What is LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media about?

LikeWar by P.W. Singer and Emerson T. Brooking explores how social media platforms have become weapons in modern warfare and politics. The book examines how both state and non-state actors use platforms like Twitter and Facebook to manipulate narratives, spread disinformation, and influence elections and armed conflicts. Singer and Brooking argue that the digital battlefield is no longer a metaphor—tweets can be as powerful as tanks in shaping real-world outcomes.

Who are P.W. Singer and Emerson T. Brooking?

P.W. Singer is a New York Times bestselling author, strategist at New America, and Professor of Practice at Arizona State University. Described by the Wall Street Journal as "the premier futurist in the national-security environment," Singer has been named to Foreign Policy's Top 100 Global Thinkers list and has more books on US military reading lists than any other living author. Emerson T. Brooking is his co-author and collaborator on analyzing information warfare and digital policy in modern conflict.

Who should read LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media?

LikeWar is essential reading for anyone living in a democracy, according to Booklist. The book is particularly valuable for policymakers, military strategists, journalists, cybersecurity professionals, and social media users who want to understand how digital platforms shape modern conflicts. It's also crucial for educators, students, and business leaders navigating misinformation campaigns and seeking to understand how information warfare affects politics, elections, and international relations in the digital age.

Is LikeWar by P.W. Singer worth reading?

LikeWar was named an Amazon and Foreign Affairs book of the year and is considered essential reading for understanding modern warfare. The book provides timely, incisive analysis backed by Singer and Brooking's extensive expertise in military strategy and information warfare. Reviewers praise its accessible yet comprehensive approach, calling it "required reading" for anyone seeking to understand how social media has transformed conflict. The 416-page book balances entertainment with deep insights into psychology, sociology, and technology.

What does "LikeWar" mean in P.W. Singer's book?

The term "LikeWar" describes how social media platforms have created a new form of conflict where engagement metrics—likes, shares, and retweets—become weapons of war. Singer and Brooking explain that digital battles for attention and influence now occur alongside physical warfare, with viral content shaping political outcomes and military strategies. The concept emphasizes that modern conflicts extend beyond traditional battlefields into digital spaces where narratives are crafted, contested, and consumed in real-time through social media platforms.

What are the main ideas in LikeWar by P.W. Singer?

LikeWar presents five core principles explaining how social media functions as a weapon. Key ideas include how authoritarian regimes use censorship and disinformation to maintain power, how business models reward virality over veracity (what gets attention versus what's true), and how information warfare sows doubt rather than replacing truth with coherent lies. The book traces social media's evolution from a utopian vision of free information exchange toward a dystopian tool for manipulation, examining wars for attention and conflicts that drive both the web and world.

How does LikeWar explain social media manipulation tactics?

Singer and Brooking detail systematic ways state and non-state actors alter accepted narratives through social media. The book explains how manipulative actors exploit algorithmic amplification, psychological vulnerabilities, and viral content to control information ecosystems. Drawing from psychology, sociology, and technology history, the authors show how rapid information dissemination blurs lines between truth and falsehood. They examine how social media firms' business models—prioritizing engagement over accuracy—make platforms vulnerable to weaponization and create difficulties for democracies defending against disinformation campaigns.

What is the goal of weaponized social media according to LikeWar?

According to Singer and Brooking in LikeWar, the goal of weaponized social media is not to replace truth with a single, coherent lie. Instead, the objective is to sow doubt in people's minds about all information, making them less likely to seek or trust any truth. This approach creates confusion and paralysis, allowing manipulative actors—whether authoritarian governments, terrorist groups, or political campaigns—to control narratives and shape reality in ways that serve their strategic interests during conflicts and political campaigns.

LikeWar Summary, PDF, EPUB, Audio

LikeWar

P.W. Singer

Technology Social Science Politics

Overview

Key Takeaways

Author

FAQs

In "LikeWar," Singer and Brooking reveal how social media became today's battlefield. Briefed to the Pentagon, CIA, and Australian Parliament before publication, this Amazon Book of the Year exposes how terrorists and governments weaponize likes and shares to control what you believe.

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LikeWar isn't just a book — it's a masterclass in Technology. To help you absorb its lessons in the way that works best for you, we offer five unique learning modes. Whether you're a deep thinker, a fast learner, or a story lover, there's a mode designed to fit your style.

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@SofiaP

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@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

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@Pitiful

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@SofiaP

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@Jaded_Falcon

201

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@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

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LikeWar

P.W. Singer

Technology Social Science Politics

Overview

Key Takeaways

Author

FAQs

Explore Your Way of Learning

Quick Summary9min

Feel the book through the author's voice

Deep Dive42min

Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights

Flash Card10 insights

Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning

Fun25min

Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way

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When Donald Trump fired off his first tweet in 2009, no one could have predicted it would become the opening shot in a new kind of global conflict. What began as celebrity musings evolved into a political weapon that helped propel him to the presidency. This transformation exemplifies how social media has evolved from entertainment to the central battlefield of modern warfare. "LikeWar" has become required reading in military academies worldwide, with its influence extending from General Stanley McChrystal to pop star Katy Perry and even Mark Zuckerberg, who admitted it prompted "difficult conversations" at Facebook headquarters. As information warfare reshapes everything from elections to terrorist recruitment, understanding how social media weaponizes information has never been more urgent.

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Top 10 Insights from LikeWar in a Nutshell

Distill LikeWar into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight key principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.

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Experience LikeWar through vivid storytelling that turns innovation lessons into moments you'll remember and apply.

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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 200,000+ Curious Minds

See more on how BeFreed is discussed across the web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

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@Matt, YC alum

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 200,000+ Curious Minds

See more on how BeFreed is discussed across the web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

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Key Takeaways

The Digital Battlefield Where Tweets Become Weapons

When Hashtags Launch Real Wars

From ARPANET to Addiction

The Transparency Revolution

Truth Under Siege

The Viral Unreality Machine

Navigating the New Reality