Behind the Screens by Dr Niraj Lal. Illus. by Aska

I was fortunate to have been sent this handy smaller-sized book to review by University of Queensland Press. As an older Australian there is so much I am not aware of regarding the workings of the internet, and how it influences so much of what happens in our daily life.

Behind the Screens is authored by Dr. Niraj Lal, an ANU Visiting Fellow and the host of the ABC’s kids’ podcast Imagine This. This important book is brought to life by comic artist Aska, whose engaging illustrations complement the direct, accessible writing and add a playful visual layer throughout.

Set out as a traditional non-fiction text and opening with a Contents page, the book’s chapters can be dipped into as needed, yet they also flow naturally from one to the next. The chapters present information in clear, accessible segments, with generous white space and key terms highlighted in blue, while humorous graphic images help break up the text and keep readers interested.

Some of the constructive information considered by the author includes facts about:

·         Data and metadata
·         The ‘addiction’ to mobile phone checking
·         The dopamine connection to mobile phone usage
·         Targeted advertising following you from site to site
·         Social media influencing public opinion more than traditional media ever did, as well as the role influencers play
·         Friendship issues, social skills
·         Online trends rippling into politics, shopping, and even community life
·         Mental Health is also thoughtfully considered with strategies offered in order to support those who maybe needing it including a Family Tech agreement
·         How to protect yourself online

This valuable and highly recommended book deserves a place in every home and classroom. It gently reveals what happens behind the scenes of the powerful internet, offering insights that are both timely and important. While much of the factual content may already be familiar to younger readers, its deeper implications are something they and the adults in their lives may not yet have paused to consider.

A wonderful resource for both teachers and parents, offering an ideal starting point for meaningful and perhaps necessary conversations about the internet.

Themes: Internet, Online Activities, Social Media, Online Safety, Facts, Background Information.

Kathryn Beilby