Misunderstanding the Internet / James Curran, Natalie Fenton and Des Friedman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Curran, James.

Contributor:

Fenton, Natalie.

Friedman, Des, 1962-

Series:

Communication and society (Routledge (Firm))

Communication and society

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Internet--Social aspects.

Internet.

Internet--Economic aspects.

Internet--Political aspects.

Social networks.

Physical Description:

194 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Abingdon, Oxon ; New York : Routledge, 2012.

Summary:

The growth of the internet has been spectacular. There are now more than 2 billion internet users across the globe, about 30 per cent of the world's population. This is certainly a new phenomenon that is of enormous significance for the economic, political and social life of contemporary societies. However, much popular and academic writing about the internet takes a celebratory view, assuming that the internet's potential will be realised in essentially transformative ways. This was especially true in the euphoric moment of the mid-1990s, when many commentators wrote about the internet with awe and wonderment. While this moment may be over, its underlying technocentrism - the belief that technology determines outcomes - lingers on, and, with it, a failure to understand the internet in its social, economic and political context.

Misunderstanding the Internal is a short introduction, encompassing the history, sociology, politics and economics of the internet and its impact on society. It is a polemical, sociologically and historically informed textbook that aims to challenge both popular myths and existing academic orthodoxies surrounding the internet. Book jacket.

Contents:

Pt. I. Overview

Reinterpreting the internet /James Curran

Rethinking internet history / James Curran

Part II. Political economy of the Internet

Web 2.0 and the death of the blockbuster economy / Des Freedman

Outsourcing internet regulation / Des Freedman

Part III. Internet and power

The internet and social networking / Natalie Fenton

The internet and radical policies / Natalie Fenton

Part IV. Looking forward

Conclusion / James Curran, Des Freedman and Natalie Fenton.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780415579568

0415579562

9780415579582

0415579589

9780203146484

0203146484

OCLC:

644679307

Publisher Number:

7225390