Generation MySpace: Helping Your Teen Survive Online Adolescence | 
 enlarge | Authors: Candice M. Kelsey, Candice Kelsey
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $4.99
You Save: $9.96 (67%)
New (5) Used (7) from $4.76
Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 259202
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.5 x 0.8
Dewey Decimal Number: 305.235028567
ASIN: B0018DUPWQ
Publication Date: March 7, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Does it seem like your teen can't tear herself away from friends on the computer screen (except to text them on her cell phone)? That's because MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube are your son or daughter's life, not just another passing diversion. All that energy and time spent online is affecting your teen's life in countless ways, from sexual pressure and privacy to social standing and self-esteem. Some schools are banning online networking sites, yet your child insists they're "no big deal." Who's right? Drawing on personal interviews with hundreds of teens, educator Candice M. Kelsey helps parents assess what they should — and shouldn't — be worried about when it comes to technology. A landmark book, Generation MySpace is the first guide to the new world of online adolescence, where you'll discover: The Appeal of MySpace: How interaction becomes addictive, and how to stop it from taking control Profiles, Adds, and Top 8 Popularity: How "friending" is redefining friendship Baring It All: How young kids are learning to market themselves — and why they're looking to celebrities and porn stars first From Predators to Cyber-Bullies: How to help your kids protect themselves
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| Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
Recommended for parents of pre-teens and teens August 24, 2008
I highly recommend this book for parents of, and people who work with, pre-teens and teenagers, especially those who are not comfortable using the latest web 2.0 tools (if you don't know what this is and you have children ages 10 - 16, you need to read this book!). As a school district technology specialist for grade K - 12 schools, I see and hear many stories about how kids are using social networking sites - often without parents knowing what they are doing. Even those kids whose parents do not allow them to use these tools at home are finding ways to use them elsewhere.
The book takes you step by step through the process of viewing and creating a My Space site before suggesting you try to access the sites set up by your own children and their friends. It is informative, without lecturing, and has practical advice for communicating with your children about online etiquette and safety.
Excellent! A MUST READ for any parent curious about MySpace. July 25, 2008
This book is highly fascinating in its ability to connect to it's readers. Any parents with kids interested in MySpace should read this fantastic book. It takes you through the steps of setting up an account so you, the parent, can experience MySpace first hand. As a college student and young professional, I find this book to be a resource for myself as a social worker and for parents. I highly reccomend this book!
Excellent! Highly recommended for concerned partents April 21, 2008
I wish I had the information in this enlightening book two years ago when my daughter first began using myspace. I truly like the easy yet intelligent command of the english language the author has used to portray to her audience how there are many facets to be concerned with that involve our youth and how they engage, influence, and deeply affect our children while behind closed doors in their own rooms for endless hours on Myspace. We as parents are so often busy, tired, and all to often aloof to the significant dangers of the inner psychological repurcussions that are manifesting while our children sit mesmerized and addicted in this 'unchaperoned private club.' It is not to late, and to educate ourselves is paramount if we as loving and concerned parents are to help facilitate a change in the amount of time and usage we allow our precious children to interact on this massive meeting place. Afterall, we are their guardians and we must help them with positive action at this vulnerable time in their lives. Be informed, that is what this book does in a most potent way! Excellent job Candice Kelsey and thank you! You obviously are a person who cares and who wants to make a difference to your students and to all others-far beyond the perimiters of your own classroom.
 Clear, interesting, thorough, informative. October 15, 2007
The book it good. It is written by someone who has worked with a lot of teens therefore, her understanding of teens and social networking sites seems well-founded and thus, valid. The book is balanced in that it offers a lot of statistics, perspective and experience of the author as well as first hand stories and examples from teens themselves. A must read for anyone dealing with teens and the internet.
Well written, but maybe not for everyone September 23, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
"Sheesh! Another MySpace thing! Mom, MySpace is really not that big a deal!" -My son, on seeing the book.
And therein is the point of the book. This is not a book for teens; it is an attempt to bridge the generation gap between parents and their children, using MySpace as the point of departure.
The author is a middle school teacher in California who has supplemented her personal experience with extensive research. There are no footnotes, but expert commentary and research is well documented within the text. There is also a "Resources" section at the back of the book, listing sources by chapter, as well as a "Recommended Reading, Surfing, and Viewing" section, also broken down by chapter.
There are few holds barred as the author delves into the current world of teens. In the first chapter the author points out that it's not all about MySpace, it's about social networking sites, of which MySpace is the largest. She then proceeds to explain why social networking is so important to teens and how it fits into the overall picture of their lives. In doing so, she exposes the terms and terminology they use and their current cultural context. Although she gives frequent warnings, if you are not prepared for language that would have been offensive in prior generations, you may want to skip this book and try one of the others available.
But the author is not trying to shock as much as to wave red flags. She and many experts say MySpace is not the problem, it is simply a symptom of a larger cultural shift. Kelsey believes, and offers good documentation, that the shift is driven by media and consumerism. With the red flags she also offers advice on dealing with the negative issues surrounding MySpace. The first step, also recommended by other authors of MySpace books, is to visit this part of a teen's "world" by creating a MySpace account and looking around. There is a guided tour through the process, beginning with Chapter 2, "Pimped Out: Anatomy of a Profile." The author recommends not going straight to your child's profile, but using the experience to understand the world of today's teens by seeing it through their eyes. There is a chapter later in the book devoted to assessing your child's MySpace involvement, and strategies to use.
Overall, the book is well written and well documented, promoting strategies that are recommended by experts for dealing with teens and MySpace. The book overall also has an alarmist tone, and uses very frank language. For the clueless parent (including the one(s) thinking, "Not MY teen!"), this is probably a good thing. But it may not be the book for every parent. If you want a full picture of the teen world and teens on MySpace, this book should top your list. If you'd rather not know all the gory details, but still want to know how to approach MySpace, consider something like MySpace Unraveled, by Larry Magid and Anne Collier.
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