New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

Nick Couldry, "The Space of the World: Can Human Solidarity Survive Social Media and What If It Can't?" (Polity, 2024)

Dec 23, 2024

Nick Couldry, a Professor at LSE specializing in media and social theory, delves into the impact of social media on human connections in his latest discussion. He questions whether true solidarity can exist in a digitally dominated world. Exploring themes like mental health crisis, misinformation, and the influence of Big Tech, Couldry argues for a redesign of digital spaces to prioritize community over profit. He highlights the need for solutions that respect local contexts and critiques capitalism's role in undermining social bonds.

38:22

Episode guests

Nick Couldry

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Social media has fragmented human solidarity by promoting divisive behavior and prioritizing sensational content over constructive discourse, impacting youth mental health.

A shift towards regulatory reform and community-focused social media platforms is essential to redesign digital spaces that foster solidarity and connection.

Deep dives

The Impact of Social Media on Human Solidarity

Social media has contributed significantly to the fragmentation of human solidarity, leading to increased polarization and mental health issues, particularly among young people. Evidence suggests that these platforms have not only connected billions of individuals but also incentivized behavior that emphasizes difference and division, rather than unity. For instance, the toxicity in online interactions is often fueled by engagement-driven algorithms that prioritize sensational content over constructive discourse. The author argues that for effective change to happen, a shift towards rebuilding social media in a manner that fosters community ties and interpersonal connections is essential.

Intro

2min

Reimagining Social Media for Solidarity

15min

Rethinking Social Media in Local Contexts

8min

The Dark Side of AI in Social Media: Challenges and Misconceptions

4min

Rethinking Capitalism and Social Media

7min

Is human solidarity achievable in a world dominated by continuous digital connectivity and commercially managed platforms? And what if it’s not? Professor Nick Couldry explores these urgent questions in his latest book, The Space of the World: Can Human Solidarity Survive Social Media and What If It Can’t? (Polity, 2024), as discussed in a recent interview with the New Books Network.

In a conversation with Joanne Kuai, Couldry reflects on how society has ceded critical decisions to Big Tech, enabling these companies to construct what he calls our "space of the world"—the artificial environment of social media platforms that now shapes much of our social existence. He argues this delegation of power was reckless, with far-reaching and damaging social consequences.

While the harmful effects on social life, youth mental health, and political solidarity are widely recognized, Couldry emphasizes a deeper issue that has been overlooked: humanity’s decision to allow businesses to define and exploit this shared digital space for profit. In doing so, we disregarded centuries of political thought on the conditions required for healthy and non-violent politics. This oversight has jeopardized a vital resource in the era of the climate crisis: solidarity.

In The Space of the World, the first book in his trilogy Humanising the Future, Couldry proposes a transformative vision for redesigning digital spaces to foster, rather than erode, solidarity and community. He stresses that caring for our shared digital space is no longer optional—it is an urgent task that must be tackled collectively.

Nick Couldry is Professor of Media, Communications and Social Theory in the Department of Media and Communications at LSE. As a sociologist of media and culture, he approaches media and communications from the perspective of the symbolic power that has been historically concentrated in media institutions. He is interested in how media and communications institutions and infrastructures contribute to various types of order (social, political, cultural, economic, ethical). His work has drawn on, and contributed to, social, spatial, democratic and cultural theory, anthropology, and media and communications ethics.

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