Customer Reviews

Cyber Rules: What You Really Need to Know About the Internet

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Cyber Rules is not a book of rules about the internet, instead it is a revelation of what is really going on online. The information is mostly about what teenagers are doing online although there is plenty of information about how the internet is affecting adults too.

I found the chapter on internet identities intriguing. I've had the experience of men pretending to be women to get me to talk to them. I could hear a male voice in my head when I read their e-mails and later they confessed that they were actually male. The authors do make a point about how your real self can emerge online. An introvert can appear to be an extrovert online. This type of information could be helpful to parents as they monitor their child's online interactions. Some of the information in this book could help parents prevent their children from becoming victims of online predators.

This book also reveals the realities of compulsive game playing, internet addictions, virtual pets, inappropriate use of cell phones (the things teenagers text to each other), online gaming and depression. Throughout the book there are real-life stories of experiences online.

While there is plenty of information about what is occurring in the life of the modern teenager, I didn't find much information on how parents should talk to their teens about dangers. The parent is merely warned that they should think carefully about what they want to say to their teenagers about their online interactions. Putting the family computer in the living room vs. bedroom is advised. I can recommend this book to parents, educators and psychologists who are interacting with internet-savvy teenagers.

~The Rebecca Review

CYBER RULES: WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE INTERNET is tailored for clinicians, parents and educators who wish to understand how the 'net is changing traditional theories of human developing, fostering new forms of interactions and new psychology about development. It sounds technical but in fact makes for easy reading, comes from a private practitioner who also teaches courses in health psychology and case management, and is packed with personal stories and advice on Internet management and interactions. A 'must' for any collection strong in psychology, Internet sociology or education.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch