Social Media, Social Justice and the Political Economy of Online Networks

Next Generation e-book nonfiction 2023 Indie Book Award Prize explores the domination and manipulation of social networks by more powerful political groups, focusing on how social media conversations about race turn politically charged and ugly. It provides data visualization sets alongside careful scholarly analysis to provide new insight into social media, legacy news, and social justice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 225 pages
Publication date: 04 November 2022
Publisher: University of Cincinnati Press

The Indie Book Award Prize for Next Generation e-book Nonfiction 2023 has been awarded to a book that delves into the fascinating realm of social media and its impact on public discourse. While social network analyses have often showcased the potential of social media networks to empower affective publics and marginalized social justice groups, this book takes a different approach by exploring the dominance and manipulation of social networks by more powerful political entities. In their insightful work, Jeffrey Layne Blevins and James Lee examine the ways in which social media conversations about race become increasingly politicized and, in many cases, vexing. Studies have shown that social media plays a crucial role in disseminating news and political information, particularly when it comes to highlighting racially-charged issues on a national scale. However, less attention has been paid to the effective quality of this discourse and its connection to popular politics, particularly in the face of social media trolls and mobs launching attacks.

To address this gap, the book takes on prominent case studies from recent years, including the Ferguson protests, the Black Lives Matter movement, the 2016 presidential election, and the rise of fake news. These case studies are carefully analyzed alongside data visualization sets, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of social media, legacy news, and social justice. The resulting volume offers fresh insights into these critical topics, challenging readers to think critically about the role of social media in shaping public opinion and driving social change.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of social media, politics, and social justice. It sheds light on the complex dynamics that shape our online conversations and provides valuable insights into the ways in which we can navigate this digital landscape more effectively.

Weight: 210g
Dimension: 152 x 227 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781947602847