CosmoGIRL! Goes 'There' (the first teen mag to dip a toe into virtual worlds chooses There as its partner. Plus The BBC launches a beta version of its virtual world for kids) (press release) (via Izzy Neis)

- CW orders full season of 'Gossip Girl' (has anyone else been noticing Serena's loose ponytail hairstyle on teen girls everywhere?) (Hollywood Reporter)

- iPods @ school (The New York Times, reg. required, on how they are being used to teach languages. Plus Piper Jaffray says 3 percent of students own iPhones while Gizmodo wonders how that is possible)

- Josten's gets hip (teams up with Dereon, Baby Phat, Phat Farm and Banneker, Nike and Lacoste to offer a collection of "unique products")

- Muslim Barbie (she has the same measurements, just covered up!) (Reuters)

- More on teen hugging (this "trend" cracks me up. Maybe all of the time and emphasis on digital communication and friends is leading to a need for real physical contact. Ironically the "trend" is spreading via the internet...) (Detroit Free Press)

- Channel One (wants students to take action - thanks Jodi! Takkle launches Sports Illustrated high school rankings - thanks Jeff! and Imbee teams with National Geographic - thanks Tim!)

- Twin tween skateboarding stars (Nic and Tristan Puehse. Give them a Disney show now!) (ABC News)

- MySpace dips its toe into ARGs (alternate reality games with "Hope is Missing" to promote the VOD release of the movie "Head Trauma.")

Update: Tonia emailed in response to the item on "teen hugging" to say: I was really surprised the first time that my son brought home high-school age friends-who-are-girls and they all hugged me when I introduced myself. (I would NEVER have hugged one of my friends' parents). I thought the hugging was particular to that specific group of girls (they're very nice and friendly in other ways, too) but maybe it's part of this bigger trend, which then might extend beyond them just hugging each other? I'm all for it -- I'll take all the hugs I can get!

Posted by anastasia