Spring 2019 - CMNS 353 E100

Topics in Technology and Society (4)

Social Media and Big Data

Class Number: 1951

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 8, 2019: Mon, 4:30–7:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    CMNS 253W and one of CMNS 201 (or 260) or CMNS 202 (or 262). Recommended: CMNS 362.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Examination of the emergence and shaping of information and communication technologies in the digital age. Explores new media and social change between everyday life, social institutions, and various enterprises. Emphasis is placed on social context and relations of power. May repeat for credit if topic studied is different.

COURSE DETAILS:

Overview:

Today’s cliché is that ‘data is the new oil’. It’s everywhere, and it’s the next great source of profit, so you better not get left behind: find it, extract it, feed it to some algorithms, and voilà, there comes the value. As our generation drinks the kool-aid, actual technological functions are inseparably mixed up with longstanding fantasies about machines and about information. Will machines know better than we know ourselves (and is that a good thing)? How does data tell us the truth, and is the truth it tells always reliable? We will examine these problems by looking at how people talk and think about these technologies, and how these technologies interact with existing social and cultural problems.

Social media is one key place where data and technology comes together with human communication. Social media platforms today are accused of systematic biases and aiding the spread of misinformation; but just a few years ago, they were also heralded as the harbingers of democracy and freedom. How do these platforms work, and how do they affect the way we do politics and friendships, small talk and hate speech? Why is trolling suddenly a mainstream political style? To what extent is my personal information being used to manipulate my tastes and desires? We will learn about the deeper background of technologies, ideas and social norms behind the questions of the day.

 



Grading

  • Abstracts (2x 10% each) 20%
  • Interim Report 15%
  • Oral Presentation 15%
  • Final Essay 30%
  • Lecture and Tutorial Participation 20%

NOTES:

The school expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practices with respect to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the School will follow Policy S10.01 with respect to Academic Integrity, and Policies S10.02, S10.03 and S10.04 as regards Student Discipline. [Note: as of May 1, 2009 the previous T10 series of policies covering Intellectual Honesty (T10.02), and Academic Discipline (T10.03) have been replaced with the new S10 series of policies.]

 

REQUIREMENTS:

Note:  A minimum 2.25 CMNS CGPA, and 2.00 overall CGPA, and approval as a Communication student is required for entry into most Communication upper division courses.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

No textbooks required.  All readings will be available on Canvas.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS