Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation

Antisocial documents the rise of far-right social media influencers and online extremism in America between 2015-2019. New Yorker staff writer Andrew Marantz embeds himself with prominent alt-right figures and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to chronicle how fringe ideologies entered mainstream discourse. Through firsthand reporting and extensive interviews, Marantz traces the evolution of online communities and their growing impact on American politics and culture. He examines how social media platforms' commitment to "free speech" and engagement metrics created opportunities for provocateurs to build large audiences. The narrative follows parallel tracks: the tech optimists who built social platforms with utopian visions, and the opportunists who leveraged those systems to spread disinformation. Marantz gains access to both camps, attending far-right gatherings and visiting corporate offices of major tech companies. This work raises fundamental questions about free speech, technology's influence on society, and the tension between idealism and real-world consequences in the digital age. The book challenges assumptions about how ideas spread online and who controls modern public discourse.

Readers describe this as a detailed look at how fringe internet groups gained mainstream influence, based on Marantz's first-hand reporting and interviews. Many note it provides context about social media's role in spreading extremist views. Liked: - Clear explanation of complex internet subcultures - Personal narratives that humanize subjects while maintaining critical distance - Balance of reporting and analysis - Accessible writing style for non-tech readers Disliked: - Some felt it focused too heavily on specific personalities rather than systemic issues - Critics noted potential bias in coverage of right-wing figures - Several readers wanted more concrete solutions proposed - A few found the tone too informal for the subject matter Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (230+ ratings) Representative review: "Marantz does what few others have - he actually talks to these people and helps us understand how they think, while never excusing their actions." - Goodreads reviewer

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🔹 Andrew Marantz spent three years embedded with alt-right trolls and social media manipulators while researching this book, attending their private meetings and gaining unprecedented access to their online communities. 🔹 The book's release in 2019 coincided with growing concerns about social media's role in political polarization, leading to Marantz testifying before Congress about online radicalization. 🔹 Multiple tech executives featured in the book, including Reddit's Alexis Ohanian, later changed their positions on free speech absolutism after seeing the real-world consequences of unrestricted content. 🔹 The term "red-pilling," which features prominently in the book, originated from The Matrix movie but was co-opted by online extremists to describe the process of converting to their worldview. 🔹 Marantz's work at The New Yorker, where he's been a staff writer since 2011, helped him secure access to key Silicon Valley figures who typically avoided speaking about content moderation issues.