This book by prominent media researcher Christian Fuchs is one of the most widely used textbooks for social science students internationally. It offers a critical re-examination of many contemporary phenomena related to digital communication, including social media, participatory culture, digital activism, big data, and the platform economy. The textbook encourages students to reflect on the ambivalent nature of the changes brought about by digital media technologies and teaches them to analyze these phenomena through the lens of various critical media theories—most notably, critical left-wing political economy, theories of surveillance and control, and Marxism, among others. Each chapter includes a comprehensive set of exercises and questions, designed to facilitate classroom instruction.
This volume will be a valuable resource for students and faculty in the social sciences, as well as for anyone with an interest in these topics.