Custodians of the Internet

In this revealing and nuanced exploration, award-winning sociologist and cultural observer Tarleton Gillespie provides an overview of current social media practices and explains the underlying rationales for how, when and why these policies are enforced. In doing so, Gillespie highlights that content moderation receives too little public scrutiny even as it shapes social norms and creates consequences for public discourse, cultural production and the fabric of society. Based on interviews with content moderators, creators and consumers, this accessible, timely book is a mustread for anyone who’s ever clicked “like” or “retweet.”

Custodians of the Internet: platforms, content moderation, and the hidden decisions that shape social media
Tarleton Gillespie
Yale University Press
Available: 6/26/2018
296 pages
$30