The internet trap : five costs of living online /

"Would you like an apple, dearie?" the evil witch asks Snow White, enticing her into a trap. Mukherjee (McGill Univ., Canada) says the internet can lure users into a trap, too, causing them to spend too much time online, becoming dissatisfied with their choices and unhappy in their relationships. Five traps to watch out for relate to temptation, information, customization, comparison, and privacy. Tempting users with ideal purchases, places to visit, and even people to know, the internet makes reality less desirable and encourages immediate gratification. Information overload can make it harder to make choices. Customization reinforces the "it's all about me" attitude and influences consumers to spend more than necessary. Comparisons lead people to compare not only products but also themselves against others in their social networks. And the internet's ability to share users' personal behaviors with others can invade people's privacy. How can the traps be avoided? Mukherjee says an occasional "internet detox" may be in order, as is weighing the benefits of so much easy access against the costs and learning to say "no." Recommended for upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, researchers/faculty, and practitioners. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. --Patricia G. Kishel, Cypress College