J. J. Cannon – Click to Watch Video
As adults we have life experience under our belts, the perspective that only comes with age, various levels of “street smarts” and, hopefully, the ability to self-regulate our emotions before reacting to things we see online. Children have none of this! It is well known that the pre-teen – teen phase of growing up can be the most awkward time for kids. It is hard enough to navigate friendships and social situations without the added (unnecessary) complications social media brings.
Sheinelle said, “This is awesome, I think this is a ‘go-to’ book for everybody!”
I couldn’t agree more and am passionate about getting the conversation started in every household about this relevant topic which is only going to grow hotter!
This was my first live television interview and I could not have had a better experience. Both hosts and everyone I encountered there made me feel right at home!
What do you think? I would love to hear from you!
Thanks for stopping by,
xo Jen
“Little Ricky said what?!”
Things like “So and so shared a photo with my daughter that I don’t think her mother would approve of. Should I tell her?”
We all have our own ideas about what is okay and what is not okay to share online. It is also important to remember that we all make our own choices about who we connect with.
These situations can be delicate and difficult to navigate, especially if you are friends with the parent(s), but they are only going to become more prevalent in this digital age.
I have not had to deal with this personally yet, because Sophie is not active on social media…yet.
I have, however, seen many things which would be considered questionable and absolutely inappropriate by anyone’s standards posted by young people on various social media platforms. My thoughts: If it’s visible in my feed or timeline (i.e., I’ve not gone creeping around trying to find it) it’s fair game. With that said, depending on the content, I may just decide to ignore, unfollow or wait and see. If the content is something that I feel strongly enough to say something about, I will be very careful and thoughtful about the way I do so.
If a child is posting content about harming him or herself, and you know the child or his or her parents, I feel that you do have a responsibility to carefully make them aware of it. It’s all in the approach.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this tricky topic!
Thanks for stopping by ~
xo Jen p.s. Very excited to let you know I’ll be chatting about the book tomorrow morning with Sheinelle Jones and Mike Jerrick at FOX29 Good Day Philadelphia! Stay tuned!
There is so much I could say about this story – the second I’ve heard like this in the past year. I’m sure there are more. I cheered at my television one morning a while back listening to Kelly Ripa’s reaction to parents who were/are suing after pics of their kids partying at the vacation home of former New England Patriots offensive lineman, Brian Holloway, were posted online. The suit apparently alleged that this would potentially ruin the chances of their kids getting into a good college.
Seeing this headline yesterday somehow inspired me to make an attempt to verbally spoof the currently running hilarious Direct TV commercials. Attempt is the key word.
When you get on social media, you feel free.
When you feel free, you feel brave.
When you feel brave, you post pics of a party at a mansion that you and your friends break into where you do millions of dollars worth of damage and steal a lot of interesting stuff.
When you break into a mansion, have a party, do millions of dollars worth of damage, steal a lot of interesting stuff and post pics of your epic stupidity online, word gets around.
When word gets around, the cops arrest you and the story goes viral.
And when the story goes viral and your party pics are made public, your parents get super angry because
you’ve potentially ruined your chances of getting into that dream school you applied to.
Don’t let your parents get super angry and ruin your chances of having fruitful life.
Read “@Sophie Takes a #Selfie” – it’s not too late.
Encouraging everyone to talk with their kids EARLY before turning them loose with that stick of dynamite also known as a smart device!
Thanks for stopping by,
xo Jen
EmmeNation Connecting
Mind + Body + Spirit
I could go on and on about the incredible human being that is Emme – I hope you will go to EmmeNation and see what I’m talking about.
She has been kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to read and review “@Sophie Takes a #Selfie”. Here’s what she had to say:
“Every tween and their parent needs to read @Sophie Takes a #Selfie – it could save friendships and lives. Social Media today is a bucking horse blazing through the wild west. Please allow J.J. Cannon to take your hand and give you a much needed social media tool box to help guide you through the powerful communication minefield at your children’s fingertips.” EMME, Mom, Body Image and Self Esteem Advocate, Supermodel, @EmmeNation
Needless to say, I am humbled by her generosity and kindness.
Thank you for stopping by,
xo Jen
All Stages Marketing – A Full Service Marketing Agency
In my day job, I am a proud team member at All Stages Marketing headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA. Amber Sims Hinterplattner, Founder & CEO – a social media pioneer and “Social Media Marketing Maven” – has reviewed my book. Her personal stamp of approval and the generous support I’ve received from Amber and Andreas “Andy” Hinterplattner (COO, ASM) means more to me than I can express here. Thank you!
❝This meaningful book for parents, grandparents and their children is an important prompt for starting conversations that NEED to happen. With so much access today as well as permanence for much of what gets posted on the Internet, this kind of valuable information fills a big need – and just in time as technology gets even more pervasive and connected to our daily lives. As a very early adopter of social media tools as a professional marketer and as an adjunct professor of social network marketing, I’ve seen the good, the bad and the “I can’t believe someone posted that online.” As an educator and new parent, I’ve vowed to teach not only my students, but my own child as well with the lessons from this book leading the way!❞
Thanks for stopping by!
xo Jen
Essays Exploring Craft and the Writing Life
Because everyone deserves to see themselves within the pages of a book.
Follow my journey through British cobblestone streets, English classes, and great food!
Not a "how to be a great parent" blog
Unlikely Storytelling
Stuff and things.
Buy a bracelet, give school supplies & see the child you've impacted.
Style • Adventure • Wanderlust
Social Media Influencer, Content Creator and Courier.
The Blog of Actor/Impressionist Jim Meskimen
Eating for Beauty: Nutrition: Skincare: Travel
eBook publishing for writers
Conventional wisdom about writing is conventionally wrong.
An eclectic view of fashion and style
words echo art
Jennifer J. Cannon 