How the Internet Changed America

This book investigates societal shifts induced by internet technologies. Alexei Anisin applies Anthony Giddens' structuration theory to analyze interactions between digital structures and human agency. He argues against deterministic narratives about technological change, emphasizing the contingent and dynamic nature of digital platforms and their relation to societal behaviors. Digital technologies generate new structures that shape societal behaviors, which are reshaped by human agency through reciprocity and structuration. This book observes declining civic participation, demonstrating that online interactions can expand virtual communities while contributing to physical social isolation and decreased interpersonal and societal trust. Online interactions are also shown to have increased political polarization through deepening ideological division and reducing trust in key governmental institutions. Additionally, high screen time and social media use have led to record declines in traditional reading habits, especially among younger generations who prioritize fast and digestible sensationalist content. Anisin theorizes the rise of social media influencers who have impacted cultural norms through a dynamic interplay between influencer-led content production, digital structures, algorithms, and reoccurring interactions with followers, while also addressing how the integration of private tech resources with state-led surveillance is eroding individual privacy and altering political outcomes.