ABSTRACT
This chapter explores some of the skills of critical reading require broad rules of thumb or heuristics, often applied unconsciously, that tell a reader very quickly what sort of material they are dealing with. It also explores why criticality is such an important educational goal in this context. Thinking of criticality as a social practice both informs a deeper understanding of what a critical user of the Internet is, but also shows how such a capacity inevitably involves activities, relations, and access to information and experiences that go beyond the Internet itself. The Internet is a tremendous archive of information and a powerful medium for communication and collaboration. In many ways, new information and communication technologies, including the Internet, as well as other related popular media, make the centrality and influence of these authorities all the more important.
