Nov 22, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Add to Personal Catalog (opens a new window)

PR 119 - The Social Impact of Social Media

Semester Hours: 3
Fall, Spring, Summer
In recent years, social media platforms have been charged with “hacking” elections by spreading fake news; contributing to untruthful claims by politicians who circumvent fact-checkers in the traditional media in order to communicate with citizens directly; enabling trolls to viciously bully people; contributing to the decline of family conversations; allowing private data to be shared with advertisers, political consultants and hackers; making Americans more polarized because people only see information aligned with their pre-existing beliefs, and contributing to increased rates of depression in individuals who think other peoples’ lives look more glamorous online. At the same time, social media has given people powerful platforms for speaking out against injustice and organizing social movements. This class will study the social impact of social media and consider possible solutions to the challenges posed by its increased use.





Add to Personal Catalog (opens a new window)