Trolling Ourselves to Death: Democracy in the Age of Social Media

Television has transformed democracy into show business, according to Neil Postman, and Jason Hannan's book Trolling Ourselves to Death argues that we are now trolling ourselves to death. Hannan contends that trolling is the logical result of a culture of possessive individualism, widespread alienation, mass distrust, and paranoia and that it is eroding our public culture and altering the rules of democratic politics. He proposes fostering a spirit of trust to combat the spread of political trolling.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 25 January 2024
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Almost forty years ago,Neil Postman argued that television had brought about a fundamental transformation to democracy. By turning entertainment into our supreme ideology, television had recreated public discourse in its image and converted democracy into show business. In Trolling Ourselves to Death, Jason Hannan builds on Postman's classic thesis, arguing that we are now not so much amusing, as trolling ourselves to death. Yet, how do we explain this profound change? What are the primary drivers behind the deterioration of civic culture and the toxification of public discourse?

Trolling Ourselves to Death moves beyond the familiar picture of trolling by recasting it in a broader historical light. Contrary to the popular view of the troll as an exclusively anonymous online prankster who hides behind a clever avatar and screen name, Hannan asserts that trolls have emerged from the cave, so to speak, and now walk in the clear light of day. Trolls now include politicians, performers, patriots, and protesters. What was once a mysterious phenomenon limited to the darker corners of the Internet has since gone mainstream, eroding our public culture and changing the rules of democratic politics. Hannan shows how trolling is the logical outcome of a culture of possessive individualism, widespread alienation, mass distrust, and rampant paranoia. Synthesizing media ecology with historical materialism, he explores the disturbing rise of political unreason in the form of mass trolling and sheds light on the proliferation of disinformation, conspiracy theory, cancel culture, and digital violence. Taking inspiration from Robert Brandom's innovative reading of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Trolling Ourselves to Death makes a case for building a spirit of trust to curb the epidemic of ma.

In conclusion, Jason Hannan's Trolling Ourselves to Death is a thought-provoking and timely book that challenges us to confront the dark side of our online culture. By exploring the rise of trolling and its impact on democracy, society, and public discourse, Hannan offers a powerful critique of the digital age and calls for a renewed commitment to building a more informed and empathetic public. As we navigate the complex terrain of the 21st century, it is essential that we remain vigilant against the dangers of trolling and work towards creating a more inclusive and resilient society.

Weight: 276g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197557778