The journalist and broadcaster Paula Todd discusses her new book, Extreme Mean: Trolls, Bullies and Predators Online (Signal, 2014), with Joseph Planta.

Extreme Mean: Trolls, Bullies and Predators Online by Paula Todd (Signal, 2014). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Extreme Mean

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

Paula Todd joins me now. The investigative journalist and broadcaster has a new book out, Extreme Mean: Trolls, Bullies and Predators Online. It’s a ground breaking book that looks at how cyberabuse online is wreaking havoc on the lives of children, youth and adults in this country and beyond. The deaths of Amanda Todd and Rehteah Parsons have brought all this to the fore, but this book looks deeply at what happened, as well as the greater impact on the media, the internet, and our society. It’s not often a pleasant book to read, and it’s a necessary one. I’ll get Ms. Todd who joins now from here in Vancouver to tell us about what she’s uncovered in the course of writing this book, why so much bullying and harassment seems to be commonplace online, and what we can all do, whether we’re parents or not, to understand and address the nefarious abuse that’s just a click away. Paula Todd is a lawyer, and professor of journalism and digital media at Seneca College. www.extrememean.com is the website for more. She’s on Twitter; her handle is @paula_todd. The book is published by Signal, which is an imprint of McClelland & Stewart. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Paula Todd; Ms. Todd, good morning.

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