Algorithmic Media and the Enshittified Town Square

This book explores the role of algorithmic media services (e.g. Instagram, Google, Twitter/X, TikTok) in mass communication. It provides empirical analyses of these media as digital environments which shape news distribution, advertising practices, and interpersonal communication. Drawing on interdisciplinary research from media studies, computer science, and communication, the book separates evidence-based insights from widespread “folk theories” about big tech companies and their role in society. By focusing on structural changes introduced by algorithmic mediation, this work contributes to ongoing discussions about digital literacy, regulation of big tech, and the future of democratic discourse. The structural focus also provides theoretical insights regarding dispersed gatekeeping roles in algorithmic media environments, the communication dynamics surrounding enshittification, and emerging forms of digital capital in the age of “influencers.” Overall, the book offers a pragmatic perspective toward the rapidly-evolving digital communication environment, emphasizing human agency and the potential for more purposeful engagement with algorithmic media.