The rapid growth in social media since Facebook became public in 2006 has lead to significant changes in media ownership and broadcasting; interpersonal communication; journalism and publishing; politics and activism; marketing and promotion; conceptions of public and private; and the relation between online and offline. The course explores the rise of platforms like Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Discord, SnapChat, Tumblr, Tinder, Grinder, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok and others to examine this important social and technological phenomenon.
We will consider the political economy of social media to look at the changing face of the media landscape as well as the important role social media play in the age of “Info-capitalism” and developments in the shape of capitalism more broadly. The course also explores the ways in which social media have become increasingly central to all aspects of everyday communication raising questions about networks, friendships, surveillance, data ownership, free labour, celebrity and branding.
The course is both theoretical and historical, and aims to enable certain practical skills in the use of social media for purposes of social and political advocacy.