Ypulse Essentials: 'Secret Life' Outdoes 'Gossip Girl,' Inside The World Of Trolls, Grandparents Love Texting

Pitfalls of popularity (While "Gossip Girl" is one of the most buzzed about shows on TV, '"Secret Life of the American Teen" has significantly more viewers. Could it be that wholesome "Secret Life" is appealing to TV watching Disney tweens while "Gossip Girl" appeals to older teens/college students who watch online? Thanks Becki! Plus more "backlash" [buzz building] press for GG from Reuters) (The Live Feed)

- Inside the world of online trolls (big cyberbullying story in this Sunday's New York Times Mag, reg. required. Plus the top 5 most offensive video games) (Edugames via Izzy Neis)

- Inter-generational texting (even seniors are taking advantage of text messaging - "what r u ^ 2 grandma?") (Washington Post, reg. required)

- Organizing online (youth activists tap the web to organize for immigrant rights. And danah boyd asks Can Social Networking Sites Enable Political Action? in an essay that's part of a new book called Rebooting Democracy.) (Wiretap)

- Youth and Obama supporters are leading the online charge (in this year's election. And Luke Russert [son of late journalist Tim Russert] will cover the youth beat at the conventions) (MarketingVOX) (Broadcasting & Cable)

- Identity cannibals (girls who admire idols to the point of losing their own identities) (The Age)

- Back-to-school spending (kids want DIY fashion, online steals, penny deals and anything endorsed by tween stars) (AZ Central)

- In advertising, thin is still in (despite the controversy surrounding skinny models, they are much more effect when it comes down to selling - well, selling everything except sweets and self-esteem) (Ad Age, reg. required)

- Hating on hipsters ("is the current cool/hipster/youth culture just an empty mash of previous cultures?") (PSFK)

- Defining Gen X and Gen Y(while Generation X is defined by their "Self-mocking detachment," Gen Y is characterized by their sincere interaction to change society. Plus, 7 reasons why twentysomethings are more productive than other eras) (Daily Texan) (Penelope Trunk)

- Setting a new tech agenda (key difference between Gen X and Y is that X uses technology to support a "lifestyle need" while tech is "embedded into everything Gen Yers do")

- Exaggeration in study of teen dating violence (remember that report about violence in teen dating a month ago?? Turns out it may have been a little flawed) (Live Science)

- Radiohead fans… (like illegal P2P vs. free legal music. And the Senate passes college funding bill with P2P provisions) (ArsTechnica)

P.S. A reader wrote in response to yesterday's action sports Ypulse Toolbox: "I don't think that very many in our pretty little piece of Suburbia, Hamilton Sq., NJ, know much about the radical undertaking… or maybe over taking? of our community by the extreme sports scene. But I just found out, through a friend of mine, that there's been a hxc scene here for quite some time, and it's now exploding into something huge."

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.