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lol...OMG!: What Every Student Needs to Know About Online Reputation Management, Digital Citizenship and Cyberbullying
The ease with which digital content can be shared online, in addition to its many benefits, has created a host of problems for today’s high school and college students. All too often, students are uploading, updating, posting and publishing without giving a second thought to who might see their content or how it might be perceived. lol…OMG! provides a cautionary look at the many ways that today’s students are experiencing the unanticipated negative consequences of their digital decisions – from lost job opportunities and denied college and graduate school admissions to full-blown national scandals. It also examines how technology is allowing students to bully one another in new and disturbing ways, and why students are often crueler online than in person. By using real-life case studies and offering actionable strategies and best practices, this book empowers students to clean up and maintain a positive online presence, and to become responsible digital citizens. “Matt Ivester’s book, lol…OMG!, is a “must read” for every college student, every high school student and the parents of each. It is also a “should read” for everyone who might want a job in today’s world.”
Joe Riley, Director of Human Resources, LinkedIn "Insightful, relatable, and critically important, lol...OMG! is a must-read."
Greg Boardman, Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Stanford University “We are at a critical point in technological history – where social media is beginning to have more impact on how we are perceived than our in-person interactions. lol…OMG! could not be more timely.”
Jennifer Aaker, General Atlantic Professor of Marketing, Stanford University, and author of The Dragonfly Effect “This book is required reading for anyone who wishes to survive the viral lawlessness of college life.”
Larry Winokur, Co-Founder, BWR Public Relations "Matt Ivester's book lol…OMG! is essential reading for parents, educators and anyone, of any age, who uses the Internet and has wondered about privacy and discretion. Leveraging his insider experience from his now-closed website JuicyCampus.com, he offers common sense methods that all of us need to know to protect us from the malicious gossip, mean-spirited rumors and sharing of personal information which now seems epidemic on the Internet."
William F. Meehan III, Director Emeritus, McKinsey and Co., Raccoon Partners Lecturer In Management, Stanford University "In this era of digital citizenship, the information employers find online can have a significant impact on your success in the hiring process. Read this book and take control of that information!”
Hayagreeva Rao, Atholl McBean Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources, Stanford University “Digital citizenship is an essential part of a modern education. The digital age has provided students with a host of new challenges, and we have an obligation to help them address those challenges. lol…OMG! is an important and valuable educational resource for students struggling to stay true to their own ethical principles while still keeping up with the quickly evolving digital landscape.”
Robert M. Saltzman, Associate Dean, USC Gould School of Law “A much-needed introduction to the realities, risks and rewards that college students face when they construct online identities. A useful and practical guide for college administrators as well as students.”
Dr. Ernest J. Wilson III, Dean, USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism “Matt Ivester understands the challenges of this new electronic frontier and provides information that will make a difference in your life if you read this book."
Ozzie Harris II, Senior Vice Provost for Diversity & Community, Emory University
Joe Riley, Director of Human Resources, LinkedIn "Insightful, relatable, and critically important, lol...OMG! is a must-read."
Greg Boardman, Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Stanford University “We are at a critical point in technological history – where social media is beginning to have more impact on how we are perceived than our in-person interactions. lol…OMG! could not be more timely.”
Jennifer Aaker, General Atlantic Professor of Marketing, Stanford University, and author of The Dragonfly Effect “This book is required reading for anyone who wishes to survive the viral lawlessness of college life.”
Larry Winokur, Co-Founder, BWR Public Relations "Matt Ivester's book lol…OMG! is essential reading for parents, educators and anyone, of any age, who uses the Internet and has wondered about privacy and discretion. Leveraging his insider experience from his now-closed website JuicyCampus.com, he offers common sense methods that all of us need to know to protect us from the malicious gossip, mean-spirited rumors and sharing of personal information which now seems epidemic on the Internet."
William F. Meehan III, Director Emeritus, McKinsey and Co., Raccoon Partners Lecturer In Management, Stanford University "In this era of digital citizenship, the information employers find online can have a significant impact on your success in the hiring process. Read this book and take control of that information!”
Hayagreeva Rao, Atholl McBean Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources, Stanford University “Digital citizenship is an essential part of a modern education. The digital age has provided students with a host of new challenges, and we have an obligation to help them address those challenges. lol…OMG! is an important and valuable educational resource for students struggling to stay true to their own ethical principles while still keeping up with the quickly evolving digital landscape.”
Robert M. Saltzman, Associate Dean, USC Gould School of Law “A much-needed introduction to the realities, risks and rewards that college students face when they construct online identities. A useful and practical guide for college administrators as well as students.”
Dr. Ernest J. Wilson III, Dean, USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism “Matt Ivester understands the challenges of this new electronic frontier and provides information that will make a difference in your life if you read this book."
Ozzie Harris II, Senior Vice Provost for Diversity & Community, Emory University
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
25 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 12, 2013
Written for college students, this book focuses on the topic of cyber bullying and reputation. It should be required reading for any high school (or middle school) student who is beginning a "facebook" page.
The internet was created around 1990. In 2010, colleges began to enroll "digital natives," students who had never lived without the Internet. These are students who Googled their roommate before college, and potentially talked to them on Facebook for weeks before ever meeting them in person. Blind dates are seldom "blind" these days, as a google search or Facebook browse will often reveal a fair bit about a person within a few minutes. And for students (or adults) who are seeking a job, their online reputation could be make-or-break. Even seemingly innocuous parts of your cyber identity -- which pages you "Like" or Share -- could have an adverse affect on a person's (cyber) reputation. Employers who pay to have job candidates drug tested, are more and more likely to pay a third-party company to browse a person's cyber history. And let's face it, they aren't doing that to find a reason to hire you (your resume already shares that information); rather, they are trying to find a reason to weed you out of their job pool.
Besides being diligent about setting appropriate privacy settings on your social media, it is necessary to periodically evaluate the social media you're using and why, and to be aware of your cyber identity, both positively and negatively. The author gives suggestions for establishing and maintaining a positive cyber identity -- social media does have some very positive attributes. Likewise, it is important to know who your friends are, and to realize that people do not act the same way online as they do in person. Someone who you trust implicitly face-to-face could cause irreparable damage online, purposely or mistakenly, within a few seconds.
Much is already written about cyber bullying and security; this book addresses those issues, but what I really appreciated was this book's focus on cyber reputations and identities.
The internet was created around 1990. In 2010, colleges began to enroll "digital natives," students who had never lived without the Internet. These are students who Googled their roommate before college, and potentially talked to them on Facebook for weeks before ever meeting them in person. Blind dates are seldom "blind" these days, as a google search or Facebook browse will often reveal a fair bit about a person within a few minutes. And for students (or adults) who are seeking a job, their online reputation could be make-or-break. Even seemingly innocuous parts of your cyber identity -- which pages you "Like" or Share -- could have an adverse affect on a person's (cyber) reputation. Employers who pay to have job candidates drug tested, are more and more likely to pay a third-party company to browse a person's cyber history. And let's face it, they aren't doing that to find a reason to hire you (your resume already shares that information); rather, they are trying to find a reason to weed you out of their job pool.
Besides being diligent about setting appropriate privacy settings on your social media, it is necessary to periodically evaluate the social media you're using and why, and to be aware of your cyber identity, both positively and negatively. The author gives suggestions for establishing and maintaining a positive cyber identity -- social media does have some very positive attributes. Likewise, it is important to know who your friends are, and to realize that people do not act the same way online as they do in person. Someone who you trust implicitly face-to-face could cause irreparable damage online, purposely or mistakenly, within a few seconds.
Much is already written about cyber bullying and security; this book addresses those issues, but what I really appreciated was this book's focus on cyber reputations and identities.
December 31, 2017
A bit heavy on the horror stories, but still plenty of good information on how and why to be a good netizen. Some suggestions might be a bit over the top (secure your name as a domain so nobody can impersonate you by using it themselves) but the idea is sound - actively pursue a positive/neutral reputation online, and seek to avoid/eliminate any negative information about yourself. Recommended for high schoolers and their parents, with the aim of starting off an internet presence on the right foot.
September 24, 2018
This is the ultimate guide for students who want to be a safe and successful citizen in the digital world. It has everything you should know to be a good digital citizen. From reputation to citizenship to cyber bullying, it's there. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to know if their digital etiquette is good or not. Or people who are interested in this kind of thing.
August 4, 2017
Redundant
I felt like every other chapter was virtually the same information. Will never get the time I spent reading this book back.
I felt like every other chapter was virtually the same information. Will never get the time I spent reading this book back.
November 23, 2022
Short and to the point. Can be read out of order, highlighting one chapter.
February 6, 2012
This is a good book for any student OR anyone who has a job or plans to ever have a job, as well as anyone who uses the internet really.
It is amazing how the harmless, jokey little things you do online can come back and bite you in the ass, apparently.
Have Facebook pics of yourself drinking beer? "Liked" a page that's about sex, cursing, violence, ethnicity, politics or language policy? All of that can impact your potential to get employment or into some schools. Put your real name in when you registered your email? Your email that use all over the place, probably on blogs and forums where you talk about god knows what that you wouldn't want an employee to see?
It may not seem fair, it may be that don't want to work for such assholes who would judge over such a little thing, but when it comes time to pay the rent and you must have a job, you don't need anything holding you back. This book will help you to see the different potential dangers in sharing seemingly innocent information online.
People in law enforcement are being fired for supporting the legalization of marijuana--not for actually doing anything with marijuana, just signing petitions or being involved in political groups to legalize it-- fully legal, adult teachers getting fired because they posted photos of themselves with alcohol on Facebook, etc etc.
The reason for the book existing, our online and offline lives are not completely separate and exclusive, and employers can find out more about our personal beliefs and lives than ever before because of the internet. Unless you keep your real name and any photos of yourself completely off the internet (not that easy; even if you're discreet, friends, relatives and people that know you may not be so) it's good to know exactly what dirty tricks employers, landlords, universities, and potential dates are using to dig up dirt on you.
Even if this book isn't personally of any use to you, most of the people around us use Facebook and other online sites in a way that could impact them, and it's good to know what forces are at work in the world today.
It is amazing how the harmless, jokey little things you do online can come back and bite you in the ass, apparently.
Have Facebook pics of yourself drinking beer? "Liked" a page that's about sex, cursing, violence, ethnicity, politics or language policy? All of that can impact your potential to get employment or into some schools. Put your real name in when you registered your email? Your email that use all over the place, probably on blogs and forums where you talk about god knows what that you wouldn't want an employee to see?
It may not seem fair, it may be that don't want to work for such assholes who would judge over such a little thing, but when it comes time to pay the rent and you must have a job, you don't need anything holding you back. This book will help you to see the different potential dangers in sharing seemingly innocent information online.
People in law enforcement are being fired for supporting the legalization of marijuana--not for actually doing anything with marijuana, just signing petitions or being involved in political groups to legalize it-- fully legal, adult teachers getting fired because they posted photos of themselves with alcohol on Facebook, etc etc.
The reason for the book existing, our online and offline lives are not completely separate and exclusive, and employers can find out more about our personal beliefs and lives than ever before because of the internet. Unless you keep your real name and any photos of yourself completely off the internet (not that easy; even if you're discreet, friends, relatives and people that know you may not be so) it's good to know exactly what dirty tricks employers, landlords, universities, and potential dates are using to dig up dirt on you.
Even if this book isn't personally of any use to you, most of the people around us use Facebook and other online sites in a way that could impact them, and it's good to know what forces are at work in the world today.
April 3, 2015
lol...OMG! was a really good read, because I learned that nothing on the internet ever disappears, and that could really hurt your reputation.
lol…OMG!shows readers a cautionary look at the many ways that young adolescents across the world are experiencing the unanticipated negative consequences of their digital decisions. The author shows how people have lost job opportunities and how they were denied college and graduate school admissions when admission officers or employers looked at their profiles. It also examines how the growth of technology is allowing students to bully one another in new and evil ways such as sending videos, images, texts to one another, and why students are more mean online than they are in person. The author uses real life examples and studies and her offers strategies and best habits for the teens to conduct once they are online. lol...OMG! urges students to c to become responsible digital citizens. I highly recommend this book for my peers to read!
lol…OMG!shows readers a cautionary look at the many ways that young adolescents across the world are experiencing the unanticipated negative consequences of their digital decisions. The author shows how people have lost job opportunities and how they were denied college and graduate school admissions when admission officers or employers looked at their profiles. It also examines how the growth of technology is allowing students to bully one another in new and evil ways such as sending videos, images, texts to one another, and why students are more mean online than they are in person. The author uses real life examples and studies and her offers strategies and best habits for the teens to conduct once they are online. lol...OMG! urges students to c to become responsible digital citizens. I highly recommend this book for my peers to read!
Read
April 8, 2014lol...OMG! is a great read, especially for students who plan on going to college or directly into the work force. The book gives an overview of the many dangers of the internet; how something inappropriate can become viral in a matter of minutes, and also comments on creating an online reputation. I think the book is definitely relevant especially for the youth today, who often do not realize that every word you say, every picture you post, and every video you make is never deleted, but instead remains in cyberspace permanently. The book also comments on cyber bullying, a common form of harassment that teens face today, giving suggestions as to why cyber bullying occurs and advice for victims and bystanders. If you are worried about your children participating on social networks, this is a great book to inform you about both the negative and positive aspects of the digital world.
January 6, 2017
This book is geared towards students and young adults, but it's a great read for any adult that does not consider themselves an expert at having an online social presence. From specific ways to manage your accounts and clean up your image, to legal rights (and limitations) for privacy and freedom of speech, there is a lot of good information. There are also examples throughout of "harmless" jokes/videos posted online before going viral with long lasting consequences and legal ramifications. Hence the title (lol...OMG). The book is a few years old and some of the graphics & websites listed are out of date, but it's still a great resource. I almost stopped reading on page 1 when he called libraries "relics of a bygone age" but hey, everyone is allowed to get stuff wrong now and then. I'm returning his book to the library right after I finish this review.
April 8, 2014
lol...OMG! is a book geared toward college students warning them about their digital decisions. While the book warns them about their digital decisions, it also gives them some ways to "damage control" what they may have already done on the Internet. The author also includes some suggestions on how to make their "digital selves" more appealing. My favorite quotation from the book is from Chapter 1. Ivester states, "students are often their own worst enemies. They are the ones capturing their own mistakes and sharing them, without a second thought." This just goes to prove that it is imperative that we educate ourselves and our youth about being good digital citizens. I would recommend this book to high schoolers about to enter the college life as well as students already in college.
February 2, 2013
What do I think about the book?
>> Lol...OMG! is a very good book to educate us on how to behave online properly. The author show how our careless and bad behavior in the digital world can lead to serious consequences offline.
Why did I read this?
>> The kindle version ($17) was available for free between Jan 28-29th, 2013. I downloaded it, read the first page, and could not stop reading it.
Will I recommend this book to others?
>> Yes, especially to students.
What is the message I remember?
>> Be thoughtful and do not be offensive.
>> Lol...OMG! is a very good book to educate us on how to behave online properly. The author show how our careless and bad behavior in the digital world can lead to serious consequences offline.
Why did I read this?
>> The kindle version ($17) was available for free between Jan 28-29th, 2013. I downloaded it, read the first page, and could not stop reading it.
Will I recommend this book to others?
>> Yes, especially to students.
What is the message I remember?
>> Be thoughtful and do not be offensive.
April 8, 2014
The book is an ok book for introduction into the internet. It reads like a how to book or I guess a how not to book. It is centered around college age students, but I feel it's more of a freshman in high school book, if only certain examples were toned down a little. It's an easy read with quick notes about each chapter to review what you just read. It gives decent examples of situations where students have done stuff that they regretted thinking it was funny at first (lol) and after it goes viral they realize what they have done (omg).
May 3, 2013
I think this is a must read for people in today's day and age with technology being so rampant -- I had to read this for my Comp II class and I couldn't have picked a better book -- it gives specific (without mentioning names) details about what could happen if you post your whole entire world online -- from being humiliated out of school to a simple little thing that you share with a friend, that get shared with their friend, and their friend, and so on.
Read
April 8, 2014This book is a must read for students as, or before, they start their online life. This book is written for college students, but should be read by high school students too. Common sense advice, with examples of the pitfalls of not using common sense.
Includes information on how to see what the world sees about you, how to "clean" it up, and when litigation might be in order.
Discusses the differences between actions in the real world and online, and the 'power' of anonymity.
Includes information on how to see what the world sees about you, how to "clean" it up, and when litigation might be in order.
Discusses the differences between actions in the real world and online, and the 'power' of anonymity.
Read
April 8, 2014After reading this book, one realizes how important it is to be careful about what you post on line.
Even if you think it is 'for your eyes only', it is not. Digital memory is powerful and unforgiving.
Book was easy to read. It should be introduced to young generation as a precautionary tale.
Examples in the book is powerful. What every one experiences is not always that devastating, but it could range from discomfort to hurtful.
Even if you think it is 'for your eyes only', it is not. Digital memory is powerful and unforgiving.
Book was easy to read. It should be introduced to young generation as a precautionary tale.
Examples in the book is powerful. What every one experiences is not always that devastating, but it could range from discomfort to hurtful.
July 14, 2013
I suspect that in 10-15 years our current obsession with oversharing, social-everything online, twittering, etc. will burn itself out and humanity will settle down to a more reasonable balance between online and offline. Til then, it's pretty reasonable to worry about online reputation, and this book is a decent exposition on the topic.
April 8, 2014
The potential problems on the internet is all too clear in the examples Matt Ivester includes in this quick read. LOL...OMG should be required reading for every college freshman. Not only does he include helpful stories but he also provides concrete steps everyone should take to avoid future problems.
February 21, 2012
This is a pretty quick read with great examples and tips. Practical and smart. I'm motivated to change some things about how I conduct myself online. Everything is more transparent and permanent than you think.
February 5, 2012
This book was very informative. Highly recommended to parents and students alike.
September 10, 2014
Mostly common sense. Good reference book for the new computer generation. Also good for parents to understand and address the issue to their kids.
September 12, 2016
Should be essential reading to graduate high school.
September 11, 2016
Great book on what not to post online! Read on a Kindle.
June 23, 2014
Every high school senior should read it before they head off to college. It is a wake-up call on preserving your reputation via your digital footprint.
November 26, 2013
Great book about how to navigate the perils on the online world. Lots of specific advice, which I love.
June 28, 2013
Very informative!
February 8, 2015
I do think this could helpful for high school students to read- parents, too.
September 26, 2014
An informative book about how to be safe on the Internet without violating your freedom. Provides the pros and cons to social media and other features of the internet
December 3, 2014
A book for high school and college students about cyber-bullying.
July 30, 2015
good book and while geared towards college students, it is probably useful for anyone to read.
Read
August 16, 2012An eye opener for social networking and digital citizenship.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews