Latest Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026
No Banner module data is available
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Description This module seeks to provide students with a set of tools to gauge social media practices. In part, the module will develop a theoretical awareness of the different affordances of specific social media within a polymedia or a hybrid media environment; in part, it will critically discuss various user practices and how they feed into beta versions of social media. And in a final part, students will contribute their own experience-based accounts of the different social media. These three parts will provide students with a template for critically assessing different practices. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learning Outcomes 1. Understand the specificity of the different social media, and their role in a polymedia environment 2. Develop a set of appropriate criteria for assessing the various user practices 3. Critically evaluate the ways in which social media articulate technical characteristics (affordances) with user practices 4. Demonstrate an understanding of the involvement of different sets of actors in constructing social media 5. Evaluate the role played by dominant players, such as corporations, governments and policy makers in circumscribing social media uses. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
Social media in a complex media ecosystem Hybrid media system; polymedia environment; media ecology; media practices; Theories of Mediation Understanding the role of the media, mediation (Silverstone), mediatization (Krotz) and media logic (Altheide and Snow). Sonia Livingstone and the mediation of everything. Communicative Affordances of Technology The concept of affordances; techno-social affordances; emerging affordance theories; understanding technology use in context Algorithms The nature of algorithms; algorithmic sociality; algorithmic accountability; algorithms, agency and power; algorithms and identity (Bucher) Users and Engagement Understanding social media uses and users; uses and gratification theory; gaming, gamification and play; user engagement Policy and governance of social media Governing social media platforms and use; key policy stakeholders and governance institutions; moderation, community standards and other policy tools; challenges of social media governance and regulation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List Books:
Articles:
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