With sophisticated graphics that rival the latest 3D Hollywood release and a complexity of narrative that equals the most elaborately imagined worlds found in fantasy novels, gaming has become big business, mass entertainment, and high art. Indeed, the gaming experience is so involving and enticing that it can pose some dangers. Repetitive motion disorders, sedentary lifestyles, computer/gaming addiction, loss of perspective, exposure to graphic violence,...

Whether you're in business or just enjoying some free time on social media, creating an identity on the Web is more important than ever. Readers will learn how companies of all shapes and sizes use the Internet to form an image and increase sales. This instructive volume also provides examples of how one's personal brand online is more important than one might think. Myths and facts dispel some common misconceptions about online branding, and 10 Great...

Allowing instantaneous communication to people anywhere in the world in 140-character bursts of inspiration, Twitter provides personal communication between friends, family, and acquaintances, is a means for celebrities to connect with their fans, and is a platform for micro-blogging, advertising, and the reporting of breaking news. Learning to use such a powerful and far-reaching form of communication efficiently and safely requires knowing the tricks,...

Internet security breaches have been in the news of late. Organizations, governments, businesses, and individual internet users are all at risk. This book introduces readers to the importance of cybersecurity and addresses the current risks from hackers, viruses and other malware, identity thieves, and other online perils. It provides concrete measures that young digital natives can take to protect themselves and their computers, smartphones, and...

Self-expression is incredibly important, especially during the teen years, and with the advent of blogging, teen writers can share their thoughts, ideas, and creative writing with the entire world and create a supportive and nurturing online community. Blogs can be enhanced with photos, artwork, video, and audio, creating a rich, multi-layered, multimedia expression of the self. Yet there are dangers associated with blogging, as with all other forms...

Each year, the sense of urgency to halt the growth of cyberbullying increases. As more cyberbullying cases and their consequences are brought to national attention, many states are instituting anti-bullying legislation. In addition, many people are calling for stronger legal penalties for bullying behaviors. The role of American law in protecting young people in cyberspace is explained as well as how laws related to bullying are being interpreted...

It has become almost impossible to imagine a world without Google, the most popular and powerful Internet search engine that as revolutionized the way we seek and locate information. This book seeks to show students how to get the most out of Google-with its search engine, maps, videos, news, docs, and email features-when working on school projects, research papers, and multimedia presentations. Google helps users navigate through this bewildering...

The online world has opened up dozens of avenues for finding reliable answers to research questions. While the Web provides super-fast access to reliable academic and commercial sources, some of the best resources for research don't appear in Web search results. A great deal of information is contained in subscription and library databases. Students learn about some of the new research techniques and tools that are available for online searching in...

Today's world is one where information can be shared instantly via the Internet, and new ways of communicating are being created every day. This book shows already Internet-savvy teens how to fully maximize fun elements like widgets, blogs, and wikis. Interesting facts are shared in sidebars and the resource section is fully loaded with suggestions for further exploration.

Describes the evolution of social activism on the Internet, from social media journalism to online petitions and charity crowdfunding, and includes information on how to become an online activist.