From the moment we were born parents and teachers have given us lessons on how to keep ourselves safe. We are told practical things like to look both ways before we cross a street, or to wash our hands after playing with something that is probably covered with germs. As we get a little older the lesson includes not talking to strangers. All of these bits of advice are for our own protection and for the most part we obey.
The popularity of computers and other electronic toys has opened new ways to keep in touch with each other, but it has also opened new areas of concern. Local author, Jeff Sechler, has written a small book titled A YOUNG ADULT'S GUIDE TO SAFETY IN THE DIGITAL AGE to help us navigate the new pitfalls.
Each chapter takes us through a specific danger. Among these dangers are sexual predators and identity thieves. Most of the information has been available in other sources, but Sechler has condensed his advice into a small reference book of one hundred pages.
The one thought that was new to me, and remember I did not grow up in the digital age, was how your social sites can be used in a negative way if you apply for college admission or for a job. The pictures of you at that party may have seemed funny and a little risqué at the time, but the office of admission or of human development may see you as someone not reliable or of not presenting the image that they are looking for.
The author gives no information concerning his expertise on the subject, and I would have felt better knowing something of his background. Although it is well footnoted with examples of what can happen if we get careless, most of the examples have been documented in other publications.
Most of the warnings contained in this small book are common sense, but sometimes we need that reminder to look both ways before we cross a street that may be very busy with cars full of strangers who deliberately are planning harm to us.
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