ym360 Trends and Culture Update (Vol 9)

At ym360, we're committed to equipping youth workers. While most of our energy is dedicated to doing this in the areas of Bible Study Resources and Training, we believe it's valuable for youth workers and parents to stay in the loop on what is happening in youth culture and culture in general. (Read why we think it's important here.) A couple times a month, we'll do a post like this one, where we link to relevant articles and studies that give you a better glimpse into the world teenagers are living in. We'd love to know that we're not just equipping you, but those you serve, as well. Consider using this article to equip your community in the following ways:

• Email this link to your adult volunteers
• Repost it on your blog or church website
• Email the link to all your parents to help equip them to better understand their teen's world

Without further ado, here are some relevant links we think you should know about.

Some Social Media News

• Here's a list of the top Twitter trends last week, courtesy of Mashable. The top 5, in case you're wondering: Britney Spears, Super Bowl XLV, Lady GaGa Justin Bieber, and UFC.
• A new social network that aims to be a Facebook for children between the ages of 8-13 launched yesterday. And schools, brands and investors are already on board.
• Wow! An incredible infographic on photo usage and Facebook. 6 Billion photos uploaded each month! Incredible.

A Glance At Recent Research

• An International Journal of Obesity study shows that teenagers couldn't care less about calories when it comes to ordering food.
• San Francisco high schoolers hold an HIV testing day. What did you do when you were in high school?
• Long a nuisance to anyone trying to teach a small group of 7th grade boys, now a study shows that teenage bodies can't handle the caffeine in most energy drinks.
• This one's pretty straightforward: study shows that teenagers who own dogs are more likely to be active.

The World of Youth-Culture & Entertainment

• This is genius. And maybe the best "school themed" use of a smart phone ever. For teens writing papers, this app will scan a barcode and email you the bibliographical citation. Where was this when I was in grad school?
• The Parents Television Council continues to lead the charge against the sponsors of MTV's television show "Skins." However, they have come under attack lately for being stodgy, outdated, and politically motivated.
• Billy Ray Cyrus bears his soul in a GQ interview. Most of what he says is that Disney destroyed his family. And he manages to blame all of Miley's issues on other people. This, to me, is a classic commentary on the worst tendencies of 21st century American parents. I could go on a rant. I won't . . .
• I know you probably already have one, but the new Justin Bieber comic book is out.
• Billboard Hot 100 measures the most popular songs for the last 7 days across all genres according to radio play, online purchases, and impressions. It's a good gauge of what music is really the most popular at any one time. The top 5 for this week: "Black and Yellow," by Wiz Khalifa; "Grenade," by Bruno Mars; "Firework," by Katy Perry; "F**kin' Perfect," by Pink [yes . . . that's the song title. Sigh . . .]; and "I Need a Doctor," by Dr. Dre featuring Eminem.

That's it for this edition of the ym360 Trends & Culture report. Look for another one the week of March 2nd.

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Any specific study or link stand out to you? Disagree with anything? Let us know by sharing your thoughts below.