The Web We Weave: Why We Must Reclaim the Internet from Moguls, Misanthropes, and Moral Panic [Hardback]

"Today, the internet stands accused of dividing us, spying on us, addicting us, making us stupid, and depressing our children. In response, panicked media figures and politicians are calling for new layers of regulation and control that could spell the end of the web before we are finished building it. In this book, expert Jeff Jarvis pleads for a saner conversation about the internet. Reflecting on the web's past, present, and future, Jarvis shows that most of the problems the media lays at the internet's door are the result of our own failings. The internet did not make us hate; we brought our bias, bigotry, and prejudice to it. That's why proposed legislation to strictly regulate the web will fail to limit hate speech and misinformation, serving instead to curtail the freedom of speech the internet affords to all. Rather than despairing at Big Tech's inability to squelch bad behavior, we should turn our attention and resources to fostering constructive community, conversation, and creativity online. The Web We Weave offers an antidote to today's pessimism about the internet and outlines a bold vision for how we might build an even stronger web"--

A bold defense of the internet, arguing attempts to fix and regulate it are often misguided —"essential reading for anyone who cares about the future of the internet" (Taylor Lorenz, author of Extremely Online)

The internet stands accused of dividing us, spying on us, making us stupid, and addicting our children. In response, the press and panicked politicians seek greater regulation and control, which could ruin the web before we are finished building it.
 
Jeff Jarvis is convinced we can have a saner conversation about the internet. Examining the web’s past, present, and future, he shows that many of the problems the media lays at the internet’s door are the result of our own failings. The internet did not make us hate; we brought our bias, bigotry, and prejudice with us online. That’s why even well-intentioned regulation will fail to fix hate speech and misinformation and may instead imperil the freedom of speech the internet affords to all. Once we understand the internet for what it is—a human network—we can reclaim it from the nerds, pundits, and pols who are in charge now and turn our attention where it belongs: to fostering community, conversation, and creativity online.? 

The Web We Weave offers an antidote to today’s pessimism about the internet, outlining a bold vision for a world with a web that works for all of us.?