Teens can now join Google+

Posted by John Ball Categories: Corporate News, Google, Internet

Google+, the slow to start but quickly growing social media site is now allowing any user 13 and older to create a Google+ account and join their ranks in this social networking system. Now teens can stay connected with friends and family even easier thanks to this new policy.

Along with the policy change that allows teens to join in on the fun come new safety features to keep kids protected. Before posting a public update, for example, minors will get a warning displayed on-screen. By default, only the people that appear in the teens' circles will be able to contact them, and if an unknown person joins a hangout that a teen happens to be in, the teen will be removed, notified of the changed, and asked if they'd like to re-join the video chat.

You can find and circle Gear Live on Google+.

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Pew Study Finds Most Teens Play Games

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: MMORPG, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox

A recent study by Pew finds that 97% of American teens of the age 12 to 17 play computer, portable, console or online video games. When asked, half of them claimed they played yesterday and the ones who admitted to daily playing say they did so for at least an hour. Here are some of the other statistics:

• 86% of teens play on a console like the Xbox, PlayStation, or Wii.
• 73% play games on a desktop or a laptop computer.
• 60% use a portable gaming device like a Sony PlayStation Portable, a Nintendo DS, or a Game Boy.
• 48% use a cell phone or handheld organizer to play games.
• 80% of teens play five or more different game genres, and 40% play eight or more types.
• Girls play an average of 6 different game genres; boys average 8 different types.

We expect that if Pew queried adults, they would find at least the same statistics, or more for those who play MMORPGs like WOW. As for the good news, another study last September found that, for the most part, teens playing games resulted in positive social action.

Read More | Pew

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Wrigley To Release Designer Gum

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Household

Even more fun than playing with your food may be to chew it with pizazz. Wrigley is unveiling a new designer, sugar-free gum this summer aimed at the teen set which they have named simply “5.” The gum comes in flavors of Rain (spearmint,) Cobalt (peppermint,) and Flare (cinnamon.) The company claims, “Teens, who are constantly seeking opportunities to experience something out of the ordinary, are also the most frequent gum chewers of any age group and account for one-third of all gum chewed in the U.S.”

Available in a 15-stick envelope, we’re thinking that the updated packaging and distinctive name are just disguising the fact that this is still just gum and we will stick to our Altoids when we want extra zing in our mouths.

Read More | Wrigley

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