Editorial Review
Does it seem like your teen can't tear herself away from friends on the computer screen (except to text them on her cell phone)? That's because MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube are your son or daughter's life, not just another passing diversion. All that energy and time spent online is affecting your teen's life in countless ways, from sexual pressure and privacy to social standing and self-esteem. Some schools are banning online networking sites, yet your child insists they're "no big deal." Who's right? Drawing on personal interviews with hundreds of teens, educator Candice M. Kelsey helps parents assess what they should — and shouldn't — be worried about when it comes to technology. A landmark book, Generation MySpace is the first guide to the new world of online adolescence, where you'll discover: The Appeal of MySpace: How interaction becomes addictive, and how to stop it from taking control Profiles, Adds, and Top 8 Popularity: How "friending" is redefining friendship Baring It All: How young kids are learning to market themselves — and why they're looking to celebrities and porn stars first From Predators to Cyber-Bullies: How to help your kids protect themselves
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Customer Reviews
Excellent! A MUST READ for any parent curious about MySpace. 
2008-07-25
This book is highly fascinating in its ability to connect to it's readers. Any parents with kids interested in MySpace should read this fantastic book. It takes you through the steps of setting up an account so you, the parent, can experience MySpace first hand. As a college student and young professional, I find this book to be a resource for myself as a social worker and for parents. I highly reccomend this book!
Excellent! Highly recommended for concerned partents 2008-04-21
I wish I had the information in this enlightening book two years ago when my daughter first began using myspace. I truly like the easy yet intelligent command of the english language the author has used to portray to her audience how there are many facets to be concerned with that involve our youth and how they engage, influence, and deeply affect our children while behind closed doors in their own rooms for endless hours on Myspace. We as parents are so often busy, tired, and all to often aloof to the significant dangers of the inner psychological repurcussions that are manifesting while our children sit mesmerized and addicted in this 'unchaperoned private club.' It is not to late, and to educate ourselves is paramount if we as loving and concerned parents are to help facilitate a change in the amount of time and usage we allow our precious children to interact on this massive meeting place. Afterall, we are their guardians and we must help them with positive action at this vulnerable time in their lives. Be informed, that is what this book does in a most potent way! Excellent job Candice Kelsey and thank you! You obviously are a person who cares and who wants to make a difference to your students and to all others-far beyond the perimiters of your own classroom.
Clear, interesting, thorough, informative. 
2007-10-15
The book it good. It is written by someone who has worked with a lot of teens therefore, her understanding of teens and social networking sites seems well-founded and thus, valid. The book is balanced in that it offers a lot of statistics, perspective and experience of the author as well as first hand stories and examples from teens themselves. A must read for anyone dealing with teens and the internet.
Well written, but maybe not for everyone 2007-09-23
"Sheesh! Another MySpace thing! Mom, MySpace is really not that big a deal!" -My son, on seeing the book.
And therein is the point of the book. This is not a book for teens; it is an attempt to bridge the generation gap between parents and their children, using MySpace as the point of departure.
The author is a middle school teacher in California who has supplemented her personal experience with extensive research. There are no footnotes, but expert commentary and research is well documented within the text. There is also a "Resources" section at the back of the book, listing sources by chapter, as well as a "Recommended Reading, Surfing, and Viewing" section, also broken down by chapter.
There are few holds barred as the author delves into the current world of teens. In the first chapter the author points out that it's not all about MySpace, it's about social networking sites, of which MySpace is the largest. She then proceeds to explain why social networking is so important to teens and how it fits into the overall picture of their lives. In doing so, she exposes the terms and terminology they use and their current cultural context. Although she gives frequent warnings, if you are not prepared for language that would have been offensive in prior generations, you may want to skip this book and try one of the others available.
But the author is not trying to shock as much as to wave red flags. She and many experts say MySpace is not the problem, it is simply a symptom of a larger cultural shift. Kelsey believes, and offers good documentation, that the shift is driven by media and consumerism. With the red flags she also offers advice on dealing with the negative issues surrounding MySpace. The first step, also recommended by other authors of MySpace books, is to visit this part of a teen's "world" by creating a MySpace account and looking around. There is a guided tour through the process, beginning with Chapter 2, "Pimped Out: Anatomy of a Profile." The author recommends not going straight to your child's profile, but using the experience to understand the world of today's teens by seeing it through their eyes. There is a chapter later in the book devoted to assessing your child's MySpace involvement, and strategies to use.
Overall, the book is well written and well documented, promoting strategies that are recommended by experts for dealing with teens and MySpace. The book overall also has an alarmist tone, and uses very frank language. For the clueless parent (including the one(s) thinking, "Not MY teen!"), this is probably a good thing. But it may not be the book for every parent. If you want a full picture of the teen world and teens on MySpace, this book should top your list. If you'd rather not know all the gory details, but still want to know how to approach MySpace, consider something like MySpace Unraveled, by Larry Magid and Anne Collier.
For those internet-savvy or not, this book is a keeper! 2007-05-14
I'd like to think that I'm fairly internet-savvy, but when I read Candice Kelsey's book "Generation MySpace," I was blown out of the water. Now I know what my students really mean! I'm not a parent yet, but I can see how useful it will be to parents who want to understand what their kids are into. It's all about the internet these days, and it is a scary, unfamiliar world to many of us. Here comes Candice Kelsey, fearlessly stepping in to decode what we need to know. Thanks, Ms. Kelsey; hopefully you are inspired to write another book that delves deeper into not what but why. I would buy that book in a heartbeat as well.
Gereration MySpace: Helping Your Teen Survive Online Adolescence 2007-05-14
Does it seem like your teen can't tear herself away from friends on the computer screen (except to text them on her cell phone)? That's because MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube are your son or daughter's life, not just another passing diversion. All that energy and time spent online is affecting your teen's life in countless ways, from sexual pressure and privacy to social standing and self-esteem. Some schools are banning online networking sites, yet your child insists they're "no big deal." Who's right? Drawing on personal interviews with hundreds of teens, educator Candice M. Kelsey helps parents assess what they should — and shouldn't — be worried about when it comes to technology. A landmark book, Generation MySpace is the first guide to the new world of online adolescence, where you'll discover: The Appeal of MySpace: How interaction becomes addictive, and how to stop it from taking control Profiles, Adds, and Top 8 Popularity: How "friending" is redefining friendship Baring It All: How young kids are learning to market themselves — and why they're looking to celebrities and porn stars first From Predators to Cyber-Bullies: How to help your kids protect themselves
EVERY PARENT AND EDUCATOR SHOULD READ THIS BOOK 2007-04-17
THIS IS A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WHO HAS A TEENAGER IN HIS/HER LIFE. IT IS EXTREMELY WELL WRITTEN. IT NOT ONLY IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEMS BUT GIVES CONCRETE IDEAS FOR MEETING AND DEALING WITH THEM.
Very interesting and informative! 2007-03-29
I really enjoyed reading this book! I thought I knew quite a bit about the internet, but I now know how much I was missing. The intrigue and pressure associated with MySpace is huge, and I am so glad that Mrs. Kelsey has enlightened me in such a clear, straightforward manner. You must read this book if you spend/will spend any time around teenagers!
Enlightening to say the least 2007-03-23
4AYN, *H*, 26Y4U, 262, LMIRL, TDTM, WYGOWM, P911, F2T. If you are a parent and you don't have a clue what any of this means, then you don't have a clue about what your teenager is up to online. This book is worth the cover price just for pages 61-68. I'm talking eye-opening for a non-digital-age parent... )sigh). Why are 110 million teens signed up with Myspace accounts? What's the attraction? Who cares! Right? That'swhat I thought... until I read this book. Startling really. This writer has clearly done her research and is not trying to scare parents, but to inform in a sortof 'you can do this, you can understand your child's world' sort of way. On the downside, it's a little long and perhaps goes into a bit too much depth--but it's well organized and easy to skip around to find what you want. Despite a few nagging shortcomings this is a book every parent with kids from college-age on down should buy asap. Think your kids are up late at night using the computer for school "research"? Hah. Buy the book.
God help our tweens and teens. 2007-03-17
GENERATION MYSPACE" by Candice M. Kelsey.....
"Are YOU still the major influence in YOUR child's life? Think again!.....A comprehensive and enlightening update on the Global Popular Culture strongly influencing young America...and the youth of the world.....includes the new global language, rules, fads, trends, and indulgences on the Internet....the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. A "MUST READ" for all parents." Jean in CT
