There’s a new social network site for kids – thought up by an 11 year old! Source: Shutterstock.com

Well, it’s maybe not such a crazy notion because that’s basically what Zachary Marks did. And oh, did I mention that he is ELEVEN?! A potential mini-Zuckerberg in the making here, people!

The site is called GromSocial.com and is for users 6-15 years old (plus parents, and other adults that parents can approve to join). It’s aligned with national safety regulations regarding kids’ privacy on the Internet, and there are nearly 7,000 members using the site.

Okay so, from what I can tell it’s not like Zachary has built this site from the ground up all alone (a whole host of adults make up the Grom Social Team), but STILL! Based on the “Grom Social Story” page it sounds like he’s been really involved in the process to make this site that covers a ton of topics from sports to peer pressure.

The basic lesson from this story is that Zachary is much better than me at technology. I wouldn’t even know where to start if I even had an idea for a social network site. I can barely use the ones we have now! It took me forever to understand how to do that thing on Facebook where you can tag your friends in posts – and I am currently getting my master’s degree in web-based technology. Get it together, Meghan!

In all seriousness, I’m always amazed by how tech savvy kids are these days, but I also am a big proponent of online safety and it worries me that some younger kids don’t totally know how to navigate social networks safely. In the Grom Social Story, Zachary himself admits he made a few unsafe social networking decisions back when he was a user on different site, like sending friend requests to adult strangers. Big uh oh.

Social media is a big part of our culture now, but it is also really something you need to learn how to use safely and responsibly. I hope a site like Grom Social can help younger kids learn and share in the cool things about social networks, but in a safe way that also educates them about social networking dos and don’ts.

In the mean time, let me go back to cruising around Facebook now and feeling like a failure for not coming up with my own social network. Sigh, maybe one day…

Would you ever want to launch your own social networking site? Do you think we need more education about online safety for kids? Tell us in the comments.

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Social media has a special place in our hearts. Source: ShutterStock

The amount of time that I spent on Facebook in my dorm room instead of studying probably could have gotten me an honorary degree in college. I’m kidding – I did study a lot, but it’s true that social media was a big part of my college experience.

So while all I got in college because of Facebook was less sleep than I should have, some students at Newberry College in South Carolina will actually going to get course credit for getting their social media skills on.

Newberry is introducing a social media major and minor for the Fall 2013 semester. According to the school, the social media curriculum is going to be made up of a bunch of classes from all different departments (ranging from business to psychology), plus a few newbie classes just for this program. Seems pretty sweet, right?

I was a journalism major, and I really, really wish I wish I had more experience with social media in college. I don’t know if I would have necessarily switched my major to one entirely focused on it, but social media skills are a big plus – not just in journalism, but a lot of different fields. Think about it – probably nearly all the companies or businesses you can think of have a Facebook page these days.

In my experience, using social media in your job requires different approach than you would use with your personal profile. I definitely feel that learning those strategies has a place in the classroom, and it’s cool (and useful) that it seems like students will get to think about social media from a bunch of angles with such a variety of classes.

According to the Huffington Post piece where I first read the news, some people have expressed that they’re a little dubious about if this new major is a good idea. Is it something that will be useful for graduates or is it just trying to be hip and trendy for the young, techie crowd?

I don’t think I have to tell you guys how fast technology changes (guys, I remember a time before email, let alone Facebook), but to me, it seems the school has really considered the demands that will be on them to stay up to date in order to make this degree and experience a worthwhile one for students. When a local news station interviewed Newberry associate professor Tania Sosiak (who designed the major), she said: “Each semester the technology is new, so the textbook is obsolete, so I’m challenged, as well as all the other professors.”

We’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out, but let the record show that as it stands now, I “like” this bit of news (click!).

Would you ever consider a major in social media? What sorts of skills do you think a major in social media would provide? Speaking of which, have you checked out the Gurl social media pages lately? Tell us in the comments!

What Do You REALLY Do With Your Parents On Facebook?

And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

Tomb Raider

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Until this version of Tomb Raider, Lara Croft was little more than a pinup with some cool weapons and a knack for finding treasure and kicking some serious tail. There’s nothing wrong with any of that, but she was kind of an emotionless ice queen, so it was hard to really relate to her, wasn’t it? Well, good news, gamer gurls! Lara gets human in the latest installment, showing remorse when she slays a wolf (she feels bad, but had to survive somehow) and fear when she’s captured and has to fend for herself alone. We think the fact that she shows some fear makes her even more of a hero. Also, not gonna lie–we’re pretty stoked that she’s wearing actual pants. One of the best video games of 2012? DUH!

Mario Party 9

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First off, let it sink in that this is the ninth installment of Mario Party. How old do you feel? Now that that’s out of the way (sorry!), let’s get to the good stuff. First off, we love that there are three female characters (Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, and the too-adorable Birdo). Second, this is one of the best video games to play at a party, because you not only get to beat one another, but also work together to beat boss characters. Third, this has something for every one of your friends–from the experienced, skilled gamer to the n00b button masher, different levels will appeal to different players. The best part? The randomness of the dice feature levels the playing field somewhat: If you have one clearly skilled friend who’s opening a can of whoop ass on everyone and getting too cocky, a roll of the dice can cost them a lot of their game loot… So you can chuckle at them. Not that you would, because you’re a good sport.

Street Fighter x Tekken

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Two of the best fighting games ever joining forces? Sign us up. The action in Street Fighter x Tekken is frenetic but fluid, with new combos, awesome tag team battles, new characters, and innovative new game modes. The almost infinite combinations of fighters and modes make it near impossible for this game to get stale. Also fun? New assets called gems, which can increase health and defense levels or give you autoblocks and evades if you snatch them. Did we mention there’s a T-rex? Seriously, look at all the amazing going on in this screenshot. Hadouken!

Mass Effect 3

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Considering Mass Effect and its sequel were two of the best games ever made (seriously, like, ever), Mass Effect 3 is an absolute must-play for gaming fans and continues the stellar legacy of its predecessors. You’re saving Earth from reapers, but you’re also making a ton of decisions that have a ripple effect on all the action in the game’s universe–you have to get other civilizations who are fighting with one another to join forces to help you defeat the common enemy. If we can get global leaders in a room to play this, we may achieve world peace. Or at least a bunch of high fives.

Kingdom Hearts 3D

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For those of you who like fighting evil but also dig the innocence of your favorite cartoons, Kingdom Hearts 3D is right up your alley. There are dramatic story lines, subplots, minigames (slots, slots, slots slots slot slots, everybody!), and Mickey Mouse. It also maintains the RPG feel that longtime fans of SquareEnix classics love so much, while incorporating use of the Nintendo DS touch screen for special attacks. The portability is awesome, too, because admit it–how many times have you been late to class because you were up late the night before trying to kill a boss character? Now you can save and get back to business on the bus to school!

What’s your favorite video game? Which games are you looking forward to most this year? What would you put on your list of the best video games of 2012? What’s your favorite console? Do you have any of your own gaming tips? Share ‘em with us in the comments!

Want A Sneak Peek Behind The Scenes With The Sims? We Got You!

Check out these amazing nostalgic dolls, from Telephone Tammy to adorable little Cupcake Dolls. Can we go back in time?!

Jewel Hair Mermaid Barbie

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There are too many Barbies to name from the ’90s, so I had to settle for a few favorites. And what could be better than a mermaid Barbie who also has sparkly stars in her hair? Plus, her fin came off!

Polly Pocket

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Polly Pockets were without a doubt one of the best toys ever created. These tiny worlds for tiny dolls were way too much fun for anyone’s good.

Blossom Dolls

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Blossom was, in my opinion, one of the best TV shows to come out of the ’90s. So, obviously, all Blossom fans had a Blossom doll and a Joey Russo doll. I mean, how could you not?

Baby All Gone

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This doll amazed me when I was younger. You fed her, and her food disappeared! It really looked like she drank her milk! It was like having a real, live baby! Except, not so much.

Telephone Tammy

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Chatting with Tammy on the phone was totally normal. She said cute things, like ‘Let’s go shopping!’ and ‘I love you!’.

Glitter Hair Barbie

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Only one of the coolest Barbies ever (just look at those neon clothes), this doll came with a glitter brush to style her hair into whatever glittery mess you wanted. Plus, you could even put it in YOUR hair.

Mommy’s Having A Baby

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This doll came with a tiny little baby doll in her tummy. Um, amazing? Yes. Once she gave birth, you could weigh her and even fill out her own birth certificate.

Sally Secrets

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Sally Secret came with stickers AND stamps that you found hidden all over her… like in her shoes, coming out of her belly – pretty much amazing.

Miss. Party Surprise

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You might not be able to tell in this pic, but these late ’90s dolls had a little secret: their skirts opened up to reveal tons of little accessories! Way too much fun.

Fairy Winkles

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These were kind of similar to Polly Pockets, except they were fairies instead of tiny people. So, obviously totally different.

Cupcake Dolls

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These were what little girl’s dreams are made of: dolls and cupcakes, all in one. They might have looked like a giant, yummy cupcake, but once you flipped them over, they were mini Southern belles!

Lil Miss Mermaid

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When I was little, my ultimate goal in life was to be a mermaid. So obviously Lil Miss Mermaid was always by my side. When you pushed her chest, she sang!

Magic Nursery Babies

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This baby was literally magic. When you put her nightie in water, it revealed if it was a boy or a girl. And 1 out of 36 got TWINS!

Sky Dancers

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They seem kind of pointless now, but the coolest thing abut them back then was that they flew… kind of.

Totally Ultra Hair Barbie

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This Barbie was fun, because she had so much hair, you could literally do anything to it. Plus, her dress was pretty awesome.

Quints

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Quints were really tiny little baby dolls that came with cute accessories. That was pretty much all there was to them – but you got 5 of them!

Dr. Ken

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Let’s admit it: Ken dolls were mainly around to keep Barbie company on her many wild adventures. But Dr. Ken, with his tiny patient Tommy, was a little bit more necessary in Barbie land.

Spice Girls Dolls

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You couldn’t be a real fan of the Spice Girls if you didn’t own at least one set of the dolls. That’s all.

Krystal Princess

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These were also kind of similar to Polly Pockets, except much bigger and they could also be made to look like snow globes with floating crystals. Oh, ’90s.

Blossom Beauty Barbie

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This Barbie was magical, because the flowers appeared on her dress once you pulled a string. And there was glitter!

Which was your favorite? Which of these dolls did you own? Did we forget anything? Tell us in the comments!

Check out these awesome ’90s tech toys!

So we decided to get nostalgic here at Gurl and look back on the ’90s version of tech toys. Now, they might not be as hi-tech as the Apple products of today, but that doesn’t mean kids didn’t play with these things for hours on end. In fact, these old-school toys might even be better than an iPad…

Check ‘em out, and then tell us your faves:

Hit Clips

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Before there were iPods, there were Hit Clips. Okay, so maybe you could only play 1 minute of your fave songs, but these things were still pretty awesome. And they were so tiny!

Password Journal

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The original Password Journal was super popular back in the ’90s. I loved mine, but I’m not gonna lie… it usually took about a million times before it recognized my voice and password.

Nickelodeon Alarm Clock

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Who wouldn’t want to wake up to a Nickelodeon alarm clock? This screams ’90s.

Video Now

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This was the original VideoNow player. It only played a 30 minute tape, but it didn’t matter because you could watch your favorite shows wherever you wanted. It was hard to imagine things could get much more hi-tech.

Tiger Electronics Games

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The Tiger Electronics games were so much fun back then, even with it’s tiny screen and terrible resolution. And the Disney games ones ruled them all.

Dream Phone

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Only one of the most fun games in the entire world. Hot dudes answered the phone and gave you hints on who liked you – what could be better? “Hello hunks!”

The Talkboy

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Fun fact: the Talkboy was created especially for Home Alone 2, but it gained so much popularity from the movie that they had no choice but to make it a real toy. Might be the biggest voice recorder ever, but how much fun was this thing?!

Barbie Fashion Designer CD-Rom

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First of all: LOOK AT THAT COMPUTER. Second of all: dressing an electronic Barbie doll was so much better than dressing a real one – there were endless possibilities!

Clueless Hands-Free Phone

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I’m not entirely sure what this had to do with Clueless, but this hands-free phone was just plain awesome. The best part? You could press buttons to change the way your voice sounded.

Tamagotchi

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You can’t have a ’90s roundup without a Tamagotchi. These little guys were so popular it was insane. Everyone wanted a tiny virtual pet who woke you up in the middle of the night to be fed. If you didn’t have one… I feel sad for you.

Yak Bak

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Yak Bak’s were basically another version of the Talkboy, except tinier. Not sure what we did exactly with voice recorders when we were kids, but all I remember is that they were super entertaining.

Treasure Rocks

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This magical game allowed you to put ugly rocks in a machine… and get shiny, pretty jewels in return! What could be better?

Nintendo 64

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One of the best video game consoles ever in the history of life. No question. Sorry Wii, PlayStation and XBox – you can only come in second place.

Skip It

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Skip-It’s might have first come out in the late ’80s, but they were updated in the ’90s with a counter, which obviously made them a million times cooler. Who else had skipping competitions with their friends?

Fantastic Flowers

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Another magical game, this one transformed plain paper into beautiful flowers. Except you kind of had to put them together to create anything actually beautiful – and my tries were usually a fail. Still fun though!

Creepy Crawlers Bug Maker

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I never liked the idea of this game, but my brother did. And he liked torturing me with his fake bug creations even more.

Game Boy

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True story: I wasn’t even that into video games and I HAD to have a Game Boy. It didn’t matter that the first ones didn’t come in color, or that you kind of had to squint to see the screen – these were pretty epic.

iBook

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Before Apple created MacBooks that weigh, like, 2 pounds and are as thin as a piece of cardboard, there were these. Huge iBooks that came in different colors and were totally amazing.

Barbie Super Talking Flip Phone

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Who cared that Barbie was the only one who talked to you on this phone?! It was a cell phone!

Sega Game Gear

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Sega created their own answer to the Game Boy – and while it might not have been as eternally cool, it was still pretty awesome.

Which was your favorite? What did we miss? Tell us in the comments!

15 Old Skool School Supplies We Love

Just looking at these old school supplies makes me nostalgic, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to make you guys feel the same way. We’re not saying you can’t still buy some of these, but using them today just isn’t the same as when you used them as a kid – plus, they were way more popular back in the day! Check ‘em out and let us know what your favorite is:

Lisa Frank Everything

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Lisa Frank might be the best way to describe the ’90s. I wish I could describe the amount of Lisa Frank things I accumulated, but that would be impossible. The folders, notebooks, pencil cases and more made school much more colorful.

Mr. Sketch Scented Markers

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These were HUGE back when I was a kid. They were banned in my private school (which only made them cooler), and we used to secretly pass them around and take turns smelling them until class became much more enjoyable.

Lunch Boxes with Thermoses

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Lunch boxes nowadays don’t even compare to the lunchbox/thermos sets of our childhood. Forget about boring brown paper bags – it was all about these plastic things.

Scented Erasers

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Having a good eraser collection was only one of the coolest things you could do in school. And scented erasers not only got the job done, but they smelled delicious.

Yikes Pencils

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Who didn’t have Yikes pencils? They came in every different color imaginable, and the patterns were so cool. Why are pencils so boring now?

Gelly Roll Gell Pens

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Forget the fact that you could barely see what you wrote after you wrote it – gell pens were freakin’ awesome. They were so colorful and so much more fun than a boring old black or blue pen.

Troll Pencil Toppers

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Trolls were super popular back in the day, so putting them on your pencils as a cute (and creepy) little decoration was perfect. These little guys were adorably weird.

Geometers

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Stenciled rulers were another thing that were all the rage. I don’t know if I got anything done in school just because I was too busy drawing with these.

Spacemaker Pencil Cases

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These colorful plastic pencil cases were a staple in every kids desk – they were pretty much the perfect hiding spot for small toys.

Crayola Crayons That Smelled Like Food

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There are still scented crayons out there, but Crayola discontinued the food-scented ones like “cherry” and “chocolate” because some parents said their kids wanted to eat them!

Trapper Keepers

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You can’t talk about old school supplies without mentioning Trapper Keepers. Practically every kid had one. They were made with Velcro back then, so they were nice and loud in class.

Dizzy Doodler

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This was a vibrating pen (seriously) that made everything you wrote come out decorated like little curly-q’s. So cool, so pointless.

Watch Calculator

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Why use a regular calculator when you could use one that you could also wear on your wrist?

Gem Stickers

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Colorful and funky stickers were huge back when I was a kid, and gem stickers could be seen decorating almost every girls’ notebooks.

Pogs

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Technically not a school supply, but let’s be honest: you were nothing without your hidden stash of Pogs.

Which of these was your favorite? What did we miss? Tell us in the comments!

20 snack foods from the ’90s we love

Old School Supplies

Do you think her future boss is reading her IMs right now? It could happen to you! | Source: latestdigitals.com

Imagine you’re applying to your dream school. You have all the right grades, your essay is awesome — and then you get to the interview. You’re already nervous–and then your admissions officer demands to see your Facebook page.

WTF?! Not only do they want to look at your wall, they also want your password… Meaning they want to see everything. Those cute IMs you exchanged with your crush? Those semi-dirty inside jokes with your BFF? Those silly pics you took at the party last weekend (that you made sure not to tag and are friends only)? All accessible.

Talk about terrifying! And it’s becoming a reality.

MSNBC reports that not only colleges, but potential employers, are demanding access to students’ and employees’ Facebook accounts. If this seems like an insane invasion of privacy (seriously, it’s like someone reading your diary), that’s because it is.

This is a lot scarier than your crush seeing a tagged photo of you from a bad angle! | Source: live.drjays.com

On one hand, we can kinda see where they’re coming from in certain situations. For example, people applying to be prison guards were being asked for their Facebook info because their potential employers wanted to make sure they weren’t affiliated with gangs. Taking a glimpse at their photos to scan for gang symbols, colors, and the like could certainly help with that.

There are still so many problems with that, though: How many times have you done something in a photo as a joke? If a stranger looking at something doesn’t get the context of what went down, it can be really easy for them to misjudge you. Plus, it’s a slippery slope: What exactly constitutes a gang sign? Does wearing red or blue in your Facebook default pic disqualify you from a job?

You know it’s bad when even Facebook employees are against the policy, considering the site’s privacy policies are also scrutinized pretty often! “Under our terms, only the holder of the email address and password is considered the Facebook account owner,” Facebook spokesman Frederic Wolens said. “We also prohibit anyone from soliciting the login information or accessing an account belonging to someone else.”

Even if you’re not applying for jobs and are already in college, you may still be at risk for this kind of privacy invasion–especially if you play sports. Some colleges are requiring you to friend your coaches on Facebook or else be disqualified from the team. Say it with us now: WTF?!

The logic behind that, apparently, is that coaches want to make sure their athletes are well behaved. Fair enough, but where does it end? If their authority goes from the field to your Facebook account, what’s next? Installing a webcam in your dorm room to make sure you’re not acting out?

Thankfully, there are people out there fighting to keep your private life private. The American Civil Liberties Union is monitoring these cases very closely. In the meantime, know that you should never feel forced to fork over your account information for anything– email, Facebook, Twitter–or to anyone.

Here's hoping they don't turn anyone down for "duckface" photos. | Source: telegraph.co.uk

Also know that there are privacy settings you can use to keep things private even if a teacher, coach, or other authority figure friends you: You can make separate friends lists for them that limit their access to your information and postings while still technically having them listed as a friend. It also helps to create custom friends lists for just the people you trust and your closest pals–and make your posts visible only to them. The new Timeline feature on Facebook, while confusing at first, actually lets you adjust individual postings to be visible to certain groups of friends — even past posts — so that’s also a good tool to get to know.

Have you ever been asked to hand over your Facebook password? Would you be willing to give a potential employer your password if it meant getting a job? Do you have any privacy tips and tricks that you use to keep yourself and your information safe online? Let us know in the comments!

Do You Have A Facebook Stalker?

Christina Hendricks got hacked -- and her photos showed a lot more than this dress! | Source: egovtonline.com

Poor Christina Hendricks! As if the scrutiny on her body wasn’t bad enough, now she had her cell phone hacked — and with it, some compromising photos released. Yikes! Seriously, first cell phone jammers, now this?!

Obviously, Christina Hendricks isn’t the first celeb to get hacked. Just in the last few months, Blake Lively, Scarlett Johansson and now both Christina Hendricks and Olivia Munn have had potentially humiliating, obviously private images leaked to the public. It’s scary knowing that at any moment, someone can access your private messages, pictures, and emails. Part of why Christina Hendricks and other famous faces are a target is just that: Because they’re famous. But hackers don’t always discriminate based on how many Twitter followers you have, so it’s good to know how to protect yourself. Here are ways to prevent becoming the next Christina Hendricks — at least in terms of getting hacked! (We fully endorse becoming the next Christina Hendricks in terms of proud va-va-va-voom.)

*The best and easiest possible way to prevent being hacked is to have all of your accounts password protected — and it’s important to make sure your passwords are difficult to guess. (Remember a few years ago when Paris Hilton got hacked because her password was “tinkerbell?” Maybe Christina Hendricks used “MadMen.”) Never use your name or anything obvious for a password!

Olivia Munn got hacked, too. For a self-proclaimed geek, we thought she'd know better how to protect herself! | Source: celebridoodle.com

*Change your passwords regularly. This can be a pain in the butt (who can remember all that?!), but it absolutely helps, even if it’s just making a letter lowercase or uppercase or adding an extra number to the end.

*Never use the same password for more than one account. We know, we know, it’s annoying! But it’s safe.

*Turn off your WiFi, GPS, and BlueTooth devices when you’re not using them. Having them open allows others to see them, and hackers can use them to access the rest of your data.

*Actually, maybe avoid BlueTooth in general. While it comes in handy for hands free situations like driving, most hacking is done via BlueTooth devices! (Plus, they make you look like you’re talking to yourself.)

*Turn off your phone! If you’re not using it (like when you’re driving, asleep, or say, in class — right?!), this not only saves the battery life, but also potentially your privacy. Perhaps Christina Hendricks may have had more luck if she shut her phone down during filming.

*Keep your phone updated! You know those downloads that you get periodically? While they can be annoying to sit and wait through, they

We'd frown too if someone hacked into our iPhone! | Source: TeddyHilton.com

contain new blocks against hackers, so they’re worth it!

*Think twice about sending naked pictures to anyone. Because as Christina Hendricks now knows, if they can get out, they will.

Have you or a friend ever had your cell phone hacked like Christina Hendricks? Do you have any password or security tips? Let us know in the comments!

Want to know about smart ways to be sexy with your phone? Here you go!
christina hendricks phone hacked

This can kill your reception! | Source: ShopKami.com

Recently, some guy in Philadelphia anonymously told local news station that he was using a “cell phone jammer” on public transportation so he could get some peace and quiet. Now, the question on almost everyone’s lips was: What is a cell phone jammer?

A cell phone jammer is a device used to block mobile devices from receiving signals from their base stations. Cell phone jammers were originally designed for law enforcement and military use, so they could block communication between terrorists and criminals. They’re pretty common in prisons as well, where cell phones (obviously) aren’t allowed for inmates. Once the public caught on to the technology, many people–especially employers–wanted to use it themselves, especially in large cities where it seems everyone is always on the phone.

But how does a cell phone jammer work? I mean, this sounds like something out of a bad sci-fi movie, right? Well, they use antennas to send radio waves in the same frequencies that cell phones use. This causes enough interference to make cell phones within the immediate area of a cell phone jammer (which can be anywhere from 12 feet to even five miles, depending on the type) useless. Newer devices are tiny and often disguised as a pack of cigarettes. And they may be just as bad for you as smoking! How so?

Something illegal disguised as something harmful and gross. Sounds about right to us -- especially since they're both potentially deadly! | Source: ShopKami.com

On one hand, cell phone jammers in everyday life may seem like a pretty good idea: Who wants to sit next to someone on the train who’s yammering away to their doctor about the gross details of their last bowel movement? Wouldn’t you get more work done in the library or at your job if you stopped texting your best friend every two minutes? But when you stop and think about it, using a cell phone jammer is a dangerous idea.

Why? First off, they’re illegal in public places (though the FCC can waive the law for private use), because they can block emergency signals. The man on the bus in Philly probably didn’t think of what would happen if, heaven forbid, his bus were to crash and someone needed to call for help. If your boss used a cell phone jammer at your job and your store got robbed, it would not be a good situation!

How would you react if someone used a cell phone jammer on you? Do you think using a cell phone jammer could be beneficial, or that they should always be illegal? Sound off in the comments!

Now, Check Out These Top Rated iPhone Apps!
what is a cell phone jammer

"Am I pretty?" Yes! "Am I ugly?" No! See how easy that was? | Source: techaddiction.ca

There’s a new trend on YouTube: Videos asking, “Am I ugly?” To which we say: NO! But are you nuts?

The danger of posting YouTube videos asking “Am I pretty?” or “Am I ugly?” in an open forum is just that: it’s an open forum. You’re exposing yourself to anonymous criticism from strangers who are shielded by computers and keyboards. They face no repercussions for cruel comments against girls they’ve never met. They know nothing about you other than the fact that you’re clearly insecure, and therefore an easy target for flaming, hurtful commentary and flat out bullying.

It’s normal to want validation. You’re human! But these girls and guys are looking for it in all the wrong places. Think of it this way: Don’t you value what your family, friends, and people who love you think? Because they think you’re rad. Strangers who don’t know you may not agree, but who cares? They don’t know you. So how can they make an accurate judgment? Do you really want to determine your self worth based on what people who sit home and comment on “Am I ugly?” videos think?

This girl’s YouTube username is “BeautifulAndProud.” We think she’s beautiful (we dig her eyeliner skills too!), but we don’t think she’s proud, because the entire subject of her video is “Am I ugly?” Ladies, we can do better than this!

This gal showed a bunch of pictures, then asked, “Am I ugly?” Is she blind? She’s gorgeous (we actually think she looks a bit like Dakota Fanning)!

Even guys are getting in on it. This dude cut his own hair, then asked the Internet community, “Am I ugly?” He also invited strangers to call him a “fag.” C’mon, man. That’s not only insecure, it’s insensitive.

Listen: If you’re reading this, you’re beautiful. Yes, you. We all have our moments of insecurity, some longer than others, but everyone has something beautiful about them. Whether it’s your glowing skin, your shiny hair, your sparkling eyes, your dimples… Find what that is, know it, own it, and embrace it.

More importantly, know that your worth extends beyond the exterior. You have a heart and you have a mind. Are you awesome at math? Are you the best server on your volleyball team? A good painter? An awesome listener? Do you sound like Demi Lovato when you sing in the shower? Those are more attractive than any photo you post to Facebook or any video you post on YouTube. So if you’re ever tempted to post a video online asking, “Am I pretty?” know that the answer is yes. Now we can all go back to watching pandas sneeze.

How do you feel about “Am I ugly?” videos on YouTube? Would you ever post a video asking “Am I pretty?” Have you ever commented on a similar video? Let us know in the comments!
am i ugly youtube