GC Times Talk

Social media giants are poisoning our journalism, our politics, our relationships and ultimately our minds.Glenn Reynolds looks at the up and downsides of social media and at proposals for regulation, and offers his own fix that respects free speech while reducing social media's toll.

Although social media has given people the ability to connect with others worldwide, it has also become the primary vehicle for spreading hate speech, falsehoods, and disinformation. Through a narrative-driven pro/con format--supported by relevant facts, quotes, anecdotes, and full-color illustrations--this title examines issues related to social media. Topics include: Is Social Media Use Harmful to Youth Mental Health? Should Social Media Companies Regulate Speech? Is Social Media Addictive?

While society has widely condemned the effects on preteens and teens' natural social maturation of digitally enabled communication, such as texting and messaging, and of social media apps, such as Facebook, Instagram, and SnapChat, these forms of communication are adversely affecting everyone, including adults. This book examines how social media and modern communication methods are isolating users socially, jeopardizing their intellectual habits, and, as a result, decreasing their chances of achieving social and professional success. The ubiquitous use of the Internet and social media is changing our society--in some ways, for the worse. Use of social media, the Internet, and other purely digital and less-personal communication methods are distorting the intellectual and social maturation of teens and preteens in particular--those among us who were born into and raised with Internet technology. People's ability to read facial expressions, interpret subtle differences in spoken intonation, and perceive body language is in significant decline due to the use of social media and the Internet largely replacing direct, face-to-face contact with other human beings. This book documents how changes in our daily behavior caused by the proliferation of social media are reshaping individuals' personalities and causing an evolution of the character of our society as a whole. Readers will understand how these important changes came about and how more connectivity all too often leads to more ignorance and less comprehension, and will consider solutions that could counter the negative effects of being "too connected, too often."

Originally conceived as a way for people to stay connected, share photographs and post information, social media has evolved. Today, it is much more than a fun communication tool, it can become a destructive weapon when exploited by the wrong people. Readers will discover how social media is used as a weapon and what they can do to protect themselves. From Russian bots and fake news to cyberbullying and online shaming, readers will discover who is weaponizing social media and why. They also will uncover useful information about the benefits of social media and how they can use it in beneficial ways. This book also includes a glossary of useful terms and a list of helpful references for further exploration.