Course List

This course aims to present various contexts of social media communication. We will discuss historical conditions, as well as current challenges, comparing the situation in Polish and American social media space. We will focus primarily on the perspective of the social and political consequences of these media presence. The topics discussed will concern interpersonal and public communication changes caused by the emergence of social network platforms. We will also discuss the cultural, ethical, and legal contexts of social media, including issues such as Web 2.0 and the new media audience, the impact of social media on journalism, filter bubbles, algorithms, privacy concerns, and online disinformation. During this course, we will learn from each other: I will provide you with examples of various types and forms of communication from Polish social media, and you will present me examples from American social media. We will compare and discuss similarities and differences, as well as put it in a broader social, political, or cultural perspective. We will also discuss legal issues because new media law is slightly different in the European Union and the United States. The course aims to increase awareness of social media's role, advantages, challenges, and threats as well as to improve digital and media literacy.