ABSTRACT

Social media technology is having a dramatic impact on social and political dynamics around the world.

The contributors to this book document and illustrate this "techtonic" shift on violent conflict and democratic processes. They present vivid examples and case studies from countries in Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America as well as Northern Ireland. Each author maps an array of peacebuilding solutions to social media threats, including coordinated action by civil society, governments and tech companies to protect human minds, relationships and institutions. Solutions presented include inoculating society with a new digital literacy agenda, designing technology for positive social impacts, and regulating technology to prohibit the worst behaviours.

A must-read both for political scientists and policymakers trying to understand the impact of social media, and media studies scholars looking for a global perspective.

chapter 1|20 pages

The techtonic shift

How social media works

chapter 3|16 pages

Brazil

Weaponised information and digitised hate

chapter 4|22 pages

Colombia

The use of social media in democratic spaces: a double-edged sword

chapter 5|8 pages

Egypt

Social media impacts on civil society, violent extremism and government control

chapter 6|17 pages

India

A false information ecosystem

chapter 7|15 pages

India–Pakistan

Civil society digital activism for peace

chapter 8|10 pages

Jordan

Social media and social change opportunities and threats

chapter 9|12 pages

Kenya

Social media literacy, ethnicity and peacebuilding

chapter 10|18 pages

Myanmar

The role of social media in fomenting violence

chapter 11|11 pages

Nigeria

Social media dynamics in Boko Haram’s terrorist insurgence

chapter 12|11 pages

Northern Ireland

Social media and conflict dynamics on the peace lines

chapter 13|11 pages

Sri Lanka

Digital blooms in social media and violence

chapter 14|11 pages

Venezuela

21st-century authoritarianism in the digital sphere

chapter 15|11 pages

Zimbabwe

Social media as a toxic tool or a future bridge to peace