As digital media come to saturate more and more of our societies, what benefits and challenges do they bring? Who holds power in contemporary media industries, and do they have our best interests at heart? What role do media play in our cultural identities and the relations between communities? How much control do media users have over the role of platforms, algorithms and data in their lives?

Media increasingly dominate our social and cultural worlds, affecting issues of power, politics, knowledge, identity, and everyday life. But what are the implications of the mediatisation of contemporary life, and how should we make sense of it?

In this fully updated and revised edition of his bestselling textbook, Paul Hodkinson explores the social and cultural significance of media in the age of digital platforms. Encompassing media technologies, industries, texts and users, and combining coverage of classic theories with extensive new material on platforms, social media, datafication and more, this book will equip you to navigate the fast-moving field of media and communication studies. Media, Culture and Society provides an essential overview for students studying introductory media modules, as well as depth for those further into their media degree.