Shy, Teased, Isolated…Teen Killer?

Posted on: 04/10/14 8:32 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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Alex-Hribal-school-stabbingWhy?

It’s the one question no one can really answer at this moment describing the rampage 16-year-old Alex Hribal embarked on yesterday at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, PA. One can only speculate.

His attorney is saying he is just a normal kid. Most are saying he was “shy”, “quiet” and “small.” Some are already using words like “bullied” and “teased.” Like Alex’s classmate who described the teasing as “relentless” at times.

“They just said things. They’d ride him and ride him, and today was the day that he snapped.”

I felt a unique twinge in my spine when I read that quote… because I remember that feeling. I know that emotional state well, not from studying youth culture, or writing and speaking about bullying, but from hearing the jeers and pokes from my classmates in my early teen years Continue reading “Shy, Teased, Isolated…Teen Killer?”

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5 Days of Get Your Teenager Talking- DAY 2

Posted on: 04/1/14 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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talking-with-teensEach day in my blog this week I’m giving you a little somethin’ you can use to provoke meaningful conversations with young people. (Click here for yesterday’s.) My brand new book, Get Your Teenager Talking has 180 conversation springboards that “get teenagers talking”… I thought I’d share some with you. I’ll give you one each day:

Conversation Springboard No. 2:

If the power went out in our city for a day (and you forgot to charge your battery-operated devices), what would you do? Continue reading “5 Days of Get Your Teenager Talking- DAY 2”

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Keeping Social Media Safe

Posted on: 03/24/14 3:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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phone-safety-children“Should I allow my 13-year-old to use Twitter?”

It happens after every parent workshop I teach. Parents line up with specific questions.

“Is Instagram bad?

Should I let my teenager have her phone in her room at night?

“Should I be worried if I found my teenager using Omegle?”

“All my daughter’s friends are on Ask.fm and she wants to be too. Should I let her?”

(By the way, I know I’ll get comments asking, so my answers to those questions would be: no, no, yes, and no. I let my own teenage daughters have multiple social networking sites, but Omegle and Ask.fm both are venues where anonymous people can chat with little to no accountability, and that’s never a good situation. Here’s an article with more specific details about individual apps.)

The questions always vary, but they all root from the same question:

“Is social media safe?”

This is a pretty broad question. It’s like asking Continue reading “Keeping Social Media Safe”

Posted in Bullying/Cyberbullying, Entertainment Media, Internet, Jonathan's Rant, Parenting, Smartphones/Cell Phones, Social Media, Youth Culture |  | Leave A Comment

Grandma’s Read Beyonce Lyrics

Posted on: 03/19/14 3:36 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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This is just too good for me to mess up with words. My friends over at Youth Culture Report tweeted me this. It’s three grandmas reading and commenting on the lyrics of Beyonce’s current hit song, Drunk In Love.

Classic!

(Warning… these grandmas got mouths on them)

(Click Here if you don’t see the embedded video)

Posted in Humor, Jonathan's Rant, Music, Sexuality, Youth Culture |  | Leave A Comment

Young People and Selfies

Posted on: 03/12/14 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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teen-girls-selfieSmile!

“Aren’t we cute?”

Within seconds the selfie pic is posted to Instagram, and Tweeted to her 326 followers. Just another emblematic snapshot from the life of today’s teen.

Five years ago we didn’t even know the word “selfie.” Fast forward to the end of 2013 and it was declared “word of the year.”

What’s the fascination teens have with selfies? Does this desire to snap pics in everyday life make them narcissistic?

When most people hear “selfie,” they probably think of a Continue reading “Young People and Selfies”

Posted in Bullying/Cyberbullying, Entertainment Media, Internet, Jonathan's Rant, Self Image, Sexuality, Smartphones/Cell Phones, Social Media, Youth Culture |  | Leave A Comment

The Bro App

Posted on: 03/10/14 3:25 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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broappOkay, this is either really hilarious… or really sad.

It’s called the BroApp. A couple of Australian tech guys noticed a market for a product that would help irresponsible “bros” text their girlfriends regularly to tell them they care.

Hmmmmm… I’m not sure if this is the same thing as when I used to hide little love notes in my wife’s luggage before she left on a retreat.

It’s like this. You select your girlfriends number, some messages, and the Continue reading “The Bro App”

Posted in Humor, Jonathan's Rant, Marriage, Smartphones/Cell Phones, Youth Culture |  | Leave A Comment

Kids React to Rotary Phones

Posted on: 03/6/14 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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It’s always funny to see how kids react to pieces of our past… and that’s what the YouTube channel “Kids React to…” loves to show us.

A while back I showed you a video of theirs, Kids React to Lady Gaga. This week I stumbled upon their newest video, Kids React to Rotary Phones. Hilarious!

(ht Ypulse.com)

Posted in Humor, Smartphones/Cell Phones, Youth Culture |  | Leave A Comment

Do You Really Want to Know?

Posted on: 03/5/14 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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Do-You-Wanna-Know-the-TruthA teenager asked me about illegal downloading of music the other day, wondering if it was legal to turn YouTube videos into music.

“A friend of mine said he researched it and it was okay.”

The timing of her question was interesting, in a climate where I’ve witnessed countless ethical questions being answered with messy morality rooted in ignorance.

So my response to her was as follows Continue reading “Do You Really Want to Know?”

Posted in Faith, Jonathan's Rant, Music, Youth Culture |  | Leave A Comment

American Idol’s Spiritual Advisor

Posted on: 02/24/14 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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American Idol JudgesAmerican Idol is still captivating American audiences, and this season the show has brought a new adviser backstage to act as a “life coach” for the young Idol hopefuls… a Christian counselor who has been helping NASCAR drivers since 1999.

Let’s be honest, it’s not easy to find good clean family programming on that big television screen in our living room. There’s Duck Dynasty… and there’s… uh… hmmm… hold on… give me a minute and I’m sure I’ll think of something!

My family has really liked American Idol over the years, but sadly, at times the show has brought in mentors whose actions were a little questionable– like the time Continue reading “American Idol’s Spiritual Advisor”

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The Naked Truth

Posted on: 02/14/14 3:01 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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between the sheetsTonight I speak to a few hundred middle school kids about sex at an event at a church near Chicago called The Naked Truth.

I’m really proud of this church for addressing this subject so candidly with families, a subject that is often hushed by the church. I’m excited to share the explicit truth with these young people, especially in a culture where they hear so many explicit lies.

Here’s the intro to my talk Continue reading “The Naked Truth”

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