Are you a parental cyberbully?

Edition: US - Today's top story: Why shaming your children on social media may make things worse [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 15 December 2018 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Editor's note Discussions about disciplining children have traditionally focused on whether to “spare the rod.” But in the digital age, a new debate has emerged: whether or not to post videos of children’s punishments on social media. Brian Kinghorn, a scholar of child development and the psychology of social media, argues that humiliating children online [may cause more problems]( than it solves. Outside of a couple of notable examples, few autistic characters have appeared in books, television shows and films. But a couple of years ago, University of California, Irvine professors Jonathan Alexander and Rebecca Black noticed that autistic characters had started surfacing in Harry Potter fan fiction. Since then, they’ve tracked the various storylines and characters that have emerged – and written about why [the Harry Potter universe is the perfect place to explore the complexities of autism](. Planning some gift shopping this weekend for the kids on your holiday list? Tufts University early childhood technology expert Marina Bers [has helpful guidance]( on how to look past the bells and whistles if you’re considering a new app, robot or gadget. And for a front-line view of what’s happening with the “yellow vests” in France, check out [the latest from our colleagues at The Conversation France](. Jamaal Abdul-Alim Education Editor Top stories A New Jersey mother shows up at her son’s class as a clown to get him to stop misbehaving in school. The boy’s principal posted a video of the visit online. Instagram of Sean Larry [Why shaming your children on social media may make things worse]( Brian Edward Kinghorn, Marshall Univeristy As more parents turn to social media to post videos of themselves punishing their children, an educational psychologist warns that the practice may cause more harm than good. Some Harry Potter fans have taken to penning their own stories set in the world of Hogwarts. Lucas Jackson/Reuters [With a limited on-screen presence, autistic characters have emerged in another medium: fan fiction]( Jonathan Alexander, University of California, Irvine; Rebecca Black, University of California, Irvine The Harry Potter universe has become a popular setting for stories featuring autistic characters, written by young writers eager to tackle a complex topic. It can be hard to tell whether what’s in the box will encourage development or just be a waste of time. AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis [Looking for a high-tech gift for a young child? Think playgrounds, not playpens]( Marina Umaschi Bers, Tufts University There's a spectrum of quality when it comes to what kids can do with screen time. An expert in early childhood technology suggests picking tech activities that promote problem-solving and fun. Economy + Business [Trump presidency’s personnel turmoil stands in stark contrast to the ‘nice guy’ administration of George H. W. Bush]( Eric Stern, University at Albany, State University of New York The significant churn in the Trump administration has caused confusion in foreign policymaking. In contrast, Bush's presidency was marked by collegiality, which contributed to many successes. [What French populists from the ‘50s can teach us about the 'yellow vests’ roiling Paris today]( Charles Hankla, Georgia State University A populist movement that threatened to topple a French government more than 60 years ago has important lessons for today’s protests and why they represent a reckoning. Ethics + Religion [Who are Yemen’s Houthis?]( Myriam Renaud, University of Chicago The Houthis belong to the Shiite branch of Islam. The Houthi insurgency began in the early 1990s, spurred in part by growing influence of different Sunni branches of Islam. [What winter solstice rituals tell us about indigenous people]( Rosalyn R. LaPier, The University of Montana For indigenous peoples, winter solstice has been a time to honor their ancient sun deity. Their rituals reveal a deep understanding of the natural world. Science + Technology [Don’t worry about screen time – focus on how you use technology]( Margaret E. Morris, University of Washington Whether a technology helps or hurts people depends not on how much time they spend with it, but how they use it. [Diamonds are forever – whether made in a lab or mined from the earth]( Joshua Wilhide, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; William LaCourse, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Whether forged by geological processes or laboratory techniques, diamonds are diamonds. Their unique properties mean they have applications that are not bling-related as well. Education - [How activists are fighting racial disparities in school discipline]( Mark R Warren, University of Massachusetts Boston A grassroots movement to end racial disparities in schoolhouse discipline is beginning to take root throughout the nation and winning important victories at the local level. Can it sustain the effort? Health + Medicine [Think teens need the sex talk? Older adults may need it even more]( Heather Honoré Goltz, University of Houston-Downtown; Matthew Lee Smith, Texas A&M University Studies confirm what many older adults already know: They are sexual. And, studies also suggest that sex is good for them. But health care providers are reluctant to talk to them about the risks. [The key to our humanity isn’t genetic, it’s microbial]( Ian Myles, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases The effort to edit the genes of Chinese twins implies that all our traits are determined by our genes. But changing our diet, environment, lifestyle and microbes may have a greater effect. Environment + Energy [As hunting declines, efforts grow to broaden the funding base for wildlife conservation]( Lincoln Larson, North Carolina State University Much of the money for wildlife conservation in the United States comes from taxes and fees paid by sportsmen. But as fewer Americans take up hunting, wildlife managers need other funding sources. [Do climate policies ‘kill jobs’? An economist on why they don’t cause massive unemployment]( Garth Heutel, Georgia State University Multiple studies have found the overall impact on labor markets to be minor, even if some workers will need new career paths. Politics + Society [Myanmar debates women’s rights amid evidence of pervasive sexual and domestic violence]( Stephanie Miedema, Emory University; Tharaphi Than, Northern Illinois University In Myanmar, spousal abuse is legal and stigma stop most women from reporting sexual violence. A bill championed by feminists but long stalled in Parliament may soon give women their basic rights. [In 2019, women’s rights are still not explicitly recognized in US Constitution]( Deana Rohlinger, Florida State University In the #MeToo era and with more women entering Congress, activists are hopeful another state could ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. But is it too late? Arts + Culture [What we can learn from reading Sylvia Plath’s copy of ‘The Great Gatsby’]( Jeanne Britton, University of South Carolina For centuries, readers have written in the margins of their books to indicate admiration, disagreement or inspiration. Plath was no different. [How stereo was first sold to a skeptical public]( Jonathan Schroeder, Rochester Institute of Technology; Janet Borgerson, DePaul University Sixty years ago, stereo promised to forever change the way people listened to music. But how could record companies convince customers to buy a new record player, speakers and amplifier? [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111