Selfies, Sexts and Smartphones: A Teenager’s Online Survival Guide

by Emma Sadleir, Lizzie Harrison

As a teenager in today’s crazy online world, you may think you’ve got it all sussed out. But even you don’t know about all the legal pitfalls, hidden dangers and future implications of what you do, see and post online. Selfies, Sexts and Smartphones is the book every teenager (and their parents) should read. It covers all of the major issues teenagers face in the digital age, including cyberbullying, sexting, addiction, internet safety, porn, anxiety, depression, privacy and reputation, and does so within a South African context. Accessible, informative and even fun, this book will help guide you to a happy, rewarding and, most importantly, safe online life. Upon reading Selfies, Sexts and Smartphones, one 17-year-old ‘I feel I need to say thank you for this. It talks about the stuff I deal with every single day.’

163 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2017

Reviews

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must-read for all parents. Actually, it's also a great read even if you're not a parent to be more aware wrt social media.

[Bookundermybed · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you guys followed my update yesterday, you’d have known, I was not keen on reading this. I did not want to read it out if choice as I don’t usually read anything that doesn’t fall under the category of ‘fiction’. However, sometimes we must do things because that’s how life works, but if I’m reading it, it goes on Goodreads.

I was surprisingly impressed, and yes, this doesn’t generally happen. Sadlier and Harrison are witty and entertaining, using simple language to explain the darker side of social media. I, as a young human, actually learnt a large amount from this thin book and I would highly recommend it.

As users of social media, we often don’t realise the consequences of things, especially messaging when we are angry or the reasons why we should consider before posting. Sadlier had given a talk at my ex school previously and thus I have heard her speak before but it is honestly easier to understand and more concrete on paper. There are a lot of facts and scenarios that make it more real and relatable and I definitely would highly suggest reading this, even if you are not a teenager, but just a user of social media.

I was definitely more intrigued by this than I have been with a lot of books so I really think this book did a great job and left a lasting impression on me. I may even read it again sometime in the future. 💕

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book written exactly and specifically for the teen audience, in a style that feels almost as thought you were sitting chatting with Lizzie and Emma about the issues of "selfies, sexts and smartphones".
Great, sound and sensible advice abounds on every page for the reader but ultimately the choice is still left with the teens...
I really enjoyed the "one piece of ultimate advice" given ... BE KIND to both yourself and others.
The world would truly be a different place if we could heed this!

A must read for every teen and parent!

[Harriet B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aimed at teenagers but possibly useful for parents if they’re willing to read through all the chatter that is supposed to attract teens to read this and make them feel like the lingo fits their life? I gave up after a while and it was due back at the library so didn’t actually finish it. Probably some good stuff in there but it’s already dated (for example: they write that you can’t delete WhatsApp messages, well now you can).

[Bookcat700 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really informative. Non fiction is not really my thing but this book was well written and would definitely reach its target audience well. What I liked is that it was not preachy, it didn’t discourage you from using social media but rather informed you and nudged you in the right direction.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it and then give it to your teens!

[Shikshah Dowlath-Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommended for teenagers and their parents. A must read if you are on social media!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish I had a 8 to 18 to give it to

[Mk · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was an amazing educational book i rate it 4 stars

[Charanez Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth a read before giving your teen a smartphone, educating them in every sense of the word about the dangers they cannot even begin to grasp. Highly recommend this book.