Excellent analysis of how social media drives electoral behavior and policy. I wish there had been a focus on other social media platforms other than Facebook, but nevertheless offers a great understanding into how they helped to drive electoral results in 2016 and beyond.

The author primarily focused on Twitter, but Facebook was also a big part of this book. The book goes into detail of how we are both positively and negatively influenced by what we see on social media, whether or not the source is trustworthy. This was an informative read.

This is definitely an important piece of research about all aspects of social media. I just loved how the chapters were presented and touched on prior posts then is picked apart and explained in detail. He focuses on Twitter and Facebook, the big ones and especially Twitter as Trump uses it. The casual user of these may post the occasional photo or daily happenings, that's not the issue. It is the bad behavior of people like Donald Trump and many celebrities giving opinion without any thought. Bad behavior needs to come to a dull roar.

I like that the examples highlight voter fraud, the Russia issue and several more. He really gets into the origin of each post and gets the reader thinking. Plus the narrative throughout this book was fantastic. It ends on positive note about how social media can be used as form of improving change in the horrible and having better online habits. You don't have to share everything.

I am surprised how much I liked this and this is totally relevant with what has been happening for years on social media. Thanks to Netgalley, Sinan Aral and Crowj Publishing: Currency for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 9/15/20

I don't care if you are a marketing manager, social media influencer or just present on social media. I don't care if you are part of the electorate in the US, a consumer in Europe or running a business down under, this book explains it all when it comes to social media.

Sinan Aral takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions. The book and most chapters start with an emotionally arousing examples of social media in action. He than takes each of these examples and takes them apart, explains the inner workings, traces back the origins of posts and content and illustrates in great detail the impact social media has on our society.

The examples are historic, and current: annexation of the Crimean peninsula, voter fraud and voter suppression in the US and buying influences on major websites.

The book is not only highlighting bad habits and bad actors, it also provides hope. In the final chapter, the author lays down some paths towards improving and evolving our social media landscape for a better worlds.

This book as the potential to become a seminal publication, a must read with potential to hit the non-fiction bestseller list in the New York Times. Add to your 'want-to-read' now, or pre-order right away.