COMM 430 - Social Media: Theory and Practice

Attempts to define social media often seem both incomplete and out-of-date, as changes occur more rapidly than can be fully grasped. Just as social media are impacting almost every aspect of daily life in nearly every corner of the globe (real and virtual), they are also having an effect on human communication as we know it. In many respects, social media are merely an extension of long-standing communication processes-regardless of the particular medium or channel in use; in other respects, social media are inventing many new products and practices, the consequences of which remain elusive. This course will examine the ever-changing uses of social media and their effects on their audiences and on the process of human communication. Media, rhetorical, and communication theories such as systems theory, Habermas’ Public Sphere and McLuhan’s Media Ecology can provide the theoretical base for the class while methodologies such as audience studies and textual analysis can be employed for further investigation.

Prerequisites: COMM 382 - Communication Theory.
Credits: 3