Ethical Social Media

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/ethical-social-media

Introduction

### Course Review: Ethical Social Media on Coursera In an age where social media profoundly influences our lives, the course **Ethical Social Media** offered on Coursera is a vital learning opportunity for anyone looking to navigate this complex digital landscape more responsibly. This course dives deep into the interplay of social media, ethics, and user engagement, making it a must-take for students, professionals, and enthusiasts who want to use social media thoughtfully and effectively. #### Overview The course begins with an enlightening overview of how social media has evolved into a powerful tool for connection and communication. It acknowledges the immense benefits these platforms provide in terms of community building and public engagement while also addressing the serious implications of their misuse—ranging from hate speech and surveillance to the mishandling of personal data. This dual emphasis on the positive and negative aspects of social media prepares learners to approach these platforms with a critical mind, making it clear that responsible usage is not just a suggestion, but a necessity. #### Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Social Media Concepts**: The introductory module provides a robust foundation, examining self-representation and online identity. It elucidates how social media blurs the lines between public and private spheres, making it essential for learners to understand the nuances of networking. 2. **Collaborative Practices of Social Media Users**: This section dives into user motivations and behaviors. It distinguishes between networks and communities, highlighting the participatory culture fostered by social media. The concept of 'produsage'—the idea that users contribute actively to cultural production—encourages a deeper understanding of the collaborative nature of these platforms. 3. **Participatory Culture and Media Organizations**: Here, the course critically examines the interplay between organizations and users, addressing themes of exploitation and the controversial notion of 'hope labor.' Participants are prompted to think about the ethics of collaborative production and how cultural organizations navigate these complex relationships. 4. **Social Media Data Analytics**: In the age of big data, understanding analytics is crucial. This module teaches participants how to collect and utilize data across social media platforms, providing insights into user behaviors and trends. It highlights the importance of strategic targeting while being mindful of the ethical considerations involved. 5. **Ethics in Social Media**: The final module serves as a compelling capstone, urging learners to critically assess the ethical implications of their online activities. This portion challenges preconceptions about data usage and explores potential dangers—like exposing sensitive information or individuals wishing to remain anonymous. It's an essential reminder that with the power of social media comes significant responsibility. #### Recommendations The **Ethical Social Media** course is highly recommended for anyone interested in enhancing their understanding of social media and its associated ethical dilemmas. Here are a few reasons why: - **Comprehensive Curriculum**: Each module builds on the previous one, creating a cohesive learning experience that effectively links theory to practice. - **Critical Thinking**: The course encourages you to think beyond surface-level usage of social media, fostering a critical perspective that is increasingly necessary in today’s digital society. - **Practical Skills**: Participants will gain actionable skills in data analytics while grappling with the ethical frameworks that guide responsible usage. - **Engaging Content**: The discussions surrounding participatory culture and ethical responsibilities make the course both thought-provoking and relevant to contemporary issues in media. In conclusion, **Ethical Social Media** is more than just a course; it's an essential guide to understanding and navigating the social media landscape responsibly. Its insightful content and practical focus make it an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to engage more ethically in the digital world. Whether you are a casual user or a professional in the industry, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to contribute positively to social media discourse. Enroll today and be part of the solution in creating a safer, more inclusive online environment.

Syllabus

Social Media Concepts

In the introductory module, we will examine the concepts of being social, of self-representation, online identity and publishing. We will also look at how the social media technologies intersect with public and private spheres as networked communication develops.

We examine who the users of social media are, how they use it and their motivations. We will also look at the difference between networks and communities. Through the lens of 'produsage' we will explore participatory culture and understand the motivations behind users contributing to cultural production.

Organisations are often accused of exploiting their users and online community members when they participate in collaborative cultural production activities. Similarly, participants are also accused of ignoring reciprocal efforts in collective online arrangements for personal gain, or what has recently been described as 'hope labour' (Kuehn & Corrigan, 2013). In this module, we will explore the tensions that surround precarious labour models for the productuon and consumption of social media content. In particular we will look at the concepts of cultural production, institutions, cultural intermediation, creativity and art.

Communication across social media platforms produces an enormous amount of data that can describe content, location, users, purchases, events and emotions, along with larger scale areas such as reactions to news and politics, integration with sporting events or information and knowledge exchange, Each of these instances provides an opportunity to understand both general patterns of large-scale communication alog with nuanced individual and niche communication spaces. This module provides the opportunity to identify this sort of data, how to access and collect it and interpret and display it to strategically target larger users and networks.

Just because we can access social media doesn't mean that we should. In this module, you are asked to critically examine the use of social media and think about how you can manipulate the data in meaningful and beneficial ways compared with typical neo-liberal approaches. You are also encouraged to think about some of the not so obvious areas of social media data analytics, for example reconstructing potentially sensitive material, uncovering a dangerous conversation in social media, or exposjng users that may wish to remain incognito. Using social media data is tremendously rewarding, yet presents ethical challenges that many scholars are still grappling with.