Framed
Tim O’Hearn
LUSCIOUS VENTURES LLC (2025)
ISBN: 979-8992468106
Reviewed by Rachel Dehning for Reader Views (06/2025)
The internet is comparable to a Catch-22 situation; it has positives and negatives, and whichever side you lean toward will likely influence your opinion. On the positive side, it allows users to find nearly any answer with just a few clicks or voice commands, enables convenient online shopping, and is home to countless cute cat videos. On the negative side, it can mislead people, contribute to bullying, and become a source of deceit.
Since its first “official” birthday in 1983, and fast forward ten years later when it was publicly available in 1993, the internet has undergone significant changes and “matured” over the decades. Tim O’Hearn, author, journalist, former social media enthusiast, and web creator, explores this evolution in his debut book Framed: A Villain’s Perspective on Social Media. The book contains sections that provide insights into the history and lesser-known facts about social media platforms, beginning with the infamous MySpace and continuing through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, discussing their original purposes along with shortcuts that allow users to manipulate them, which ties into the “villain” theme of his title.
O’Hearn demonstrates his writing versatility by covering a range of related topics that showcase his knowledge and credibility. He presents researched and acquired facts and, if read between the lines, the sociological impact of the internet and social media, along with elements of human nature. He follows this by offering an insightful, in-depth, and brutally honest account of his formative years, discussing the internet’s influence and how he chose to utilize his unique skill set.
O’Hearn was born at the right time to have experienced the beginnings of social media firsthand. For many readers, Framed will likely evoke nostalgic feelings and memories; it might even inspire them to log back into MySpace! I was active during that era, but the information presented in the book has been eye-opening, revealing things I didn’t know about the platforms and various backdoor deals and offerings from then and now.
The impact of the presented information, along with the relatability and overall reading experience, may vary based on the readers’ age ranges. Generation X will recognize their experiences witnessing the rise of the internet, while Millennials were the first to become immersed and familiar with the technological advancements that shaped their years. Framed: A Villain’s Perspective on Social Media by Tim O’Hearn offers something for everyone. The first part, focusing on facts and knowledge, will likely resonate more with readers in the technology field; however, the second part, centering on his personal experiences and his technological “maturity,” will appeal to a broader audience.