From Grassroots Activism to Disinformation: Social Media in Southeast Asia (Paperback)

From Grassroots Activism to Disinformation: Social Media in Southeast Asia By Aim Sinpeng (Editor), Ross Tapsell (Editor) Cover Image
By Aim Sinpeng (Editor), Ross Tapsell (Editor)
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Description


This book reflects on the role of social media in the past two decades in Southeast Asia. It traces the emergence of social media discourse in Southeast Asia, and its potential as a "liberation technology" in both democratizing and authoritarian states. It explains the growing decline in internet freedom and increasingly repressive and manipulative use of social media tools by governments, and argues that social media is now an essential platform for control. The contributors detail the increasing role of "disinformation" and "fake news" production in Southeast Asia, and how national governments are creating laws which attempt to address this trend, but which often exacerbate the situation of state control.

From Grassroots Activism to Disinformation explores three main questions: How did social media begin as a vibrant space for grassroots activism to becoming a tool for disinformation? Who were the main actors in this transition: governments, citizens or the platforms themselves? Can reformists "reclaim" the digital public sphere? And if so, how?

About the Author


Ross Tapsell (Editor) Ross Tapsell is Senior Lecturer at the Australian National University's College of Asia and the Pacific, and an Associate Fellow at the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore.
Product Details
ISBN: 9789814951029
ISBN-10: 9814951021
Publisher: Iseas - Yusof Ishak Institute
Publication Date: December 31st, 2020
Pages: 225
Language: English