An accessibly written guide that helps readers confront the epidemic of online falsehoods with tips on information literacy.

This compact volume covers a number of critical topics. Teens learn that while software filters are designed to screen for hate speech, violence, and pornography when it comes to bald lies, they are largely on their own. Steffens proffers helpful advice, explaining how bots often spread false information that proliferates due to malice, attention-seeking, or commercial interests. He explains ways in which disinformation threatens democracy, individual well-being, and social cohesion and notes that advances in AI might help combat the flood of deepfakes and other AI creations that potentially have a huge impact on commerce, politics, and security. An entire chapter is devoted to avoiding financial scams and phishing. In the chapter entitled “Recognizing Bias,” Steffens includes important information about cognitive biases and how they interact with algorithms to lead us into dangerous echo chambers; he points readers to media watchdog sites and explains lateral reading strategies to bolster awareness. Another chapter warns against hazards such as catfishing, romance scams, and sextortion. Up-to-date sources and brief summaries of memorable cases bolster this concise but thorough overview.

Specific advice and meaningful context make this a strong introduction to online safety. (sources, further research, websites, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)