The Remaking of Memory in the Age of the Internet and Social Media

Reviews / Votes

Do the internet and social media enhance or obliterate human memory? Is memory even the same thing as it has been in the past? Should we be optimistic or pessimistic about prospects for the future? How do the new media affect our personal memories and our very identity? These are just some of the fundamental questions addressed in this volume. Starting with a fascinating dialogue between the editors * two of the world's leaders in memory studies, the volume presents a landmark discussion that promises to have a major impact for years to come.James V. Wertsch, David R. Francis Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis * Over the past 25 years, social media and the internet have profoundly shaped the way memories are produced, recycled, archived, and retrieved. Wang & Hoskins' edited volume The Remaking of Memory in the Age of the Internet and Social Media addresses several 'burning' questions about what digital media 'do' to our personal and collective memories. A must-read for media scholars and, due to the interdisciplinarity of this team effort, a primer for all academics from the humanities, social sciences, and neurosciences. * Jose van Dijck, Professor of Media and Digital Society, Utrecht University (NL) * Questions regarding the nature of memory in the age of social media and the Internet have come to the forefront in several disciplines. This exciting interdisciplinary collection brings together leading experts who address these questions and set an agenda for future research. I highly recommend this essential volume to anyone interested in what memory is and where it is headed. * Daniel L. Schacter, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of The Seven Sins of Memory * This book addresses how digital media have transformed production, recycling, archiving, and retrieval of memories over the past 25 years. Taking the perspective of comparing long-held knowledge and beliefs about memory, Wang and Hoskins assembled noted researchers in memory and neuroscience to examine how that knowledge holds true in the world of online searches and social media. The book explores significant questions about the impact of the internet on both personal and collective memories. It promises to have a lasting influence on the field and to open new avenues of understanding the interaction between human memory and internet 'memory'. * Choice *