Among the Trolls

My Journey Through Conspiracyland

Marianna Spring

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Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Atlantic Books
04 June 2024

Society & Social Sciences; Media studies; Conspiracy theories; Politics & government; Media, information & communication industries

'Essential' Eliot Higgins 'Admirable' Ian Hislop

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?

I decided to track down both the trolls and their victims, the people who spread the most harmful mistruths as well as those they hurt. I wanted to find out who was caught up in all of this - and why some of them are so full of hate.

In Among the Trolls 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.

By: Marianna Spring
Imprint: Atlantic Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: Export/Airside
Dimensions: Height: 215mm, Width: 130mm, Spine: 23mm
Weight: 366g
ISBN: 9781838955243
ISBN 10: 1838955240
Pages: 352
Publication Date: 04 June 2024
Audience: General/trade , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

1: True Believers 2: The Non-Believers? 3: Collateral Damage 4: Escaping the Rabbit Hole 5: The Life of a Lie 6: Shock Troops 7: Bot or Not? How State Disinformation Works 8: Virtual Is Now Real 9: What Next?

Marianna Spring is the BBC's first disinformation and social media correspondent and an award-winning journalist. She presents podcasts and documentaries investigating disinformation and social media for BBC Radio 4 podcasts, as well as for BBC Panorama and BBC Three. She is also one of the presenters of the BBC's Americast podcast. In 2022, she was named the British Press Guild's Audio Presenter of the year and Royal Television Society Innovation winner.

Reviews for Among the Trolls: My Journey Through Conspiracyland

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 * 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 *