Logged on and Tuned Out: A Non-Techie's Guide to Parenting a Tech-Savvy Generation

I've just received Vicki Courtney's book and have already devoured most of it and am making a mental list of the moms who will benefit from reading it. This book is exactly what it presents itself as being - practical, understandable and pertinent information for a parent who finds themselves out of touch with their teens' social interactions. It doesn't, however, answer the more philosophical questions lurking behind our use of the computer for social interaction (neither does it pretend to answer this question.) If you are wondering if you should allow your child to use IM, SMS and Social Networking sites to begin with, this might not give you the conclusive answers you seek. I have a Facebook profile and have been deliberating whether to leave or not for a long time - the list of pros and cons is too equally balanced. This book didn't shed light on my predicament, but it will be a very useful tool for talking to the teen girls I mentor about their Facebook presence (one of the pros on my list...) A great read. I'll definitely be passing it on.

Logged On and Tuned Out: A Non-Techie's Guide to Parenting a Tech-Savvy Generation I checked this out of the public library and then realized I needed make sure it was in the hands of as many parents as possible. This past week there was a news special all week on teens and the internet and how parents are not aware of the issues and permanent effects of using my space and blogs to gain friends, and the danger of giving out your personal information. The internet has rich blessings but also deep dangers...

Ms. Courtney shares honestly, with humor and without a didactic attitude of judgment. She uses her own experiences, both positive and negative, with her teens' usage of today's technology. Each chapter explains what the technology is in a way that clarifies it for the most clueless parent and still provides needed cultural context for those of us who might feel pretty savvy. I really appreciated Courtney's perspective on the use of monitoring software. It's controversial, but she recommends it, and explains how and why she uses it to be able to make sure that her children (and their friends) are adhering to her guidelines and conducting themselves online in a way that is God-honoring. This is a great resource for parents of kids aged ten and up. Certainly the parent of every teen should be well-versed in all of these areas. The social networking chapter was eye-opening to me. As savvy as I am (I mean, I have a blog, don't I?), I have had negatively judged myspace out of ignorance. She calls these sites the "virtual malt shop" of this generation. This is the way that kids connect. They don't have to hang out at the malt shop. Their community exists 24-7 on the world wide web. It gives all new meaning to the old warning, "It's 10:00pm. Do you know where your children are?" They could be at the desk in the study, on the internet, engaging in good clean fun, or perhaps participating in some behavior that they might later regret. If we as parents are tuned in instead of tuned out, we can help them stay in the world, and yet not be of the world.