Democracy in the Disinformation Age: Influence and Activism in American Politics

by Regina Luttrell (editor), Lu Xiao (Editor), Jon Glass (Editor)

In this book established researchers draw on a range of theoretical and empirical perspectives to examine social media’s impact on American politics. Chapters critically examine activism in the digital age, fake news, online influence, messaging tactics, news transparency and authentication, consumers’ digital habits and ultimately the societal impacts that continue to be created by combining social media and politics. Through this book readers will better understand and approach with questions such

• How exactly and why did social media become a powerful factor in politics?

• What responsibilities do social networks have in the proliferation of factually wrong and hate-filled messages? Or should individuals be held accountable?

• What are the state-of-the-art of computational techniques for measuring and determining social media's impact on society?

• What role does online activism play in today’s political arena?

• What does the potent combination of social media and politics truly mean for the future of democracy?

The insights and debates found herein provide a stronger understanding of the core issues and steer us toward improved curriculum and research aimed at a better democracy. Democracy in the Disinformation Influence and Activism in American Politics will appeal to both undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as academics with an interest in areas including political science, media studies, mass communication, PR, and journalism.

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2021

About the author

Before becoming an educator, Regina (Gina) Luttrell spent the first half of her career in public relations and marketing. Her extensive background includes strategic development and implementation of public relations and social media, advertising, marketing and corporate communications. She has led multiple re-branding campaigns, designed numerous web sites, managed high-level crisis situations, and garnered media coverage that included hits with the New York Times, the CBS Evening News, and the Associated Press. Today she is an Assistant Professor in the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University where she researches, publishes and speaks about public relations, social media, and the millennial generation both in the classroom and the workforce. Visit www.ginaluttrellphd.com to learn more.