AT&T HOSTS TEXTING BEES FOR PARENTS
AT&T is setting up a series of interactive "texting bees" at high schools around the country to teach parents what their kids already know... "u cn txt faster than u cn talk."
AT&T wants to teach parents how to send and receive a text message, so they will be better able to reach out in the way that teens like. According to their research, 63% of parents who use text messaging believe that it improves their communication. Sixty-five percent of parents say texting lets them communicate more frequently with their children when they are away from home and 64% believe that texting made their kids easier to reach.
Clinical psychologist and parenting expert Dr. Ruth Peters said that kids are more apt to respond to text messages when they are with their friends and don't have to worry about tone of voice.
TEEN TREND ALERT: CAFFEINE ABUSE FROM ENERGY DRINKS
With provocative names such as Insane, Monster, Pimp Juice, and even Cocaine-it's not surprising that energy drinks are causing a buzz (literally) among teens. Earlier this month, a Chicago study reported 265 cases of teen caffeine overdoses-many involving energy drinks. Some of these drinks-although served in a can smaller than a standard 12-ounce soda-have two to four times more caffeine, according to a recent University of Florida study. More than 500 new energy drinks launched worldwide this year, causing the $3.4 billion a year industry to increase 80%. Teenagers love the stuff: 31% of US teens report regular energy-imbibing, representing 7.6 million teens-a jump of almost 3 million in just three years.