InRealLife

Concerned parents will find their worst fears about the dangers posed by the Internet to their children confirmed by English filmmaker Beeban Kidron's documentary, which combines a brief history of the web (and an explanation of how it works) with case studies of the ways it is used by young people, starting with a portrait of two boys confessing their addiction to porn and ending on a more hopeful note with a closeted gay teen who finds a romantic partner through a chat room. In between are stories about a girl so devoted to her missing BlackBerry that she will pay to retrieve it with sex, and a boy who commits suicide after being subjected to cyberbullying—among others. The salient point, underscored by a number of talking-head interviewees (including WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange), is that the Internet is a for-profit enterprise controlled by powerful corporations that are skilled in getting people addicted. Unfortunately, the film tends to lose its focus amidst an avalanche of facts and digressions, such as a segment on a video blogger who employs his satirical skills to become a successful online celebrity. And its penchant for using buzzwords like “scary” and “traumatic”—not to mention referring to Google's reach as “the devil in the room” (accompanied by sinister music)—veers more toward alarmist screed than thoughtful analysis. Still, there is useful information here, along with some poignant moments, making this hot-topic doc a strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)