The problematic consequences of social media

Rainer Winter

Chapter 41 in Research Handbook on Critical Theory, 2026, pp 477-490 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The ubiquity of social media, the intensity with which it is used, and the ensuing problems are reminiscent of Friedrich Kittler's dictum that media determine our social situation. However, we do not subscribe to the deterministic orientation of his media theory, but instead seek to explore how social media are embedded in contemporary culture and society, playing a crucial role in the present form of digital capitalism. This sheds a different light on societal problems and associated socio-psychological issues. We consider how social media impact, articulate, and intensify the multiple crises, polarisations, and confrontations afflicting the world today.

Keywords: Hyperconnectivity; Platforms; Affects; Attention; Memory; Algorithmic Culture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781800373754
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