- 'Got [Chocolate] Milk'? (the dairy industry launches a new campaign pushing the sweet variation to parents and schools as a way to get kids to drink milk. Not surprisingly, obesity activists aren't too happy) (AP)

- 'Harriet' spied ("Wizards of Waverly Place" actress Jennifer Stone is cast as the title role in an upcoming "Harriet the Spy" TV movie. Fingers crossed it gets done right this time! Also Disney Channel orders up double the JoBros with a second season of the comedy series "JONAS" as well as the band's short-form reality series "Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream." Plus Latin American teen hit telenovela "Isa TKM" is coming to the U.S. care of MTV Tr3s) (Variety) (THR) (Los Angeles Times)

- Meet 'The Franks' (the latest, arguably greatest Twilight parody care of SNL and this week's host Taylor Swift. Plus the man behind the monsters in the actual Twilight films, Phil Tippett, on the challenges of crafting werewolves for "New Moon") (BuzzFeed) (Variety)

- FunnyorDie.com profiled (by Los Angeles Times as SNL for the web generation, i.e. subversive comedy for a YouTube attention span. Plus a recap of a panel from "Television Writing in the Internet Age" reflects the digital divide between screens) (THR)

- 'Voice of McDonalds' (the fast food chain holds an "American Idol-like competition" for its employees with a big social media push. Also Ad Age, reg. required, interview with Vieira Barocas, a member of the Six Flags marketing team on rebuilding the brand after bankruptcy and driving attendance)

- Mobile tech in the classroom (a nice overview of various studies and initiatives driving the use of smartphones by educators. Plus the latest National Survey of Student Engagement aims to encourage colleges to inspire more student engagement, both online and off, for the optimal undergraduate experience) (NGT) (USA Today)

- MTV News (finds online success and a spike in traffic after breaking its content into web-sized snacks. Plus FOX incorporates interactivity and social networking into DVD releases, including the "Night at the Museum" sequel) (Mediaweek) (THR)

Boys are besieged by images and messages from marketers and the media that encourage slacking over studying; competition over teamwork; power over empowerment; and being cool over being oneself. In Packaging Boyhood, we scrutinize cartoons, videogames, movies, and more for stereotypes that marketers and the media sell boys about what it means to be a boy. We also offer advice to parents about how to talk with their sons about these troubling images, and provide parents with tools to help their sons resist these messages and have more choice about how to live their lives.

By reinforcing this vote for empowerment with the survey responses of 600 boys from across the country, Mark, Lyn and Sharon send a clear message to marketers and parents alike that the time has come to challenge and rectify the mold for boys.

Packaging Boyhood is out in bookstores now, but we're giving away free copies to the first three commenters who share a fictional male role model they admire and why.

YP: What made you decide to take on boys after "Packaging Girlhood"?

Packaging Boyhood authors: I guess because as we researched PG, we came across a lot of troubling material aimed at boys. And because enlightenment via media literacy has come to taking a look at gender stereotyping. We also heard a lot of parental concern about boy targeted media when we were on the road taking about [Packaging Girlhood].

YP: Could you identify some of the factors (or combination of factors) that are driving the superhero and slacker stereotypes? Do you think the message has transformed in recent years? If so, how and why?

PB: First we want to make clear that these are separate. First the superhero — we love comic book superheroes but once they hit the big screen they've been transformed into bulked up, hyper masculine guys who use justice as an excuse for aggression. Also the movies come with heavily marketed stuff for boys of all ages, but especially to boys too young to see the movies.

The slacker is any sidekick, lovable loser, or failure that a boy can identify with, wait, that a boy is encouraged to identify with if he can't be number one, the best, a superhero. The slacker image has really taken off in recent years — from Diary of a Wimpy Kid to Jack Black to Will Ferrell movies. We worry about this image because there's no room for boys to be ambitious, responsible, to love school, to work hard and really try. It's a way out. A way to look cool if you feel you can't cut it — just don't care.

YP: What makes these messages harmful to boys, girls and our culture on the whole?

PB: The over-top-destruction, violence, aggression (look at what Nerf has become!) gives a message to boys that masculinity and violence are closely connected. The slacker image gives boys a way out of feeling inferior or of working hard to achieve. A big part of masculinity too, is seeing girls as sex objects, desiring the hot girl — we see that even in animated movies and TV for young boys. What's equally harmful is what's missing — a range of emotions, genuine, equal relationships with girls, self-reflection, vulnerability. Those qualities and emotions in media get boys teased or called gay.

YP: We hear about the "boy crisis" a lot when it comes to reading. How would you describe the situation in the wake of "Harry Potter' and what message would you want to send to publishers?

PB: If Harry Potter told us anything, it's that boys do read and they read long books with complex storylines if the books interest them. Harry Potter's great — it doesn't play into what boys are "supposed to like." They're supposed to like farts, burps, yucky things, explosions, violence, and action action action. We'd like publishers to have more faith in boys, to give them storylines that include their vulnerability and fear as human emotions and not reasons to be bullied, to include more older mentors and close friendships with girls, include more lead characters of various ethnicities, to highlight that some boys like school, that some boys are artists and singers and like to please people and like cats as well as dogs and love their moms and dads… we can go on and on.

YP: Are there any steps parents can take to help their sons combat the barrage of media reinforcing the aggressive or disinterested male model? Is there something that can be done in the classroom?

PB: Again, you need to separate these two a bit… the disinterested/slacker male is a different character… still damaging. And we tell parents to co-view, listen, talk and help their kids be critics of what they hear watch and do. Teach them media strategies and remind them what's unique about them that doesn't fit with the stereotypes. Parents should also actively remind them what's unique about them that doesn't fit with the stereotypes. Parents should also actively look for nonstereotypical media options — they're out there but not always the ones promoted incessantly.

YP: Who should read Packaging Boyhood?

PB: Parents of boys and girls, publishers, teachers, guidance counselors, therapists, screenplay writers, TV producers… Hey, we had a really nice talk with one of the writers of "The Simpsons" who also wrote "The Fantastic Four: The Legend of the Silver Surfer." It would be great if we could have more conversations like this (unfortunately the writer of "Iron Man," who lives a couple of miles from Sharon, didn't return her call.. and he has two sons!!!)

For more coverage of YA books and publishing, check out the Ypulse Books Channel sponsored by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, publishers of Beautiful Creatures.

Ypulse Insights (our research division) just released new data on American college students and teens' spending habits in our October Ypulse Report as well as in our abbreviated October Ypulse Monitor product, and found that, despite concerns over the economic crisis, teens are still spending an average of $277 a month and among discretionary funds, teens are more likely to be spending on clothing, fast food and movies (vs. college students who are more likely to prioritize food in the form of groceries, restaurant visits, and fast food). Additionally, about one third of teens are frequenting and spending money within large name-brand retail stores or local boutiques and at least one in three is shopping online at least a few times a month.

Broken down by gender, our research found teen girls, not surprisingly, spend more than teen males on clothing, cosmetics and accessories; while guys spend more on electronic equipment, video games, and sporting goods.

As always, you can communicate directly with any member of the Ypulse Youth Advisory Board by emailing them at youthadvisoryboard at ypulse.com…or just leave a comment below.

Story Behind The Stats: When Money Starts To Matter As A Teen

Your teenage years: the golden years when your parents finally trust you with an allowance and you can choose to spend your money wisely… or blow it all on a few unnecessary items.

This new school year was my first time with a "real" allowance because my parents wanted me to learn the value of money. After all, we are in a recession and dealing with money is important your whole life. Since my new allowance I’ve started thinking about saving and budgeting a bit differently.

At my school, for instance, you don’t have to eat lunch on campus, but even if you do eat at school you pay in cash. It’s different than the US system where it seems like everybody eats in the cafeteria. Here, there are popular restaurants and delis that many teens go to, requiring you to make a choice on how to manage your own lunch money.

Most teenagers I know get regular allowances, but each case is different. Some only get money for going out and food, others get allowances for everything (food and clothes). Allowances here almost always include lunch money, but most popular teen hang outs are priced pretty reasonably so that helps.

Being on an allowance has definitely opened my eyes and made me pause before something as simple as going to get some candy at the vending machine. It made me feel more responsible to be treated like an adult and think about the future where getting your pay check means you have to take care of paying rent and budget money reasonably… or find yourself in trouble.

Only recently I also started taking on a few odd jobs and it really puts things in perspective. You start making decisions like asking yourself what’s more important: a new pair of shoes, a concert ticket, going out for dinner with your friends, etc.?

Personally, I’ve started cutting down on spending my money on my Starbucks Frappucinos as well as the occasional Snickers bars between classes. I don’t go to concerts or movies that often, but when there’s a really good movie playing, or a cool band in town (such as The Virgins last week) I won’t hesitate to splurge on that. I probably spend the most on clothes and accessories, though I do most of my shopping sprees when I’m in the US or order some American clothes online. When I do shop at stores here (a few boutiques, European versions of department stores and name-brand retailers most of the time), I don’t tend to over spend. I use cash because I don’t have a credit card yet and don’t really need one. Also, I have a US savings account that I don’t use, but no checking account because again, I don't really need one. I know how much I get per week, how much I need if there’s a special event/party that week, and I often talk with my parents about how saving is important. I’ve always loved shopping for clothes and going out and having an allowance has made me think about how to be more responsible and aware of how much I'm spending on what I buy.

I've realized that managing money is really important, and it doesn’t mean you necessarily have to cut back on everything; you just need to be responsible. I used to cringe when people would say "spend money responsibly", but that was pretty dumb because having an allowance doesn’t stop you from shopping. Also, it prepares you for college when you’re going to have to think about things like managing money for living expenses. Combined with making some of my own money, and the allowance I get, I definitely feel older and think twice about buying another pair of shoes I don’t really need.

About Caroline

Caroline is an American student in eleventh grade in Geneva, Switzerland and enjoys it a lot. This year will be her second year serving on the Youth Advisory Board, which she loves because she’s currently an international student and she likes keeping up with the numerous U.S. trends in various departments. Between YAB, sports, school (as well as traveling, trying to master several languages, spending a lot of time on the computer, writing long papers, music and watching American TV), she doesn’t have a lot of time on her hands, but always finds time for the two passions she’s always had: reading and
writing.

- Broken record (the music industry continues blaming P2P for revenue decline, while outsiders point to record companies' hostile tactics and a lack of innovation as compounding the problem. Plus the legal battle between No Doubt and Activision raises issues for future "Guitar Hero" licensing agreements) (Ars Technica) (Variety)

-  Nickelodeon hits a nerve (with parents for marketing "adult swim type" cartoon "Glenn Martin, DDS" to tweens. Also suicide prevention groups speak out against a recent episode of "The Office." And GLAAD protests against "South Park" for its use of an anti-gay slur) (St. Petersburg Times) (AP) (THR)

- Twilight tourism goes international (as teens and college students add Italian city Volterra  to their travel plans. Plus Whedon fans rejoice: a comic book prequel to "Dr. Horrible" is in the works! Also Decemberists lead singer Colin Meloy announces an upcoming children's book) (USA Today) (MTV News) (Paste Magazine)

- Cereal crackdown continues (as Kellogg, in response to growing parental concerns over false health claims, stops marketing Rice Krispies and Cocoa Krispies as helping to boost children's immunity. Plus more on the link between childhood obesity and food advertising) (Ad Age, reg. required)

- College Bound Sisters (a North Carolina program for younger sisters of teen moms that pays girls a dollar a day not to get pregnant. Just crazy enough to be effective? Also private health insurers rack up profits on student policies) (US News & World Report) (Boston Herald)

- Metrotexuality (a silly neologism coined to describe guys showing affection towards male friends through text messages sealed with a kiss [x]– Thanks Andrea! And speaking of slang… Trendcentral rounds up a collection of Gen Y catchphrases that all sound suspiciously Diablo Cody-esque to me) (Reuters)

- Cartoon Network keeps it real (placing series orders for two more live-action shows: "Tower Prep" and "Unnatural History." Plus Comedy Central joins forces with The Onion to adapt weekly web show Onion Sports Network for TV) (Variety) (THR) (St. Petersburg Times)

- Don't know much about history (a recent poll reveals that one in 20 Scottish kids think Adolf Hitler was Germany's national football coach. Yikes. Also likely not helping brain cells an increase in binge drinking among teens across Europe. Although on the bright side, the use of pot is down) (AP) (Children and Young People Now)

- Gen Y Hispanics (a look at how the incoming wave of twenty-somethings will impact the business world. Also Facebook tips for marketers looking to reach teens) (Poder 3) (MediaPost, reg. required)

If you work in youth media or marketing and have an idea for a guest post, feel free to email me.

Why Botched Teenspeak Says Volumes

Almost every week on "Glee", there are either single lines or sub-plots that make Gen Y viewers freeze in place like biting into something gravelly in a piece of Starbucks banana bread. This is because "Glee", while deliciously entertaining and well-deserving of its spot as an overnight cult hit, has frequent "generational inaccuracies" –dialogue gaffes or plot mistakes that can happen when adults try to recreate the lives of teens.

For example, in one episode of "Glee" earlier this season, tough-guy Puck refers to himself as a "stud" while bragging about his seduction of adult women. But teens (or really, anyone) don't use the word "stud," let alone refer to themselves as such. Similarly, with the aggressive anti-bullying policies in place at many American high schools, it's likely that anyone who threw a slushie at another kid (a regular sight gag on the show) would get thrown in detention and probably have to help the janitor clean up the mess.

I know that sometimes these generational gaffes happen for the sake of plot. The Glee “slushie facial” sub-plot, while not really sufficiently funny to merit inaccuracy, probably struck the staff writers (who don't actually think kids walk around throwing soft drinks at each other) as amusing and campy enough to include anyway.

Sometimes though it’s pure error—such as Puck referring to himself as a “stud.” He probably should have said something like, “Hey, I get around” or “You know how I roll…” But maybe not—I haven’t been in high school in four years. That's why it is sort of understandable why these errors in teen entertainment happen: teenage vernacular is constantly changing. The slang that was popular a few years ago or even last year probably isn’t anymore. Things that were “phat” seven years ago are now just quintessentially 2002.

But it's not just "Glee" that makes these fumbles. Jodi Picoult, the phenomenally popular author, often writes in the voice of teenagers and doesn't always get it right. In My Sister’s Keeper, the narration changes between the members of a family, and her writing from the perspective of a teenage boy is generally cringe-worthy, especially when he describes a middle-aged woman as a “bodacious babe.” An even worse offender in this category may be Tom Wolfe who wrote in I am Charlotte Simmons of a wealthy college student listening to Britney Spears and saying, “Come on, Britney, lose control!” Oh my God, that is absolutely not what young women sound like. Every now and then, I'll even get a new YA novel on my desk that just doesn't get the teen vernacular.

As Meredith pointed out, sometimes these mistakes happen because the writers are trying to appeal to a broader audience than just teens. Both with those aforementioned general audience books as well as with teen targeted fare. I know more adults who watch "Gossip Girl" than teenagers so it makes sense to sometimes cater to those older viewers. And it’s okay, every now and then, to make concessions such as having Blair and Serena downing martinis at a chic lounge (rather than frequenting the East Village hole-in-the-wall bars that tend to be more open to serving minors) because it might ring true or be more entertaining to those adults tuning in.

Still, all those moments that are just plain off and the rare show that gets its dialogue completely right points to a need for more teen input in the entertainment industry. Like magazines that have stringers that help them understand what teens are thinking and saying; Adult media-makers could do something as informal as showing their scripts or their manuscripts to the young people they know. Having the writers go out and listen to what kids sound like at Ohio high schools (or high schools anywhere!) would be even better. Given all the work that goes into taking any kind of media from idea to conception (writers and editors and market research and marketing and publicists, oh my!), adding the simple step of "consulting teens" would definitely be worth adults' while.

About Liz

Liz Funk is a New York-based author, freelance writer, and speaker. She has written for USA Today, Newsday, the Washington Post, the Christian Science Monitor, the Huffington Post, CosmoGIRL!, Girls' Life, and Mediabistro, among other publications. Liz also served on the 2008/2009 Ypulse Youth Advisory Board.

For more coverage of YA books and publishing, check out the Ypulse Books Channel sponsored by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, publishers of Beautiful Creatures.

Director, Ad Sales of Disney Online
Industry: Sales/New Media
Location: Los Angeles or San Francisco
Description: 5-8 yrs media sales/marketing experience, day-to-day management of Ad Sales, oversee new campaigns and creation of sales opportunities. More (via Cynopsis Kids)

Sales Assistant, Children's Mass Merchandising at Random House
Industry: Book Publishing
Location: New York, NY
Description: The Random House Sales Division is seeking a Sales Assistant to join the Children's Business Development team. Ideal candidate will report to two VP's and responsibilities will include the following: coordinate sales meetings and communications for several small imprints; assist in general department administration; expedite internal communications and external mailing (including updating mailing lists) and messenger needs; maintain calendars and travel expenses for VP; maintain calendars for sales teams and schedules/conf rooms for shows; Assist in preparation for Pre Sales and Sales Conference; assist the department in gathering materials for sales presentations and catalog creation; manage meeting correspondence for Pre Sales and Sales Conference; coordinate affidavits for major releases; coordinate sales promotions and special offers as well as update special offers website. More (Mediabistro, reg. required)

VP, National Sales Manager at Alloy Media + Marketing
Industry: Sales/Sales Management
Location: New York, NY
Description: The VP, National Sales Manager will be responsible for all aspects of sales for the Alloy Digital premium video and display network, reporting directly to the head of the business unit. This exciting opportunity will allow a talented sales executive to take a key role in the growth and development of Alloy Digital, the fast-growing online division of Alloy Media + Marketing. The VP, National Sales Manager will leverage their current network and build new relationships with clients and agencies selling Alloy Digitals online video and rich display advertising services across our leading network of sites. The successful candidate will based in New York City and will have the opportunity to lead, coach and develop a team of sales professionals in our sales offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. More

Director of Web Marketing at Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions
Industry: Marketing/Branding/Education
Location: New York, NY
Description: Kaplan is seeking a talented and driven Director of Web Marketing to oversee a variety of marketing and branding initiatives including global employment brand strategy for all of the Kaplan businesses. The ideal candidate will be a marketing professional with a passion for online marketing and technology. We are looking for a self-starter who can make strategic recommendations and project manage with a high level of independence. More (via Mediabistro, reg. required)

Social Marketing Coordinator at the University Research Center for Human Services
Industry: Public Health/Social Media/Nonprofit
Location: Rockville, Maryland
Description: URC, a public health consulting firm just outside of Washington, DC, seeks a Social Marketing Coordinator for its Rockville, Maryland office. In this role, you serve as an advisor in the application of social marketing principles for Federal Underage Drinking Prevention Initiatives. You will assist with assessing target populations, analyzing data, and conducting focus-group testing. The Social Marketing Coordinator provides 1) technical assistance and 2) training to communities across the United States. It assists with the coordination efforts of a number of national underage alcohol use prevention initiatives. It also provides logistics support for email newsletters and other mailings to targeted audiences and provides support for content development and review of Federal Web sites. (idealist.org)

Digital Media Freelance Producer at the Shalom Seasame Project
Industry: New Media/Production
Location: New York, NY
Description: Sesame Workshop is currently seeking a Digital Media Producer to oversee production for Shalom Sesames digital initiatives. This individual will be responsible for various areas of content production, from big picture contributions to proper executions of all elements. Being able to play well with others is a must youll be working cross-divisionally and internationally to plan, create and integrate content. More (via Mediabistro, reg. required)

- Close but no cigar…(is still hazardous. The danger of tobacco-related products marketed to teens. Plus MBTA’s alcohol ads draw criticism for encouraging underage drinking) (Wicked Local) (Boston Herald)

- 'Mortal Instruments' (the Cassandra Clare YA fantasy trilogy to be adapted into one big movie. Plus Sony adapts the world domination board game Risk) (Variety)

- Mickey's extreme makeover (New York Times, reg. required, takes a look at Disney's efforts to rebrand Mickey Mouse as a darker, more modern mouse not only in the "Epic Mickey" video game, but on a wider scale. Hmm… hard to imagine Mickey with an edge)

- Betawave (network of kids' sites reaches 32 million users in the US exceeding Nickelodeon and Disney sites.  Also more details on Twilight in Habbo Also Blockbuster jumps on the "New Moon" bandwagon) (Home Media Magazine)

- Gen Y Gives Thanks (nice seasonal series on Examiner combatting the stereotype that Millennials are ungrateful. Thanks Melissa! Also a nice Twitter list of youth orgs in NYC rounded up by Idealist.org. Thanks Sara!)

- Gen Z readers (in case you missed it, PW's Children's Bookshelf sums up the technological challenges facing the teen book market raised at SCBA. Plus if you're in New York check out this  YA panel on "Sex, Drugs and Vampires". And a great interview with "Wicked" author Nancy Holder) (i09) (iF Magazine)

- Sleep Out Saturday (1,500 kids ages 12 to 18 will spend a cold night outside to raise money and awareness for homeless families. Also Geico teams with Girl Scouts to help the troop earn a "Road Safety Patch" by partaking in an interactive safety program. And NAMM announces the regional semi-finalists in the SchoolJam USA Nationwide Teen Battle of the Bands to raise money for school music programs)

- More on Gen Y and Twitter (ReadWriteWeb picks up the discussion around the latest Pew Research referring to some of the points I brought up in my post yesterday)

If you work in youth media or marketing and have an idea for a guest post, feel free to email me.

Youthonomics
American youth have been disproportionately impacted by the economic downturn. Whether you’re a teenager or a college student, chances are that what you are hoping for is a job or for your household’s fortunes to improve to the point where parental largesse bounces back to pre-2008 levels.

According to our own research, the #1 issue in September 2007 amongst collegians was the war in Iraq (cited by 10% of students). As the bitter wind of the financial crisis began to blow in October 2008, the issue of the economy began to emerge, cited by 27% of college students. In the October 2009 Ypulse Report, job creation and economic growth became dominant, cited by 41% of teens and 42% of collegians.

While the perception of the major problem is consistent across teens and collegians, their faith in the ability of the current administration to speed the recovery differs: high school students have far less faith in President Obama’s ability to address the problems that concern them.

While more than half (52%) of college students express confidence in Obama’s presidential policies, only slightly more than one third (36%) of high school students feel this way. Those aged 13-18 express greater levels of uncertainty, with 18% saying that they simply don’t know or are unsure of whether the current administration is up to the task.

Comparing these stats to those collected among adults in a September NBC News/ Wall Street Journal study, the general population falls somewhere between teens and collegians with 45% of adults expressing confidence in Obama’s presidential policies, eliminating ‘parental influence’ as the source of this difference of opinion.

Owing to the fact that teens have yet to vote, it could be that their association with ‘brand Obama’ is weaker than their older, collegian counterparts. While their opinions may strengthen and differences level out as teens accumulate more life experience, it could be that we are witnessing the subtle shift towards “what’s next” as we begin to approach the tail-end of the Millennial generation.

According to Neil Howe of Lifecourse Associates, there are four major generational archetypes (Prophets, Nomads, Heroes and Artists) that cyclically work their way through American society. Millennials represent the Hero archetype, briefly described by Neil within a Casey Research interview as follows:

Hero generations are usually protectively raised as kids. They come of age at a time of emergency or Crisis and become known as young adults for helping society resolve the Crisis, hopefully successfully. Once the Crisis is resolved, they become institutionally powerful in midlife and remain focused on outer-world challenges and solutions. In their old age, they are greeted by a spiritual Awakening, a cultural upheaval fired by the young. This is the typical life story of a Hero generation.

After the Hero archetype comes the Artist archetype. Artist generations have a very different location in history — they are the children of the Crisis. For Hero generations, child protection rises from first cohort to last. By the time Artists come along, child protection reaches suffocating levels. Artists come of age as young adults during the post-Crisis era, when conformity seems like the best path to success, and they tend to be collectively risk averse. Artists see themselves as providing the expertise and refinement that can both improve and adorn the enormous new institutional innovations that have been forged during the Crisis. They typically experience a cultural Awakening in midlife, and their lives speed up as the culture transforms.

Calling the break-point between generations is an imprecise task. Using the descriptions above, one might reasonably assert that the crisis event for the Millennials was either 9/11, the financial crisis, or both. Depending on where the lines are drawn, the generation that follows the Millennials are either approaching the age of 9 or are just learning how to read. Admittedly, Neil Howe himself would say that members of the generation that follows the Millennials (he’s tentatively calling them the “Homeland Generation” or, more simply, “Homelanders”) were born in 2004. The lines of demarcation between generations aren’t neat and tidy, so we can expect to see some issues shift prior to others as the next generation clearly emerges.

While last year’s election victory had much to do with the empowerment and activation of the youth vote, each generation defines itself in sharp contrast to the preceding one. While we see trends across so many categories that are consistent between teens and collegians, we’re eagerly looking to identify and measure the next inter-generational rift.

About Dan

Dan brings two decades of experience in technology and survey research to the Ypulse team. Based in New York, Dan is a veteran within the online research space. Prior to joining the Ypulse team, Dan was co-founder of SurveyU, drove exceptional growth as Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Polimetrix (acquired in December 2006 by YouGov PLC), served as Vice President of Surveys and Samples at SPSS and was a co-founder of PlanetFeedback.com, an ASP-based consumer affairs portal that rewrote the rules of consumer to business interaction. (PlanetFeedback was merged with Intelliseek and subsequently acquired in January 2006 by Nielsen Buzzmetrics). Dan spent the first decade of his career developing cutting edge research practices and methods on behalf of Burke Marketing, Millward Brown Interactive and the Angus Reid Group, enabling companies to develop online marketing insight.

For more campus coverage, visit the Ypulse Campus Channel, sponsored by Campus Media Group.

For those who haven't heard the Parent Television Council's most recent case against the primetime teen soap, here are some quotes from PTC president printed in the Boston Globe:

"Airing the teen tryst, which is being teased in an ad as a '3SOME,' is 'reckless and irresponsible,' said PTC president Tim Winter in a statement Wednesday… Winter asked: 'Will [the CW] now be complicit in establishing a precedent and expectation that teenagers should engage in behaviors heretofore associated primarily with adult films?'"

This isn't the first time the watchdog group has come out against GG for a racy marketing campaign, and it isn't the first time a catchy pop song has made sexual experimentation no big deal (see Anastasia's post on "I Kissed A Girl"). The difference here is between same sex lip locks, the general hyper-sexualized tone of "Gossip Girl" and a more dubious type of adult behavior that for most teens isn't under consideration. Threesomes are less based in the reality of teen sexuality (exploring possible lifestyle choices, raging hormones, etc.), and more a step towards the  "Porn Normal" phenomenon we've discussed here before with porn staples sneaking into mainstream pop culture.

Does that mean the PTC is taking the right tact against the issue? I'm not so sure. Assuming that a combination of textspeak (ugh..3SOME) and one steamy scene will instantly normalize the act of having sex with two people at once among teens is how these things get overblown on the scale of "sexting" or more outrageous outliers like "rainbow parties." It simplifies the real danger here that lies in contributing to a skewed definition of "sexy" that's already being pushed on teens elsewhere by our culture. While that might not directly lead to threesomes, it could be damaging for girls with low self-esteem and/or guys who think sex in whatever form is what they're "supposed" to be doing. To reduce that complex situation into a suggestion that young people are too impressionable to handle seeing fictional characters engage in sex, won't lead to a productive discussion — in the media or among parents brave enough to broach the topic with teens (would not want to be a fly on that living room wall). In both contexts, I think it's important to not cloak the topic in shame and taboo, but rather in the frame of normal sexual urges, fantasies and the underlying, troubling factors that may be at play like the objectification of women or the repercussions of indulging in this behavior in reality.

The other reason I'm skeptical of the whole finger-wagging approach comes from  the allure it ends up creating. The last time the council butted heads over material deemed inappropriate on "Gossip Girl" with the series of "OMFG" ads, The CW marketing team ended up using the criticism as marketing fodder (pictured here). Like sexy R-rated movies with overt teen appeal (anyone remember "Cruel Intentions"?) or actual porn, the more illicit the content is made out to be, the stronger the appeal and the motivation to seek it out. That said, who wants to bet that even if the episode does get pulled, we'll end up seeing it "leaked" on the web and/or popping up as an uncensored version on DVD with even more teen viewers clamoring to find out what all the fuss was about? Ypulse readers, what's your take?

- Kids menus grow up (as younger palettes become more sophisticated with the help of mom and dad. Plus Independent Toy Retailers releases a list of the best toys for kids And apps for kids and the iPhone moms that will download/pay for them) (Boston Globe) (CNN)

- Mickey comes to Shanghai (After more than a decade, Beijing has approved plans to build a Disney theme park in Shanghai) (Los Angeles Times)

-Generation Y teachers (want to see an incentive-based pay scale that rewards high performing teachers. Plus tips on creating an IT policy for Gen Y workers) (The Bay City Times) (Computer Weekly)

- Stressed tweens (may absorb more anxiety than parents realize. According to a new national survey released today by the American Psychological Association stress related to family finances has a greater impact on young people than parents believe. Plus, in difficult times, modeling agencies report an increase in child applicants) (CBS News)

- YMCA's Global Teens (premieres videos produced by teen volunteers to share stories of their service abroad)

- Jaroo.com (Cookie Jar entertainment launches Hulu for cartoons. Plus Nickelodeon debuts 'Gigantic' a half-hour dramedy following a Hollywood "it" kid) (Variety)

- PBS Kids launches writers contest (to encourage kids to write and illustrate their own stories)

- More on Gen Y's banking needs (and the difference in generational preferences with financial services)

- Gawker TV (launches today featuring "TV highlights, mashups, viral web video — all the things we know are popular from the main Gawker.com site" says founder Nick Denton) (Business Insider)