usrbinry4n 's review for:

The Dark Net: Inside the Digital Underworld by Jamie Bartlett

4.0

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In this book “ The Dark Net: Inside the Digital Underworld” by Jamie Bartlett we dive deep into the underbelly of the internet. Bartlett uses the word “Dark Net” to refer to something on the internet that is unpopular, sometimes grim, and sometimes creepy. This is not to be confused with the Deep Web which he includes with the “Dark Net.” We learn about internet trolls, Silk Road 2.0, Bitcoin, child pornography, Cam-girls, pro-anorexia websites, pro-suicide websites, the point of view of a online Neo-Nazi, Tor hidden services, and buying weed on the deep web. The thing that I liked about this book was on each subject Bartlett takes the point of view of most people going in on each subject, but once he learns about it he views become more opaque, in that there maybe shades of gray to the subject at hand. It is even possible that some people are actually living better lives because these things exist. I did not however like the last chapter where he talked to a primitive-anarchist and a transhumanist. I can somewhat see what he wanted to do with the subject, but it landed flat and was anti-climatic. My favorite part was near the end when discussing the pro-anorexia sites. The chapter was very touching and I could understand where some of the (mostly) girls were coming from. This is a fairly well written book and if you are interested in any of these topics I would recommend it to you. Also, I think in reading this book instead of searching for these things yourself, you are somewhat removed and it does creep you out as much as it must of for the author.