Latest Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026
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Description 5-credit version of CM5002 This module is concerned with examining the various relationships engendered by the rise of social media. It seeks to understand the role of technologies and media in both theoretical and empirical terms. It will therefore discuss theories that have sought to explain how media and technologies function in society, while it will also present and discuss various empirical studies that cover several spheres of life. The perspective of this module is critical in the sense of seeking to identify the various conceptual openings left by the theories while also gauging the implications of social media developments for political, social and economic life. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learning Outcomes 1. Identify, and critically analyse, social media related changes 2. Recognize the implications of social media for society and politics 3. Critically apprehend the impact of social media on various spheres of life 4. Demonstrate an understanding of the social and political role of social media 5. Evaluate the various theories linking technology to media and society | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml |
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
Introduction. Media, technology, society How is technology implicated in socio-political and economic life? Instrumentalism and substantivism. Technological determinism and social construction of technology. The rise of the network society (Castells). Media ecologies. Social media and the economy Informational capitalism. Production and digital labour. Platform economy & platform cooperativism. A political economy of social media Social media and politics Are social media more democratic? Social media during elections, conflict and war. Social media, protest and activism. Collective and connective action, mobilisation. Digital counter-publics. Populism, manipulation, political polarisation and social media practices. Social media uses and abuses How and why do people use social media? What determines media use? Abuses: addiction, cyberbullying, trolling Digital divides and access to knowledge The spread and diffusion of internet/social media. Notion of digital literacy. Digital divide, access. Knowledge, epistemology, participation, authority. Self and identity in social media The presentation of self in social media; selfies and identity management. Gender, ethnicity and social media The dark side of social media Surveillance and transparency. Hacking. Cyberconflict. Scams and fraud. Safety. Mobile media, locative media, polymedia Tablets, iPads, smartphones. Mobile media. Locative media. Ubiquity. Polymedia and hybrid media spaces. Social media and networked socialities Society and community. Networked individualism. The strength of weak ties. Future of digital media and technologies How can we approach the future of digital media? Questions of governance and regulation. Automation and algorithms, AI, IoT, etc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List Books:
Articles:
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Other Resources None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||