USA Weekend -Ask Dennie

Issue Date: May 3, 2009

Ask columnist Dennie Hughes your question
Embarrassing online photos

My friends and I posted very embarrassing video footage one night after too many drinks. I'm graduating soon and worried it could resurface, especially because I know that human resources people are doing Web searches about potential candidates. What can I do about this?
P.M., North Carolina

Heavy sigh. Marriage and family therapist Karen Child Ogden says about a third of young adults ages 20 to 26 and 20% of teens have sent or posted naked or semi-naked photos and/or videos of themselves without thinking there could be consequences. That's especially likely when fueled by drugs or alcohol.

Many think they are safe because they are not actually identified. But all it takes is one person to recognize you and bring it to a current or potential employer's attention. And with today's job market so tough, it could be a deal-breaker between you and another candidate.

Although Ogden says there are ways you can minimize the damage (e.g., if a friend has the video posted on his sites, get him to remove it), I have a better idea: Launch a great offense so that this video "oops" moment doesn't have to put you on the defensive down the road. Fill your Facebook, MySpace and other personal sites full of great things you're doing. Start volunteering and blog about it. Remove any sexy pics and put up some travel shots instead.

Bottom line: Make it so the first info that comes up in a Google search is a great reflection of you.

www.usaweekend.com/09_issues/090503/090503relationtips-embarrassing-picture.html

Photos from Baby/Tween Celebration, Los Angeles

A great event for tweens! If you didn't attend this year, GO NEXT YEAR! Radio Disney was on hand along with tween celebrities like Aria Wallace, who stars as Roxy Hunter in Nickelodeon's hit TV series, and who appears in iCarly.

Danielle & Aria with our third book, Don't Hit Send Just To Fit In


Danielle & I with our publicist Kara Birkenstock

Kevin & Taylor, The Fish Atlanta Radio

Listen to Kevin & Taylor in the morning on 104.7FM in Atlanta. They interview me on the topic of cyber bullying. www.thefishatlanta.com.

Thanks Kevin & Taylor!

Your Time With Kim-April 15

I was invited to join Kim Iverson again on her radio program 'Your Time With Kim' for her "Lifeline" show where listeners call in to ask questions about their teens and technology. Listen to the program on Kim's website www.yourtimewithkim.com.

Thanks Kim!

Find us in Los Angeles April 25-26 at the Baby & Tween Celebration

Danielle and I will appear at the Baby & Tween Celebration at the Los Angeles Convention Center April 25-26th. Look for The Temptation Series booth near the Rockin' Lollipop Tween Lounge. Purchase our books, pick up tips and resources for parents, and fantastic give-a-ways for tweens. We'd love to meet you!



www.seascapeproductions.com

Chikii Woman to Woman-Cyber Bullying

Danielle appeared in a fantastic segment on the website Chikii Woman to Woman about Cyber Bullying. Watch Danielle at www.chikii.com

Mark Twain Middle School-Los Angeles, CA, February 25

Danielle and I were invited to Mark Twain Middle School in Los Angeles to present to students and their parents on the issue of Cyber Bullying and other issues relating to technology and tweens. What a fantastic faculty, group of parents and teens! After a brief presentation on Cyber Bullying in the headlines, Danielle read with the kids our latest book Don't Hit Send Just To Fit In then had a "Positive Party" in which they took turns giving and receiving positive feedback..illustrating the fact that positive words are always better than negative ones. What a powerful exercise!

I spoke with parents about the effects of pornography, cell phone use and cyber bullying on kids and offered tips to help keep their families safe. I learned quite a bit from savvy parents about the things they are already doing to protect. Thank you Mark Twain and keep up the good work!

KSL Television Salt Lake City, March 5 - Cyber Bullying

For our third visit to KSL's Studio 5 in Salt Lake City we took on the issue of Cyber Bullying. Watch the interview on www.temptationseries.com, and visit www.studio5ksl.com for signs that your child may be cyber bullied or even a cyber bully. Thank you Brooke and Darin and Studio 5!

Park City TV, Wednesday March 4

Danielle and I were interviewed by host Ori Hoffer on Park City TV's Mountain Views evening program Wednesday, March 4th on the issue of Cyber Bullying, our tweens and the technology that we both love and hate. Watch for the video posted on www.temptationseries.com.

Thank you Ori and Park City TV!

The Parent's Hour with Arline Kerman February 20

Listen in today at 1pm Pacific Time to the Parent's Hour with Arline Kerman to hear about cyber bullying and what to look for in your child's behavior. www.georgiachildcustody.com and click on The Parent's Hour link.

OC Family How to Tame a Tantrum-Article

I was invited to comment on toddler behavior in writer Ashley Eliot's article on tantrums. Read her informative article. Thank you Ashley and OC Family...a great Orange County resource.

www.ocfamily.com/t-EarlyYears_terrible_twos_tantrum_coping0209.aspx

Temptation Series in 'Three Different Directions' Blog

Thanks to all of you who have written about us in your blogs. Check out the latest blogger to review our third book, Don't Hit Send Just To Fit In.

www.threedifferentdirections.blogspot.com/2009/02/dont-hit-send-just-to-fit-in-review.html

"Is Your Child Sexting" - OC Family Radio

The fantastic Orange County publication OC Family recently launched it's own daily radio program. I was invited to converse on the topic of "sexting" with Kim Porrazzo, Chief Content Officer for Churm Media and OC Family and Vicki Courtney, founder of Virtuous Reality Ministries and author of numerous books.

Listen to our interview www.blogtalkradio.com/OC-Family-Radio

Your Time With Kim-December 23rd

I was interviewed today on Kim Iverson's program, Your Time With Kim out of Austin, Texas. We chatted about cyber bullying, cell phones and internet pornography and their effect on tweens. Check out her website and blog www.yourtimewithkim.com www.blogs.radiotown.com/timewithkim/2008/12/23/karen-child-ogden-cyber-bullying/. Thanks Kim!!

Every Day with Marcus & Lisa

We were invited to appear on Every Day with Marcus & Lisa on Family Net TV. Marcus & Lisa are fantastic hosts and are married with three daughters. We had a great time with them challenging them to the Text Talk Quiz, and talking about today's teen technology challenges.

Our interview will be posted shortly.

Dr. Fitness & The Fat Guy - December 11th

We were in studio again with our favorites...Dr. Fitness & The Fat Guy. The topic was texting, cell phones and cyber bullying, and as always the interview was entertaining and full of laughs.

Listen to our interview. They've got great daily tips to staying fit, trim and healthy.
http://drfitnessblog.com/2008/12/15/wake-up-parents-danielle-tiano-karen-child-ogden-educate-parents-about-the-dangers-of-cell-phones-the-internet-and-social-networking-websites/

Communication 360 Radio - November 21st

All about bullying.

I was invited to take part in an interview/discussion about bullying by Communication 260's hosts Philip and Lisa Mumford. Passionate about the topic, Philip and Lisa had their own family challenges with a bully. It was a great conversation about what schools and parents can do to curb the bully growing bully problem. Listen to the interview on their site www.c360today.com

Two Radio Interviews, One Day - November 17

What a pleasure to do two radio programs in one morning. The topic is Cyber-Bullying, a very serious topic affecting kids today.

The first with Kevin Taylor of Magic KLYK-FM radio in Washington, and the second with Marsha Raye of KWYR radio in South Dakota.

Thank you to you both, and kudos for bringing this problem to the forefront.

BONNIE RADIO-Long Island, NY -November 7

Danielle was interviewed by Bonnie Graham of Long Island on her radio program Up Close & Personal. Bonnie is a fantastic interviewer and host. Visit Bonnie on line at www.am1240wgbb.com or www.bonnietv.com

November 5 - Michael Ray Dresser Radio Show

Danielle is interviewed on the Michael Ray Dresser Radio Show "Dresser After Dark."

Check Michael's website to listen to her interview

www.michaelraydresserradioshow.com or www.DresserAfterDark.com

Kudos to Kaiser School PFO

Danielle and I spoke to parents at Kaiser Elementary School in Costa Mesa, CA October 15th. Organized by the schools parent organization (PFO), we were pleased to meet such concerned parents interested in protecting their children. A great school, parent organization, and parents. Thank you Kaiser!

Home Team with Julie Hanks on KJZZ TV, October 13

I appeared on KJZZ TV's Home Team program with Julie De Azevedo Hanks, LCSW to discuss the issue of pornography and its effects on our families, children and teens. The show was dedicated to the topic and featured Rory Reid, LCSW who is an expert in treating addiction, and Bernie Anderson, a pastor who wrote the book, Breaking the Silence about his own struggles with pornography. It was a great program and I was pleased to be a part of it. Thank you Julie!

Radio Hour with Rick Barber 850 KOA in Denver

One of the best radio hosts and interviews I've done. Rick Barber is a seasoned professional and well-versed on many topics, even those he claimed not to know anything about such as text messaging lingo.

I had the pleasure of speaking with a concerned caller and father about the issue of cyber-bullying and it's effects on our children. We should all be so concerned. Please look up the Megan Meier Foundation website www.meganmeierfoundation.org. Megan was the teen who took her life due to cyber-bullying done by an adult posing as a 13-year old boy named Josh. What a beautiful girl and such a tragedy.

Visit www.ikeepsafe.org, a new Temptation of a Generation partner, for parent guides to Facebook, MySpace and other important information. View the series of Public Service Announcements (PSA's) on cyber-bullying. Also, YouTube the word cyber-bullying to view videos of all those who have taken their lives due this insidious epidemic.

www.netlingo.com is a site dedicated to decyphering the secret code used by teens and adults in texting and instant messaging.

Thank you Rick Barber for having me on the program! It was a pleasure. Visit his website to listen to the podcast.

www.koaradio.com/pages/shows_barber.html

Our thid and final book in the series on the topic of cyber-bullying, 'Don't Hit Send Just To Fit In' will be availiable in December on Amazon.com and www.beyondyourwords.com.

St. John's Episcopal School

We spoke to the parents and students at St. John's Episcopal School today about tweens, technology and the dangers today's kids face. What a magnificent school in its beauty and in the values they espouse. After a discussion in the schools state-of-the-art technology lab with the parents, Danielle read the Temptation books to groups of 7th and 8th-graders and facilitated a discussion. Oh, what our kids can teach us! The students were respectful and mature and only giggled a little :). Both the parents and children were delightful.

The school is on the cutting edge of technology and communication with it's students, parents and the community...and they are brave enough to talk about and tackle the tough issues their students face. Kudos to Mrs. H and to St. John's Episcopal School.

Fairmont Schools Expo

Temptation of a Generation was featured at the Fairmont Schools Health and Wellness expo Tuesday, August 19th. Fairmont Schools are one of Orange County's premier private schools with six campuses ranging from preschool through grade 12. They are on the ball with educating about Internet safety and have hosted workshops for parents and faculty on the topic. Kudos to Fairmont!

Danielle - Kids Love Her!

Danielle reads for the kids. Kids and kids-at-heart love this woman!

Read Our Amazon Reviews!

Our books are getting rave reviews from parents, educators, clergy and even teems about their importance and relavence in this technology-driven world. Here are a few of what our readers from across the country had to say...
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A Guide for Teenage Girls!, July 25, 2008
By Tasha

This book was amazing! I have friends, whom like me, love to text back and forth to each other. This book really made me think..phones of our generation are really taking over our lives! I also thought it would be a great idea to share this book with my friends and hope they can be helped and guided in the right direction! I look around in my classes and soo many people are hiding their phones and texting and playing games. They aren't learning anything!! They are totally missing out on life! This book is a 100% must get and teenaged girls should talk to their friends more than texting them.

I mean..a friendship can't grow by just texting and I am starting to figure that out. Friendship should be on commumication between one another and trust and honesty. This book is a guide to better friendship and trust to me and will help our girl generation. I mean, high school year for me is very hard, but this book brightens everything!
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Not just for children, June 30, 2008
By David Rosenman

What a fabulous book.
The timing is perfect with the new cell phone laws in California.
Parents have an excuse to sit down and discuss the new law as well as bring up the content of this book and use it to their advantage.

Danielle is a visionary who breaches the subject of technology, peer pressure and the difference between a need and a want!

The book was written for children, the message is crucial to children and adults, alike.

I applaud you!

David
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An middle school educator says THANK YOU!, June 29, 2008
By Rachel C. Hegner "Rachel" (Chicago, IL)

A friend passed this book along knowing I interact with tweens all day long. As a middle school teacher this book has helped me in countless ways. Whether our generation chooses to believe it or not, the generation I am helping to empower is calling out for help! They need to know that the devices (computer, cell phones, etc) that initially seem harmless can have a gripping effect on them. This story is simple and deep. A reader gets the message immediately. I love the positive encouragement to stand out and be different - my students need to be reminded of this daily! Thanks for another medium to convey the dangers lurking all around these children. A job well done by ALL a heartfelt thank you from a middle school teacher.

My interview with Sandee and Clint - August 5th

I was on the Sandee and Clint radio show today on station 1220 WKRS out of Illinois. They are a married couple who have a great sense of humor. It was an informal fun interview on the issue of pornography in relationships. Time flew....we need a part II.

Check them out at www.1220wkrs.com. You can listen live on the web each weekday from 12-1 CST.

The interview will be posted to the Temptation website at www.temptationseries.com

The Parent's Hour - July 18th

It was a pleasure to wake early this morning to be interviewed by Arline Kerman, family law attorney and radio host from Georgia. Her program is called The Parent's Hour and is a full hour dedicated to topics of interest to parents and families. She is an accomplished, passionate woman and fantastic interviewer.

Listen to the interview on www.theparentshour.com. Click 'CONTENT LIBRARY' then scroll down to our interview on July 18th. The interview will also be archived and added to the Temptation of a Generation website.

On The Radio in Atlanta with Dr. Fitness & the Fat Guy

We met the coolest guys in radio at the publicity summit in NYC. Adam Shafran and Lee Kantor host the radio show Dr. Fitness and the Fat Guy out of Atlanta on health topics and all sorts of good stuff (like porn :). They invited us to be on the show in February. We enjoyed these guys so much that we decided to fly to Atlanta to do the interview in person. These gentlemen are quality guys and absolutely hilarious. Our interview is posted on the Temptation website. What a riot!

We left having done the best ab workout ever...laughing so hard it hurt. Check them out www.drfitnessandthefatguy.com.