Jason Steinhauer

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Vlad Borimsky

A close-up of Jason Steinhauer.

Jason Steinhauer

The internet has made it easier than ever before to find information on just about any topic, and is an ever-growing repository of historical data. But it's also tremendously easy for incorrect or intentionally misleading information to be posted, and quickly repeated as fact in countless places. Historian Jason Steinhauer examines the conundrum in the ominously titled 2021 book History, Disrupted: How Social Media and the World Wide Web Have Changed the Past; he will discuss the book at this talk hosted by the Friends of UW-Madison Libraries and other campus partners.

media release: The Internet has changed the past. Social media, Wikipedia, mobile networks, and the viral and visual nature of the Web have inundated the public sphere with historical information and misinformation, changing what we know about our history and History as a discipline. This is the first book to chronicle how and why it matters. Why does History matter at all? What role do history and the past play in our democracy? Our economy? Our understanding of ourselves? How do questions of history intersect with today’s most pressing debates about technology; the role of the media; journalism; tribalism; education; identity politics; the future of government, civilization, and the planet? Now, in the midst of growing political division around the world, this information is critical to an engaged citizenry. As we collectively grapple with the effects of technology and its capacity to destabilize our societies, scholars, educators and the general public should be aware of how the Web and social media shape what we know about ourselves – and crucially, about our past.

4:30 – 5:30 P.M. Presentation

5:30 – 6:30 P.M. Reception and Book Signing

Books available for purchase during the event provided by Mystery To Me.

This event will be recorded but not live-streamed. Please register to receive event reminders and recording: https://go.wisc.edu/6husfi

Sponsored by the Friends with additional support and collaboration from UW Archives, George L. Mosse Program in History, UW Public History Project, Wisconsin Historical Society, UW Department of Communication Arts, UW Center for the Humanities, UW German, Nordic, and Slavic Department.

We strive to ensure our events are inclusive and welcoming for all participants. If you need an accommodation, please contact Friends@library.wisc.edu.