Platforms: A Critical Introduction Anne Helmond and Fernando van der Vlist is an English-language study book about the functioning and impact of digital platforms. The book is intended for students and professionals in media studies and social sciences.
It offers a critical introduction to how platforms shape communication, work, education, and the economy. With examples of well-known platforms such as Instagram, Uber, and ChatGPT, it provides insight into platform power, governance, and strategy. Anne Helmond and Fernando van der Vlist analyze how platforms combine systems, infrastructures, and companies, thereby influencing cultural and societal processes.
This study book aligns in content with topics within media studies and social sciences, and supports research into how platforms shape public and private lives. It also includes practical analytical methods and pedagogical tools for a better understanding of platformization.