The best 40 Social Media books

Hatching Twitter tells the story of the four men responsible for Twitter as we know it. It’s a tale of backstabbing, superstar glory and billions of dollars that chronicles the drama and defining decisions that made Twitter what it is today.

• Anyone who uses Twitter
• Anyone who is interested in Twitter’s impact and origins
• Anyone who works in a start-up
• Anyone interested in the dangers of mixing business and friendship

The Thank You Economy (2011) describes how the advent of social media has changed the relationship between companies and their customers. It shows just how critical online engagement is for companies who want to succeed, and offers tips on how companies can use social media to influence their public image along the way.

• CEOs
• Anyone in middle management
• Anyone interested in launching a start-up

The book offers detailed information on how to create compelling products, then establish an online platform to get visibility for them. These blinks will walk through the process the author, Michael Hyatt, went through to build a successful career, by mastering social media channels like Facebook and Twitter. This book will show you how you, too, can monetize your social media platform and even turn it into a career.

• Anybody interested in social media
• Anybody who wants to create a successful blog or website  
• Anybody interested in building a social media platform to enhance his or her career

Technology has changed our lives tremendously – in some ways for the better and in some ways for the worse. Alone Together explains how even though a great deal of new technology, like smartphones and social media, is supposed to bring us together, it actually makes us lonelier in the end.

• Anyone interested in technology
• Anyone interested in society and psychology
• Anyone interested in how technological changes are affecting us

Social media isn’t a temporary fad – it’s changing business culture in a big way. A World Gone Social explains why it’s important for companies to evolve their own social media tactics, and includes helpful tips for business owners who want to embrace new technologies and build them into their gameplay.

• Business owners who are looking for new ways to engage with customers
• Anyone who’s interested in the way technology has changed business culture
• Anyone who’s thinking about starting their own company

Think Like Zuck takes an in-depth look at the five principles that made Facebook the successful company it is today. With plenty of insight into founder Mark Zuckerberg’s inspiring approach to leadership and examples from other top technology companies, the author creates a roadmap for success for any aspiring entrepreneur.

• Entrepreneurs and start-up pioneers
• Facebook fans
• Anyone who wants to gain insight into Facebook, and how Mark Zuckerberg thinks

The Art of Social Media reveals the most effective ways to promote yourself or your product professionally on social media platforms. The authors explain how to get the most of the many dominant social media platforms today, including Google+, Facebook, Twitter and others.

• Anyone who wants to better promote their business
• Anyone who wants to gain a wider audience on social media
• Anyone looking to optimize their profile on social media sites

Spin Sucks (2014) cuts through the out-dated marketing clichés and updates business communication for the social media age, where customer service blurs into brand messaging and every misstep is preserved for posterity. It teaches you how to maximize your SEO power and content marketing to reach – and retain – an audience for your product.

• Business leaders who are curious about content marketing
• PR professionals
• Entrepreneurs who want to develop a social media and content marketing strategy

The Big Disconnect (2013) is about the current generation of babies, toddlers and children growing up in the digital world. Digital media, from online games to social networking sites, have a profound impact on a child’s development, both intellectually and socially. These blinks outline the reasons why, and what parents can do to try to keep their children safe from these developmental hindrances.

• Parents and parents-to-be
• Teachers
• Anyone interested in sociology, technology or education

Reading the Comments (2015) delves into the social phenomenon of online commentary. These blinks explore how online commenting became the force it is and examine commenting’s positive and negative influence on communication at large. Importantly, these blinks encourage you to think about the implications of online comments for the modern internet user.

• Readers fascinated by online commentary
• People keen to learn about new modes of communication
• Students majoring in communication studies

Digital Minimalism (2018) is a practical guide to navigating today’s media landscape, where multiple billion-dollar companies are out to keep your eyes as glued to their platforms as possible. Fortunately, there is growing skepticism surrounding new technology and digital media. People are eager to regain their autonomy and, while they’re at it, live more satisfying and healthy lives. With these tools and methods, you too can regain the focus and productivity that comes from stepping back from new technology.

• Anyone feeling overwhelmed with social media
• People looking for tips to boost productivity
• News junkies in need of a detox

Ten Arguments for Deleting your Social Media Accounts Right Now (2018) is a modern-day cri de coeur. It offers, with ten distinct arguments, an all but irrefutable case for deleting your social media accounts. From their ethically dubious data-selling practices to the way they manipulate users, current social media companies are doing society a major disservice. Your best option right now is to delete your accounts until better options emerge.

• Social media users
• Smartphone owners
• Sociologists

Our networked lives are often seen as a product of the recent past. After all, didn’t the internet, social media, globalized trade and international terrorist networks first emerge in the late twentieth century? Renowned historian Niall Ferguson begs to differ. Providing a sweeping overview of Western history, from the birth of the printing press to the election of Donald Trump, The Square and the Tower (2018) offers a compelling argument that networks have been a key driver of historical change for a very long time and will only become more important in the future.

• History buffs who love grand theories about the past
• Anyone who’s befuddled by recent political events
• Social media professionals keen to learn how networks can change the world

The Gen Z Frequency (2018) offers a blueprint for brands seeking to connect and build meaningful relationships with Generation Z. In addition to providing insight into the minds of this growing demographic, the authors give actionable advice on content strategy, marketing, social media, and more. 

• Brands and organizations trying to reach Generation Z
• Marketers looking to connect with youth culture
• Business owners seeking to identify their target audience

In Triggered (2019), Trump Jr. presents an excoriating critique of contemporary left-wing politics in the United States. These blinks expose what Trump Jr. perceives as the violent and hypocritical tactics used by the left to advance its agenda, from rampant political correctness to online abuse. They also explore the author’s belief that the greatest threat to freedom of speech today comes from the left.

• Conservatives who want to defend themselves against hostility from the left
• Liberals who want to engage with conservative ideas 
• Anyone who wants to better understand the forces influencing their views and language today

The End of Marketing (2020) is a guide to how brands should use social media. In an age when traditional marketing is no more, businesses must find ways to give their brands a human face, to capture the attention of social media users and win their trust.

• Businesspeople who are unsure how to use social media
• Traditional marketers catching up with the changing marketplace
• Digital marketers who are looking to hone their strategies

Broad Band (2018) tells the story of the women who played significant roles in the evolution of computers and the internet. It examines how these women became trailblazers in fields of work that were initially considered boring – but later proved to be of great importance.

• Young women interested in pursuing a career in computer science
• Computer scientists and engineers
• People interested in how women have shaped our world

See You on the Internet (2020) is a simple guide to navigating the world of digital marketing. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the thought of building a website or running an email marketing campaign, See You on the Internet will walk you through planning, implementing, and measuring your digital marketing efforts.

• Small business owners interested in digital marketing
• Digital and social media managers
• People interested in marketing strategy

Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen (2020) tackles the thorny subject of communicating with tweens – those adolescents between the ages of ten and fourteen who are beginning to pull away from their parents and close down lines of communication. This is the age at which “big” topics like sexuality, money, and life choices are more important than ever. But it’s also the age at which having a conversation with your child is harder than ever before. So what can parents do? Well, it’s time to learn a new way of talking with, and not at, your tween. 

• Relationship-builders struggling to talk with their tweens
• Worriers who want the best for their kids
• Parents of younger children preparing for the next step

The Reality Game (2020) sheds light on the murky world of “computational propaganda” – political manipulation using digital tools. Samuel Woolley argues that fake news, viral conspiracy theories, and Twitter bot armies don’t just sow confusion and discord; in his view, they also subvert the democratic process. That means it’s high time we fought back and reclaimed our digital space from today’s unaccountable mega-platforms. 

• Citizens worried about the future of democracy
• Digital natives and social media addicts 
• Skeptics wondering how to tell the difference between real and fake news

Privacy is Power (2020) is a shocking exposé of the inner workings of surveillance capitalism. It reveals how, every day, hundreds of interested parties are violating your privacy and capitalizing on your personal data. Corporations, governments, and criminals alike are all busy collecting and exploiting your data in an effort to influence the way you think and behave. In these blinks, you’ll learn why your privacy is so important and what you can do to protect it.

• Those perturbed by governments and corporations snooping on our private lives
• People untroubled by digital surveillance because they believe they have nothing to hide
• Anyone looking for actionable ways to protect their privacy now

The Hidden Psychology of Social Networks (2020) describes how brands can create effective and authentic content by understanding the basics of human psychology. Drawing on Freudian psychoanalysis, it gets to the bottom of our online habits and shows brands how to connect with people on a deeper level.

• Brand strategists at companies big or small
• Content creators of any type
• Those curious about how brands are trying to get their attention

Likeable Social Media (2011) is a handy guide to promoting your business on social media. This manual shows the best strategies for garnering positive attention on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more.

• Business owners looking to catch some positive attention
• Marketers learning to ropes of online advertising
• Anyone who wants to get the most out of their social media pages

An Ugly Truth (2021) is a critical look behind the scenes of Facebook. This in-depth investigation reveals the politics and personalities animating the rise and subsequent missteps of this controversial social media behemoth.

• Internet addicts looking to understand cyberspace
• Political junkies addicted to their News Feed
• Anyone who has ever logged on to social media

Digital Marketing Strategy (2016) is a guide to effective marketing in the digital age. From content marketing to social media and SEO, it offers a whistle-stop tour of the latest techniques and developments in this fast-moving and exciting domain.

• Businesspeople interested in the ever-changing world of digital marketing
• Entrepreneurs who want to take marketing into their own hands
• Anyone puzzled by jargon terms like “SEO,” “paid search,” and “functional content”

Stolen Focus (2022) begins with author Johann Hari experiencing a common problem: his attention span is diminishing. He can’t seem to focus on much outside of Twitter and online news. Over three years, Hari tries to identify the root causes of this problem. He uncovers a collective attention crisis that’s affecting the entire globe. From social media to the culture of productivity, Hari identifies the culprits behind our stolen focus – and wonders if, and how, we can claim it back.

• Anyone who feels like they just can’t concentrate the way they used to
• Multitaskers with brimming to-do lists who still feel like they don’t get much done
• Anyone scrolling through social media while they’re reading this!

The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is (2022) offers startlingly new ways of understanding the world wide web, and strongly challenges us to examine our long-held beliefs about the supremacy of human cognition. It confronts our most closely-held (and least examined) ideas about the internet and social media, and weaves together observations from centuries of philosophy, mathematics, science and history.

• Those feeling overwhelmed by the pace of life in the information age 
• Anyone worried about the addictive side of social media 
• The Zoom-fatigued looking for better ways to connect.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow (2022) by Gabrielle Zevin tells the story of Sadie and Sam, childhood friends turned creative collaborators and video game designers. The novel charts the tumultuous highs and lows of Sam and Sadie’s friendship against the vividly realized backdrop of the gaming industry at the turn of the 21st century. 

• Anyone intrigued by the idea of creative partnerships
• Anyone with even a passing interest in video games
• Anyone who’s ever had, or lost, a friend

Growing Up in Public (2023) explores the many stresses both parents and children can experience in today’s digital world. Although raising children in the face of today’s many technological social outlets might seem overwhelming, this guide provides clear, actionable insight for guiding adolescent online behavior as well as monitoring our own adult actions.  

• Parents or guardians concerned about their children’s social media usage
• People looking for advice on raising children in today’s digital world
• Anyone interested in the internet’s impact on adolescent development

Attack from Within (2024) delves into the critical examination of how disinformation has been weaponized to challenge the fabric of democracy, distort public discourse, and erode fundamental trust in public institutions. This exploration serves as a call to action, urging you to recognize, confront, and disarm the insidious threats posed by disinformation, thereby fortifying the resilience of democratic values.

• Students or practitioners of law interested in national security and disinformation
• History and political science students
• Advocates for democracy and free speech

Attention Factory (2020) chronicles the meteoric rise of ByteDance, a company that has left an indelible mark on our perceptions of Chinese technology. A deft interweaving of storytelling, analysis, and captivating anecdotes, it offers an unparalleled glimpse into the company’s growth and how it has shaped the American and Chinese internet landscapes.

• Tech enthusiasts interested in the inner workings of Chinese internet companies
• Business professionals looking to understand the strategies behind TikTok’s rapid growth
• Anyone curious about the TikTok phenomenon and its influence

Day Trading Attention (2024) explores innovative advertising strategies tailored to the digital age, emphasizing the importance of social media in building a brand. Geared toward helping you leverage content creation and distribution, it focuses on practical steps for harnessing the power of social media platforms to gain consumer attention effectively.

• Entrepreneurs seeking innovative digital marketing strategies
• Business owners interested in leveraging social media for growth
• Marketing professionals aiming to enhance content creation and distribution

Extremely Hardcore (2024) offers a behind-the-scenes look into a pivotal moment in tech history: Elon Musk's high-stakes takeover of Twitter. It offers insights into his unorthodox management style and the profound effects it had on the company and its workforce.

• Anyone interested in a Silicon Valley exposé 
• People curious about Elon Musk
• Former Twitter users wondering what happened to their platform

The Chaos Machine (2022) explores the dark side of social media. The design of apps like Facebook and Twitter, combined with the nature of human psychology, often make social media bring out the worst in us.

• Social media addicts
• People concerned about the negative effects of social media
• Anyone interested in psychology

Algospeak examines how digital platforms are transforming language. It shows how internet culture creates new ways of speaking and writing, shaping both online and offline communication. It also reveals how this technology-driven linguistic change reflects broader shifts in social norms, as well as our relationship to language itself.

• Linguistics enthusiasts interested in how technology is accelerating language change
• Tech-savvy professionals looking to understand online platforms
• Anyone interested in slang and popular culture 

Like (2025) examines the flexible cultural and linguistic power of the word “like,” tracing its evolution from slang to a versatile tool in everyday conversation. It argues that, far from being meaningless filler, “like” helps shape social connection, soften emotional expression, and add nuance to dialogue. It also highlights how the stigma around its use reflects broader societal biases against women, youth, and marginalized speech communities as a whole.

• Linguists fascinated by modern speech patterns
• Socially aware feminists challenging language-based bias
• Anyone interested in cultural shifts and trends

Cyber Citizens (2025) explores how our digital lives fundamentally impact democracy. It discusses the importance of becoming smarter digital citizens as surveillance, misinformation, and AI-generated content reshape our information landscape – and reveals practical strategies for staying informed while protecting your privacy.

• Privacy-conscious individuals who want to understand and protect their digital footprint 
• Civic-minded citizens interested in how technology and surveillance impact democracy
• Activists and advocates working on issues related to government surveillance, digital rights, or democratic reform 

Click Here (2025) reveals how to navigate today’s overwhelming digital marketing landscape and turn any online channel into real business growth. Drawing from experience scaling one of the world’s largest tech platforms, this guide breaks down the essential principles for maximizing your marketing impact – from channel selection and creative testing to measuring what truly drives results.

• Founders and entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses through digital channels
• Marketing professionals and CMOs seeking to optimize their strategies and budgets
• Business students interested in learning cutting-edge digital marketing principles

It’s Complicated (2014) reveals that teenage social media use is far more sophisticated than adults assume, with young people developing complex strategies to manage identity, privacy, and social relationships in networked spaces where all their audiences collapse together. The real dangers aren't the ones dominating headlines – predators, addiction, cyberbullying – but rather how adult panic and protectionism prevent teenagers from developing the skills they need to navigate digital life thoughtfully and safely. 

• Parents who want a nuanced understanding of what their teens are doing online
• Teachers helping their students navigate online life
• Policymakers tackling online regulations

Social Media for Social Good by Heather Mansfield is a practical guide for nonprofits and social enterprises looking to harness the power of social media for positive change. The book offers insights and strategies for effectively using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to raise awareness, mobilize supporters, and drive fundraising efforts. With real-world examples and actionable tips, it empowers organizations to maximize their impact in the digital age.

• Nonprofit organizations looking to expand their social media presence

• Individuals interested in using social media for advocacy and social change

• Marketing professionals seeking to leverage social media for social good