Conspiracyland
Trolls, True Believers and the New Information War
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Atlantic Books
Published:2nd Jan '25
Should be back in stock very soon
'Full of unbelievable nonsense' Ian Hislop
'A tour de force' Jeremy Vine
'An excellent piece of investigative journalism' Julia Ebner, Telegraph
'A compelling guided tour of a dystopian underworld' John Naughton, Observer
MY NAME IS MARIANNA SPRING AND SOME OF MY TROLLS SAY THEY WANT TO KILL ME
Threats and abuse litter my social media feeds. They infect my everyday life. Sometimes the people behind the messages try to find me in person. This seems to be the price of venturing into the world of conspiracy theories, hate and algorithms. And it turns out, I am far from alone.
In 2020, I became the BBC's first disinformation and social media correspondent, and since then I have been trying to understand conspiracyland. Where does the vitriol come from? What drives otherwise reasonable people to believe that almost everything - from the worst attacks and wars to global health crises and climate change - is a hoax designed to kill or control millions of us?
In Conspiracyland I tell the first-hand stories of the trolls and the trolled, those behind the information battle that threatens not just the way society works, but also some of the qualities we value most about being human: respect, fairness, tolerance, integrity and kindness.
A compelling guided tour of a dystopian underworld * John Naughton, Observer *
An excellent piece of investigative journalism... For all the abuse she receives, you never find Spring demonising or humiliating conspiracy theorists; instead she highlights their inner struggles, fears and desires * Julia Ebner, Telegraph *
This book is full of unbelievable nonsense. I am very grateful to Marianna Spring for her admirable attempts to defend us against it * Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye *
Spring is uniquely qualified to explore our conspiracy-laden social media age... Charts the mountain of misinformation that democracy will struggle to overcome * New Statesman *
Brave and brilliant... Marianna Spring lowers a bucket into the well of online misinformation and bile, and pulls up clarity and understanding * Fiona Bruce *
Deeply reported yet extremely readable... A snapshot of a world that shows no sign of shrinking. * Irish Independent *
A tour de force... Something has gone very badly wrong with social media - Marianna Spring wades into the cesspit on our behalf * Jeremy Vine *
Marianna Spring is one of the most talented journalists of her generation. Her journey through Conspiracyland shows in chilling detail why we should all be deeply concerned about trolls and conspiracy theorists... essential reading * Jeremy Bowen *
An essential exploration into the heart of conspiracyland, Marianna Spring's journey sheds light on the shadowy world of disinformation and the powerful role of social media in shaping our beliefs. With gripping narratives and heart-wrenching personal stories, this book is a crucial read for understanding the intricate web of misinformation that influences our modern world. * Eliot Higgins, author of the Sunday Times bestseller We Are Bellingcat *
A powerful, brave voice in the noisy age of disinformation and online abuse. I've admired Marianne's courageous journalism for a while. This book continues and builds on that excellent work. * Anita Anand *
Marianna has brought to light astonishing narratives... She reminds us how seriously we must now take fake news and the spread of false lies, and the very real havoc it can wreak * Emily Maitlis *
ISBN: 9781838955267
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 25mm
Weight: 303g
352 pages
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