Parents' Guide to

That's Not Cool

By Susan Yudt, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Tackles digital dating abuse with videos appealing to teens.

Website http://www.thatsnotcool.com
That's Not Cool Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this website.

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age 13+

Based on 4 parent reviews

DiverseAppreciator
DiverseAppreciator Adult
December 12, 2019
age 13+

Lacks autism tailoring

I have approached Futures Without Violence (who is behind That's Not Cool and Coaching Boys Into Men) regarding tailoring of their programs for people with autism and other special needs and they responded that it is not a focus area despite the US CDC estimate of 1 in 68 children being on the autism spectrum. If Futures tailors their programs for autism and other special needs, these programs can become even more effective by catering for a special audience.
BobV01
BobV01 Parent of 14 and 18+-year-old
March 16, 2014
age 17+

Thats not cool is misandric

That’s not cool dot com still has a Public Service Announcement airing on American television depicting a male texting his girlfriend in the morning and calling it controlling, sexual harassment and they have failed to redact it. The piece is clear misandry and needs to be redacted, please let us help them understand. http://www.thatsnotcool.com/ That's Not Cool. 77,194 likes • 57 talking about this. When does caring become controlling? When does affection become obsession? When does talking become … https://www.facebook.com/ThatsNotCool A fun website for teens with timely videos, funny call out cards for Textual Harassment and a forum to share your thoughts on topics like pic pressure, www.inobtr.org/coolsites/thats-not-coolcom Pressure Pic Problem - Boyfriend's Story - That's Not Cool (on you tube) The Break In - Girlfriend's Story - That's Not Cool (on you tube ) Pressure Pic Problem – Boyfriends Story – That’s Not Cool (on you tube ) this is the PSA that is still running, and I believe the only one, on American television.
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What’s It About?

A project of the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the Office on Violence Against Women, and the Ad Council, THAT'S NOT COOL aims to educate teenagers about digital dating abuse. The site features videos that deal with issues like excessive texting and pressure to send risqué photos, and there are lots of "callout cards" to email or post to social networking sites ("Thank you for your thoughtful text every 10 seconds"). Teens who have a YouTube account can post responses about common dating dilemmas, and Need Help? includes guidelines for determining when relationships cross the line.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (3 ):

With digital violations on the rise -- from nude photos leaked to blogs to a murder sparked by a "single" Facebook status -- That's Not Cool is a much-needed resource for teens and for parents who could use a little help understanding this very 21st-century issue. The videos are cool, clever, and interactive; teens see a scenario from the perspective of both partners and choose the best way to deal with the situation. The guidelines for recognizing abuse are right on target, and the additional resources included are reliable.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what is and isn't appropriate with online and mobile communication. What does having constant access to another person mean?

  • What do your kids think is the line between caring and controlling? Parents can encourage teens to come talk to them or another trusted adult if they're ever in a dating situation that feels uncomfortable or abusive.

Website Details

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