The book explores contemporary selfie-taking practices; digital experiences of love, romance and infidelity; sexting rituals; self-tracking habits; strategies used by the Internet famous; and the power of hashtag campaigns and memes in espousing a cause. Rejecting binary narratives on digital cultures, it showcases the fascinating ways in which we use our digital devices, social media platforms, and apps by drawing upon academic research, everyday observations and a determination to challenge assumptions and hasty generalizations. It also engages with emerging narratives on online authenticity, privacy, digital detox, and the digital divides prevalent both in India and abroad.
Introduction 1. Exploring Selfies – Beyond ‘Duckfaces’ and Adolescent Rituals 2. ‘Send me a sexy picture’: Love, Intimacy and Infidelity in the Digital Era 3. Self-tracking one’s way to wellness: Expert patients, quantified health and online communities 4. Becoming Internet famous: Performing "authenticity" and engaging audiences 5. Digital Activism: The Power of Hashtags and Memes 6. "Digital Detox:" Resisting the lure of the digital
Biography
Smeeta Mishra is a communication and media studies faculty who has taught at various educational institutes in India and abroad including IIM Calcutta, IIM Ahmedabad, and Bowling Green State University, Ohio. After completing her PhD from the University of Texas at Austin, she has been researching how digital technology mediates our identities, relationships, and everyday practices over the last 15 years. She is currently associate professor at the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar.
