Humans in the Cyber Loop
Perspectives on Social Cybersecurity
Published on 10. July 2025
Book
Hardback
292 pages
978-90-04-54989-0 (ISBN)
Description
Humans in the Cyber Loop: Perspectives on Social Cybersecurity addresses the evolving role of humans in cyberspace through an analysis of how digital interactions and advancements both shape and are shaped by societal, economic, and political factors. The book systematically explores social cybersecurity, the impact of disinformation on democratic processes, the influence of social media on public opinion, and the implications of algorithmic decision-making to demonstrate the importance of building societal resilience to cyber attacks and to better understand specific needs and challenges in this domain.
Excerpt from a review by Prof. Danuta Kazmierczak, University of the National Education Commission, Krakow:
"The authors treat ... cyberspace as an ecosystem composed of networks of organizations, individuals and technologies, whose dynamics are defined by the multidimensional relationships of these components ... The book contains analyses and examples that allow a greater understanding of the processes, phenomena and mechanisms occurring in societies, created at the intersection of the real and virtual worlds."
Excerpt from a review by Prof. Danuta Kazmierczak, University of the National Education Commission, Krakow:
"The authors treat ... cyberspace as an ecosystem composed of networks of organizations, individuals and technologies, whose dynamics are defined by the multidimensional relationships of these components ... The book contains analyses and examples that allow a greater understanding of the processes, phenomena and mechanisms occurring in societies, created at the intersection of the real and virtual worlds."
Reviews / Votes
Excerpt from a review by Prof. Danuta Kazmierczak, University of the National Education Commission, Krakow:"The authors treat ... cyberspace as an ecosystem composed of networks of organizations, individuals and technologies, whose dynamics are defined by the multidimensional relationships of these components ... The book contains analyses and examples that allow a greater understanding of the processes, phenomena and mechanisms occurring in societies, created at the intersection of the real and virtual worlds."
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Leiden
Netherlands
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 239 mm
Width: 158 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
554 gr
ISBN-13
978-90-04-54989-0 (9789004549890)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Dorota Domalewska (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor at War Studies University, Warsaw, and Editor-in-Chief of Security and Defence Quarterly. Her research interests integrate security studies and strategic communication with a particular emphasis on social media analysis.
Aleksandra Gasztold (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor at the University of Warsaw and Editor-in-Chief of Applied Cybersecurity & Internet Governance, published by NASK-National Research Institute. Her research interests encompass modern terrorism and radicalization.
Agnieszka Wronska (Ph.D.) is an expert at NASK-National Research Institute, Poland. She specializes in the safe use of the internet by young users, and her research focuses on cyber threats to children and teens.
Aleksandra Gasztold (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor at the University of Warsaw and Editor-in-Chief of Applied Cybersecurity & Internet Governance, published by NASK-National Research Institute. Her research interests encompass modern terrorism and radicalization.
Agnieszka Wronska (Ph.D.) is an expert at NASK-National Research Institute, Poland. She specializes in the safe use of the internet by young users, and her research focuses on cyber threats to children and teens.
Content
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
1 Social Cybersecurity: from Technology to a Human-Centered Approach
?1?Redefining the Human Role and Security in the Evolving Cyberspace
?2?Social Cybersecurity
?3?Cybersecurity as a New Frontier in Security Studies
?4?The Evolution of Cyber Threats
2 Cybersecurity: from Crime to Warfare in the Digital Age
?1?Cyber Terrorism
?2?Cybercrime
?3?Social Engineering
?4?Cyber War
?5?Hybrid Warfare
3 Information Warfare and Disinformation: a Modern Challenge
?1?A Human-Centered Approach to Information Warfare
?2?Disinformation
?3?The Viral Spread of Disinformation in Democratic Societies
?4?The Human Factor in Disinformation
?5?State-Sponsored Propaganda and Disinformation Based on the Example of Russia
4 The Power of Algorithms: Understanding Their Impact in Social Cybersecurity
?1?Algorithms
?2?Algorithmic Shaping of User Experience
?3?Censorship and Bias in Algorithmic Decisions
?4?Commercial Bias in Algorithmic Content Curation
?5?Political Microtargeting
?6?Applying Algorithms and AI for the Public Good Based on the Example of Estonia
5 Social Cybersecurity in the Context of Societal and Economic Change
?1?Reshaping Society and the Economy
?2?The Attention Economy and Redefining Value
?3?Social Media Marketing and Redefining Business Strategies
?4?Influencer Marketing
?5?Redefining Power and Privacy under Surveillance Capitalism
?6?Surveillance Technology in Societal Governance
6 Digital Persuasion: the Power of Social Media Influencers
?1?Key Stakeholders and Power Dynamics in Cyberspace
?2?The Persuasive Power of Social Media Influencers
?3?The Diversity of Social Media Influencers
?4?Ethical Aspects of Social Media Influencing
?5?Kidfluencers: Risks Connected to Child Labor
?6?The Accountability of Social Media Influencers
?7?The Social Impact of Social Media Influencers
7 From Overload to Overreach: the Impact of Digital Content on Society
?1?Information Overload
?2?Infotainment
?3?Engagement, Emotions and User Behavior
?4?Digital Narcissism
?5?Hate Speech
?6?Cyber Aggression and Cyber Bullying
?7?The Roots of Cyber Aggression
?8?Multidisciplinary Approaches to Combating Hate Speech
8 Digital Dependency: Exploring Problematic Internet Use
?1?Problematic Internet Use
?2?Problematic Smartphone Use
?3?Behavioral Mechanisms and Brain Impacts
?4?Underlying Causes of Problematic Internet Use
?5?The Addictive Design of Technology
9 Conclusion: the Digital Ecosystem from the Perspective of Social Cybersecurity
References
Index
Abbreviations
Introduction
1 Social Cybersecurity: from Technology to a Human-Centered Approach
?1?Redefining the Human Role and Security in the Evolving Cyberspace
?2?Social Cybersecurity
?3?Cybersecurity as a New Frontier in Security Studies
?4?The Evolution of Cyber Threats
2 Cybersecurity: from Crime to Warfare in the Digital Age
?1?Cyber Terrorism
?2?Cybercrime
?3?Social Engineering
?4?Cyber War
?5?Hybrid Warfare
3 Information Warfare and Disinformation: a Modern Challenge
?1?A Human-Centered Approach to Information Warfare
?2?Disinformation
?3?The Viral Spread of Disinformation in Democratic Societies
?4?The Human Factor in Disinformation
?5?State-Sponsored Propaganda and Disinformation Based on the Example of Russia
4 The Power of Algorithms: Understanding Their Impact in Social Cybersecurity
?1?Algorithms
?2?Algorithmic Shaping of User Experience
?3?Censorship and Bias in Algorithmic Decisions
?4?Commercial Bias in Algorithmic Content Curation
?5?Political Microtargeting
?6?Applying Algorithms and AI for the Public Good Based on the Example of Estonia
5 Social Cybersecurity in the Context of Societal and Economic Change
?1?Reshaping Society and the Economy
?2?The Attention Economy and Redefining Value
?3?Social Media Marketing and Redefining Business Strategies
?4?Influencer Marketing
?5?Redefining Power and Privacy under Surveillance Capitalism
?6?Surveillance Technology in Societal Governance
6 Digital Persuasion: the Power of Social Media Influencers
?1?Key Stakeholders and Power Dynamics in Cyberspace
?2?The Persuasive Power of Social Media Influencers
?3?The Diversity of Social Media Influencers
?4?Ethical Aspects of Social Media Influencing
?5?Kidfluencers: Risks Connected to Child Labor
?6?The Accountability of Social Media Influencers
?7?The Social Impact of Social Media Influencers
7 From Overload to Overreach: the Impact of Digital Content on Society
?1?Information Overload
?2?Infotainment
?3?Engagement, Emotions and User Behavior
?4?Digital Narcissism
?5?Hate Speech
?6?Cyber Aggression and Cyber Bullying
?7?The Roots of Cyber Aggression
?8?Multidisciplinary Approaches to Combating Hate Speech
8 Digital Dependency: Exploring Problematic Internet Use
?1?Problematic Internet Use
?2?Problematic Smartphone Use
?3?Behavioral Mechanisms and Brain Impacts
?4?Underlying Causes of Problematic Internet Use
?5?The Addictive Design of Technology
9 Conclusion: the Digital Ecosystem from the Perspective of Social Cybersecurity
References
Index