Talking Back to Facebook The Common Sense Guide to Raising Kids in the Digital Age

A smart, urgently needed book that helps parents and their kids navigate today’s online landscapefrom the founder and CEO of the nation’s leading authority on kids and the media. Is my kid a cyberbully? Does online privacy exist for children? When should kids be allowed to use Facebook? Should preteens have cell phones? Did the Internet give my child ADHD? Should I ban violent video games? Now, more than ever, parents need help in navigating their kids’ online, media-saturated lives. Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, the nation's leading kids and media organization, and the father of four children, knows that many parents and teachersunlike their technology-savvy kidsmay be tourists in the online world. Now, in this essential book, Steyera frequent commentator on national TV and radiooffers an engaging blend of straighforward advice and anecdotes that address what he calls “RAP,� the major pitfalls relating to kids’ use of media and technology: Relationship issues, Attention/Addiction problems, and the lack of Privacy. Instead of shielding children completely from online images and messages, Steyer’s practical approach gives parents essential tools to help filter content, preserve good relationships with their children, and make commonsense, value-driven judgments for kids of all ages. Not just about Facebook, this comprehensive, no-nonsense guide to the online world, media, and mobile devices belongs in the hands of all parents and educators raising kids in today’s digital age.

James P. Steyer has spent more than twenty years as one of the most respected experts and entrepreneurs on issues related to children's policy and media in the United States. As founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, he is responsible for the overall leadership of the nation's leading nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the media lives of kids and families. Steyer began his career as an elementary school teacher and went on to become a nationally respected child advocate, public interest lawyer, and Stanford professor. Jim lives with his wife and four children in the Bay Area.