In the News

Texting can affect teenage girls' school grades, but has no effect on the academic performance of boys, a new study has claimed. Researchers found that while girls do not text more than boys, they use text messages to interact with friends and nurture relationships, while boys use them more to convey basic information.

Facebook has long been the dominant social media force on the Internet, but is the way that people, and in particular teenagers, use Facebook changing?

A new app that promises to let users review individuals has caused controversy before it has even launched. Peeple will allow members to give star ratings to people they know via the app, much as restaurants and hotels are rated on sites such as Yelp.

Pupils at London Acorn School banned from using smartphones and computers and watching TV at all times, including during holidays

Think you're safe on Whisper? We take a closer look at how anonymous apps actually work and what they really hide.

Research shows that banning mobile phones from schools can improve GCSE results, so the new head at Medina College has done just that. Here’s one parent’s view on the decision.

Survey of more than 4,700 teenagers reveals almost half think cyberbullying is a bigger issue than drug abuse among young people

Age classifications should be extended to online films to prevent underage children from viewing inappropriate material, according to a coalition of 11 charities including the NSPCC, Barnardo’s and the Children’s Society.

Pupils at a Yorkshire academy could be banned from trips if parents post negative comments about the school on social media. In a letter, Morley Academy said "personal or insulting comments" by pupils, parents and carers will result in the "full withdrawal of privileges".

Head teachers are divided on whether to involve police in “sexting” incidents among pupils after a case in which a 14-year-old boy was given a criminal record.

The pressure to be perfect and always ‘on’ is overwhelming many of us, as studies show, but the government will not step in. Statutory PSHE lessons would be a start

Messaging service Snapchat has announced that it will be introducing some new features with its latest update, which will allow the mobile app to incorporate a whole new revenue stream by essentially turning the hitherto free app into a ‘freemium’ one, by offering in-app purchase of instant replays of photo and video ‘Snaps’ received through the app.

Young people are now more tech savvy than ever, easily adapting to new technology such as mobile phones, tablets and smartphones – devices which are alien to some parents. But with new technology comes new dangers – and two key e-safety issues that parents need to be aware of are cyberbullying and sexting.

Apparently so, according to the OECD.

Two years ago, at the age of 14, Izzy Dix took her own life. Her mother, Gabbi, describes the grief she felt as a "living nightmare". But, in addition to mourning her only daughter, Gabbi has had to contend with internet trolls - people who have posted obscene abuse about Izzy online.

Mark Zuckerberg says the new tool will allow the website's users to "express empathy" with their friends.

At Radio 1 we're talking about why online negativity happens, how to deal with it and how to be a good friend online.

More than one out of every three 12 to 15-year-olds wakes in the night at least once a week just to use social media, a study suggests.

Investing heavily in school computers and classroom technology does not improve pupils' performance, says a global study from the OECD. The think tank says frequent use of computers in schools is more likely to be associated with lower results.

Teenagers are getting more anxious and depressed because of the 24-hour demands of their social media accounts, researchers say. Those with higher levels of emotional investment in social media, and who use it at night, were more likely to feel depressed and anxious, they say.