The Internet is changing our lives, and seems to be eliciting other sides of us when we inhabit and interact in the online world. This text focuses on the positive and negative psychological changes that are influenced by modern technology, reminding us that indicators of such changes can be found early in the inception of modern communication technology. Stories, such as one that discusses online connections between telegraph operators during WWII, put this investigation into a wider, richer context. Moreover, reading the book makes me think about how we behave in chat rooms, or while writing email: this leads to self-discovery of our alter egos.

Chapter 1, “Putting Psychology and the Internet in Context,” introduces the history and domains of Internet activity, whereas chapter 2, “From Tools to Behaviour,” discusses the social context and presence arising from mediated communication, including the issue of de-individualization, as well as social information processing and emergent social language on the Internet. This chapter presents interesting research on self-awareness and self-disclosure during computer-mediated communication. What netiquette is, how norms become de facto standards, how the norms of new interactions emerge, and what influences them are all questions that are solidly covered.

Chapter 3, “Negative Aspects of Intra- and Interpersonal Internet Behaviour,” focuses on personal issues, like Internet addiction disorder, as well as social issues, like flaming and other antisocial behavior. This chapter tries to highlight the factors that influence such phenomena. Other hot topics, such as Internet relationships and Internet infidelity, are also covered.

The dark side of life online is studied in chapter 4, “Depression, Deception, and Pornography: The Dark Side of Life On-line.” Can the Internet make us feel good or depressed? Do we turn to the Internet when we are depressed, or does the Internet make us depressed? Deception and gender bending in the online community, as well as pornography and its online use, are also covered in this chapter. The bright side of online life is discussed in chapter 5, “Positive Intra- and Interpersonal Aspects of Internet Behaviour.”

Chapter 6, “Sharing and Surfing: the Benefits of On-line Communities and Web Browsing,” discusses the influence of the Internet on quality of life. Chapter 7, “A Framework for Understanding Internet Behaviour,” attempts to systemize observation in a model for studying the psychological impacts of online artifacts and behaviors from a variety of aspects. The last chapter, “Looking to the Future, Learning from the Past,” attempts to put this research in the context of new developments in technology, and discusses what to potentially expect in the near future.

This book discusses hot topics that are widely discussed on the Internet and in the media, based on facts and urban legends. Regardless of the source of the information, the presence of these conversations vouches for the interest in, and the attitude we have toward, the Internet, and what it enables us to do. Opinions are split on whether the Internet is a positive or negative influence. Online tools continue to emerge, enabling us to explore ourselves, giving us more options, and potentially enriching us.

In conclusion, this book makes for great reading. It could be read casually, or it could be a strong motivator for pursuing serious interdisciplinary research. Once you start reading it, you will not stop until you’ve finished. The ideas presented in the book will continue to haunt you whenever you sit in front of a computer.