Antisocial Media

How Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Disability, Reference & Language, Language Arts, Communication, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Political
Cover of the book Antisocial Media by Siva Vaidhyanathan, Oxford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Siva Vaidhyanathan ISBN: 9780190841188
Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication: May 15, 2018
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author: Siva Vaidhyanathan
ISBN: 9780190841188
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication: May 15, 2018
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

If you wanted to build a machine that would distribute propaganda to millions of people, distract them from important issues, energize hatred and bigotry, erode social trust, undermine respectable journalism, foster doubts about science, and engage in massive surveillance all at once, you would make something a lot like Facebook. Of course, none of that was part of the plan. In this fully updated paperback edition of Antisocial Media, Siva Vaidhyanathan explains how Facebook devolved from an innocent social site hacked together by Harvard students into a force that, while it may make personal life just a little more pleasurable, makes democracy a lot more challenging. It's an account of the hubris of good intentions, a missionary spirit, and an ideology that sees computer code as the universal solvent for all human problems. And it's an indictment of how "social media" has fostered the deterioration of democratic culture around the world, from facilitating Russian meddling in support of Trump's election to the exploitation of the platform by murderous authoritarians in Burma and the Philippines. Both authoritative and trenchant, Antisocial Media shows how Facebook's mission went so wrong.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

If you wanted to build a machine that would distribute propaganda to millions of people, distract them from important issues, energize hatred and bigotry, erode social trust, undermine respectable journalism, foster doubts about science, and engage in massive surveillance all at once, you would make something a lot like Facebook. Of course, none of that was part of the plan. In this fully updated paperback edition of Antisocial Media, Siva Vaidhyanathan explains how Facebook devolved from an innocent social site hacked together by Harvard students into a force that, while it may make personal life just a little more pleasurable, makes democracy a lot more challenging. It's an account of the hubris of good intentions, a missionary spirit, and an ideology that sees computer code as the universal solvent for all human problems. And it's an indictment of how "social media" has fostered the deterioration of democratic culture around the world, from facilitating Russian meddling in support of Trump's election to the exploitation of the platform by murderous authoritarians in Burma and the Philippines. Both authoritative and trenchant, Antisocial Media shows how Facebook's mission went so wrong.

More books from Oxford University Press

Cover of the book Your Name Is Renée by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book Understanding Somatization in the Practice of Clinical Neuropsychology by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book The Conflict Myth and the Biblical Tradition by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book The New Evangelical Social Engagement by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book The World from 1000 BCE to 300 CE by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book Pandemics: A Very Short Introduction by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book Critical Service Learning Toolkit by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book Textbook of Family Medicine by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book Following the Rules by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book Barbarians and Brothers by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book Fascist Voices: An Intimate History of Mussolini's Italy by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book Oxford American Handbook of Endocrinology and Diabetes by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book Handling Difficult Situations by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book In Praise of Intransigence by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Cover of the book Social Enterprise Law by Siva Vaidhyanathan
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy