Drawing on decades of psychological research, Wallace examines how the Internet influences cognition, communication, and social behavior, explaining both positive and negative effects of online activity. The second edition expands coverage to include emerging trends such as social media, online dating, child development online, gender and sexuality, privacy and surveillance, and Internet addiction. Rather than promoting utopian or dystopian narratives, Wallace grounds her analysis in empirical studies to show how elements such as anonymity, asynchronous communication, and reduced nonverbal cues affect impression formation, group dynamics, aggression, prosocial behavior, and interpersonal relationships. Throughout, she balances descriptive insights about online behavior with practical understanding aimed at helping readers navigate and shape their digital lives.
From Cambridge University Press