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Routledge Advances in Sociology
Critical Theory and Social Media: Between Emancipation and Commodification
Social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are enormously popular: they are continuously ranked among the most frequently accessed websites worldwide. However there are as yet few studies which combine critical theoretical and empirical research in the context of digital and social media. The aim of this book is to study the constraints and emancipatory potentials of new media and to assess to what extent digital and social media can contribute to strengthen the idea of the communication and network commons, and a commons-based information society.
Based on a critical theory and political economy approach, this book explores:
the foundational concepts of a critical theory of media, technology, and society
users’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the antagonistic character and the potentials and risks of social media
whether technological and/or social changes are required in order to bring about real social media and human liberation.
Critical Theory and Social Media examines both academic discourse on, and users’ responses to, new media, making it a valuable tool for international scholars and students of sociology, media and communication studies, social theory, new media, and information society studies. Its clear and interesting insights into corporate practices of the global new media sector will mean that it appeals to critical social media users around the world.
Based on a critical theory and political economy approach, this book explores:
the foundational concepts of a critical theory of media, technology, and society
users’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the antagonistic character and the potentials and risks of social media
whether technological and/or social changes are required in order to bring about real social media and human liberation.
Critical Theory and Social Media examines both academic discourse on, and users’ responses to, new media, making it a valuable tool for international scholars and students of sociology, media and communication studies, social theory, new media, and information society studies. Its clear and interesting insights into corporate practices of the global new media sector will mean that it appeals to critical social media users around the world.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2015
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October 5, 2019
A very to the point book. Thomas Almmer is a researcher and an academic therefore his writing is very objective and research-based. He includes a plethora of references and arguments to run a very valid argument. The inclusion of the whole quantitive study about the students' perception of social media in Austria, however, could have been curtailed. I am certain it was serving the purpose of writing this book, yet this book in its entirety did not need the inclusion of such a bulky chapter.
All in all, as a media educator keen on critical theory in media, I found this work very helpful and insightful.
All in all, as a media educator keen on critical theory in media, I found this work very helpful and insightful.
Displaying 1 of 1 review