Descriptif

Have social media changed our societies for the better? Or have they worsened already existing social problems (or created new ones)? This course offers a sociological perspective on the role of online platforms (and technology more broadly) in our social and political landscape and invites students to question the role of digital technologies in relation to traditional media outlets in our democracies. It will cover issues such as mis- and disinformation, "filter bubbles", online harassment, and the role of private companies in our public sphere.