Keep Calm and Log On

Though presented as a how-to manual on safe computer and smartphone use targeted to older, tech-phobic users, this essential crash course also has useful guidance on media literacy and critical thinking. Andrews, producer of the YouTube series The Media Show, believes that technological advances, combined with distrust in information and authorities, have overwhelmed users into a “learned helplessness” and made them more susceptible to manipulation. Discussing how to manage one’s exposure to digital media and to meaningfully evaluate information, she uses photos from the Great Depression, World Wars I and II, and other historical events as examples of times when communities had to pull together, as she believes everyone must do now in the face of technological change. There is practical, technical help in these pages about online privacy, with details on how to create strong passwords and interact with others safely online, as well as a tools to help readers fact-check information encountered online and understand what kinds of intellectual authority professional qualifications do and don’t confer. This should be required reading for both admitted luddites and longtime digital denizens.

Andrews provides a timely handbook for surviving the digital revolution. Readers will learn tips for mindfulness, cybersecurity, and how to determine what information to trust…Readers who are skeptical about “Big Brother watching you” and those who want a safer, more autonomous experience on the web will appreciate this book.

This handbook is crammed with practical information, from understanding bias to figuring out who owns a particular website. Andrews points out that the digital revolution—with its promise of connecting us all, extending access, and generally spreading more fun—often makes us feel more disconnected and proliferates disinformation. Her book is for those of us who feel “bad at” technology, addicted to it, or at a loss for how best to navigate a world dominated by it. She addresses FAQs around privacy, online etiquette, critical thinking, intimate online relationships, and more. Worksheets, practices, advice, and resources for further reading make this guide valuable for anyone who wants to better understand one of the defining revolutions of our time.

An accessible, well structured and often funny cyber-security manual. Let’s face it: despite the proliferation of similar digital self-help titles, most are tedious and hard-to-comprehend. This one is different though, because it is fun to read.

Gillian “Gus” Andrews, EdD, is a public educator, researcher, and digital security trainer. She produced The Media Show, a media literacy series on YouTube.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.