Social Networking: The Ultimate Teen Guide

Gr 7 Up—Obee provides a sweeping look at the various possible forms of online networking. The book covers a mountain of material, but does so in a cursory manner. The author takes a mellow, conversational tone that encourages teens to communicate with their parents in setting online usage expectations and in discussing safety. Chatrooms and the likely accompanying bullying are discussed with an open-minded treatment of online access for children. Obee promotes self-regulation with respect to what's out there and provides resources for online support in the face of bullying. The "Keeping up with Friends" chapter details the mechanics of choosing and setting up various social-networking sites, and much of the material will be repetitious and old hat for those with competent computer skills. This is especially true when defining such concepts as "apps," the "share" icon, and emoticons. The comprehensive resources cited give a broad spectrum of social-networking tools and techniques, but it's unlikely that middle schoolers are going to pick up this wordy tome prior to launching their online personae and establishing their digital footprint. That said, it is a great read for parents who are seeking to better understand their children's online world and bring themselves up to speed.—Meredith Toumayan, The Langley-Adams Library, Groveland, MA