ScienceDaily: Internet News

Watch out Internet meanies: Game could soon be over for you

Posted: 17 Dec 2014 08:36 AM PST

Bullies and mean girls have been around forever but, with the arrival of smartphones and social media, meanness has taken on new forms and dramatically extended its reach. Digital abuse is now so widespread, and such are its dramatic effects on victims, that the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a stern warning about the risks posed by cyberbullying to adolescents' mental health. But 'how much do we really know about how to tackle online bullies?,' asks a new study.

Privacy policies good for big business, not so good for consumers

Posted: 17 Dec 2014 08:35 AM PST

Research suggests effective self regulation has yet to emerge for the majority of businesses whose privacy policies keep them from sharing consumers' private information, but are not readable by the average consumer.

Crowdfunding 101 for science

Posted: 10 Dec 2014 12:22 PM PST

Everything you know about crowdfunding is wrong, according to researchers. Crowdfunding is the practice of financing a project or venture through contributions from a large number of people, typically via the Internet. "At a time when money is getting ever tighter and more difficult to procure, having a completely different source of cash is incredibly valuable," one author said. "But the main value -- and the real power in all of this -- is that it provides a new argument to engage with the general public over the long term. Because long-term outreach is the only way to unlock significant dollar value out of the crowdfunding process."