Ypulse Essentials: Kids' Choice Award Nominations, Tweens And Tablets, Pinterest Is Addictive

We just got an eyeful of the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award nominees (and we think these awards will be harder to call than the Grammys — who will win best movie: Muppets, Smurfs, Harry Potter, or Alvin & The Chipmunks?! We’ll have to wait until March 31 to learn the winners. Speaking of specials coming up on Nick, Nick News with Linda Ellerbee is interviewing celebs, including Tina Fey, Richard Branson, and YouTube creator Chad Hurley, about their biggest failures to remind kids that failing is sometimes just a step toward success) (Just Jared Jr) (Cynopsis)

- Most parents who have a tablet hand it off to their children (to play with. The kids use the devices for everything from playing games to watching shows to educational exercises. One problem tablets and other mobile devices are creating for marketers is an issue with online privacy, according to an FTC report. That also raises a question of how to find apps that are good for kids; a few organizations are attempting to curate lists of apps that are kid-friendly) (Nielsen) (WaPo) (Wired)

- Here’s a look at why Pinterest (is so addictive. Hint: it feeds our need to collect and to share. Speaking of social sites, check out this infographic about Google+ users who tend to be young, male students, which explains a lot about the top brands and media properties on the site) (Fast Company) (Mashable)

- SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most enduring cartoons of the 90s (having survived 11 seasons on air because he’s relatable — despite being a sponge living in a pineapple, he’s innocent, and his humor appeals to both young and old. Sing it with us now: “Oh, who lives in a pineapple under the sea…”) (Forbes)

- We’re curious to see what students will come up with (as part of the National Education Startup Challenge. Who better than the students themselves understand the challenges they face day to day, so the U.S. Department of Education is asking middle schoolers and high schoolers for entrepreneurial and innovative for-profit and non-profit ideas to meet goals to improve graduation rates and keeping education affordable) (Good.Is)

- We love a good Twitter surprise (like this spooky short story R.L. Stine shared with his fans, tweet by tweet. It’s the little things like this that delight fans, and it costs brands very little to share this sort of insider info. By the way, you can follow Ypulse on Twitter for regular news about what’s going on in youth media & marketing) (GalleyCat)

- Internet memes are a source of fascination, particularly when they turn to our favorite topics (such as college students, first jobs, and graduation. USA Today explains the rise of these memes in pop culture and the current focus on college stereotypes)