"Others cover inaugurations journalistically; official guests, photoshoots, ribbons. I arrive at the party when there are leftovers on the floor." With these words, the author guides us through the end of the democratic experiment of social media.

The book analyzes the multitude of ways (such as algorithmic manipulation, crusades against "disinformation," the complete lack of accountability for platforms, secret agreements with states and companies, the derivative nature of online discussion compared to television) through which the promise of equal access to the public sphere, a central promise of the technological age, is ensured to remain empty words.

This, in fact, does not only concern political information but all communication, from professional life to entertainment and culture. The impetus for writing the book is given by the combination of three observations: a) Users are addicted to scrolling, b) they navigate the internet via social media, i.e., they do not visit websites, and c) the process of promoting, hiding, or deleting posts by platforms is completely opaque.

The combination of these three elements creates an explosive mix and explains how systemic discourse can triumph despite everyone having a mobile phone and internet connection.

GUTENBERG POULIS A. KONSTANTINOS SOCIOLOGY GUTENBERG POULIS A. KONSTANTINOS