SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE URBAN CHILD: The Effects of the Digital Age Sixth Annual Urban Child Symposium
April 3, 2014 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Moot Courtroom John and Frances Angelos Law Center University of Baltimore 1401 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201 Reports suggest that overwhelming numbers of American teens spend much of their time connected to social media. They reportedly send and receive text messages 144 times a day. If teens are not texting, they are often on social-networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. This modern technological landscape brings many benefits to the lives of urban children and their families, but a growing body of evidence demonstrates social media also present negative consequences for this “plugged-in” generation.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE URBAN CHILD:
The University of Baltimore School of Law Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts’ sixth annual Urban Child Symposium addresses the special problems social media pose for urban children and the effects of social media on individuals, families and communities.
The Effects of the Digital Age 1420 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201
Sixth Annual Urban Child Symposium
April 3, 2014 University of Baltimore School of Law Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts www.ubalt.edu/urbanchild
Schedule 8:30-9 a.m.—Registration
11:45-11:50 a.m.—Welcome
A continental breakfast will be served in the lobby of the law center.
Robert L. Bogomolny, President, University of Baltimore
9-9:15 a.m.—Opening Remarks
1-2:45 p.m.
Ronald Weich, Dean, University of Baltimore School of Law Barbara Babb, Associate Professor of Law and Director, Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts
9:15-10 a.m.—Keynote Address
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS There is no charge to attend the conference, but preregistration is strongly recommended as space is limited. To register online, visit www.ubalt.edu/urbanchild. Contact Elizabeth Mullen at 410.837.5615 with any questions. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Wyndham Baltimore Peabody Court hotel (612 Cathedral St.), which is about a 10-minute walk from UB. To obtain the special conference rate of $109/night (single or double), please call 410.727.7101 or visit www.wyndham.com/ hotels/BWIPC. The most current information about visitor parking at the University is available at www.ubalt.edu/parking.
Melody Barnes, Vice Provost for Global Student Leadership Initiatives and Senior Fellow, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University; Chair, Forum for Community Solutions, Aspen Institute; Assistant to the President and Director, White House Domestic Policy Council (2009-12)
11:50 a.m.-1 p.m.—Lunch Panel Two: The Law, Social Media and the Urban Child Policymakers, lawyers and the law-enforcement community have struggled to confront the legal ramifications of the constantly changing social media landscape. Parents and communities increasingly look to the law to provide protection from the dangers of social media, such as cyberbullying, sexting, online impersonation and privacy infringement. This panel will discuss laws and policies to address the dangers of social media facing urban children and their families. Moderator: Barbara Babb
10-10:15 a.m.—Break
• Michael Meyerson, Professor of Law, University of Baltimore School of Law
10:15-11:45 a.m.
• Christine McComas, Mother of Grace McComas and Parent Advocate
Panel One: The Social Media Landscape and Its Effects on Individuals, Families and Communities Social media has had a significant positive impact on society. Social media and online communities can enhance communication, facilitate social interaction and even help young people shape their senses of identity. At the same time, research suggests social media can influence teens to engage in risky behaviors that can lead to tragic consequences. This panel will discuss social media’s effects on urban children, their families and their communities. Moderator: Gloria Danziger, Senior Fellow, Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts • Donald “Doni” Glover, Creator, Bmorenews.com • Sean Carton, Director, University of Baltimore Center for Digital Communication, Commerce and Culture • Dr. Scott Krugman, Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
• John McCarthy, State’s Attorney, Montgomery County
2:45-3 p.m.—Break 3-4:30 p.m. Panel Three: Pros and Cons—Parents and Children Young people always have tested boundaries. In the age of social media, the entire world—including parents, school administrators and peers—can watch them do it. As parents and educators strive to develop and implement meaningful protections from abuses of social media, young people continue to experiment with new technologies. This panel of educators, parents and children will discuss the pros and cons of social media based on their personal experiences. Moderator: Tisha Edwards, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Baltimore City Public Schools • Baltimore City Public Schools Students and Parents
4:30-4:45 p.m.—Closing Remarks, Collection of Evaluations and Thanks Barbara Babb