Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence and Power on the Internet

The New York Times calls this book a "remarkable history of the online creator economy." It explains how the internet has changed how we understand and interact with the world, empowering millions who were previously marginalized. It has created vast new sectors of the economy, while devastating legacy institutions. Taylor Lorenz, an acclaimed Washington Post reporter, has been the authority on internet culture for over a decade, and her debut book, Extremely Online, reveals how online influence came to upend the world, demolishing traditional barriers and creating whole new sectors of the economy. Lorenz documents how social platforms have changed our expectations of content, connection, purchasing, and power, and how young creators on TikTok are leveraging opportunities to opt out of the traditional career pipeline.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2023
Publisher: Ebury Publishing

The online creator economy has undergone a remarkable transformation, reshaping our understanding and interactions with the world. This transformative force has demolished traditional barriers, empowering millions who were previously marginalized. It has also created vast new sectors of the economy, while devastating legacy institutions. Often dismissed by traditionalists as a mere fad, this change represents the most significant and disruptive development in modern capitalism.

Acclaimed Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz presents a groundbreaking social history of the internet, unveiling how online influence and the creators who wield it have reshaped our world, both online and offline. Lorenz, a leading authority on internet culture for over a decade, has meticulously documented the far-reaching effects of this digital realm on every aspect of our lives. Her reporting is both serious and entertaining, illuminating profound truths about ourselves and the lives we create online.

In her debut book, "Extremely Online," Lorenz delves into the origins of online influence, exploring how it has dismantled traditional barriers and paved the way for the creation of entirely new economic sectors. By tracing the evolution of our desires and the methods we employ to fulfill them, Lorenz uncovers how social platforms have wielded immense power, reshaping our expectations of content, connection, purchasing, and power.

Lorenz's narrative encompasses a diverse range of stories, from the early monetization of personal brands by moms who started blogging to the reinvention of fame by bored teens who began posting selfie videos. She also highlights how young creators on TikTok are leveraging opportunities to opt out of the traditional career pipeline, forging their paths in the digital realm.

This book offers a comprehensive and authentic social history of the internet, shedding light on the transformative power of online influence and the creators who drive it. It serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the evolving landscape of digital commerce and the impact it has on our society.

Weight: 350g
Dimension: 233 x 154 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780753560792