If you want to understand social media in a critical manner, it makes sense to start with foundational readings in critical theory. Therefore readings recommended in this section include works by Karl...

If you want to understand social media in a critical manner, it makes sense to start with foundational readings in critical theory. Therefore readings recommended in this section include works by Karl Marx, Herbert Marcuse, Max Horkheimer, Theodor W. Adorno and a debate between Adorno and Karl Popper on what the notion of the critical means in the social sciences. Three more readings (by Nicholas Garnham and Lawrence Grossberg) focus on a foundational debate about what it means to study the media and culture critically. Marx, Karl. 1843. Toward the critique of Hegel’s philosophy of law: Introduction. In Writings of the young Marx on philosophy and society, 249–265. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett. In this famous work Marx introduces his concept of ideology and argues that religion is the “opium of the people”. Ask yourself:

• What does Marx mean by ideology? What are its characteristics?

• Give some examples of ideologies.

• What are important ideologies today?

• Where have social media merged with ideologies? Provide some examples. What exactly is the content of these ideologies? What claims are they making?

What does reality look like and how can you determine what reality looks like in contrast to the claims made by social media ideologies? Search for examples and discuss them.