The Evolution of Social Media

Offered by CurtinX

Course Description

"The Evolution of Social Media" is an engaging and comprehensive course that takes you on a journey through the fascinating history and development of social media. This introductory-level course explores how networked connectivity has transformed our daily lives and communication patterns. From the early days of the internet to today's mobile-dominated landscape, you'll gain a deep understanding of how social media has become an integral part of our society.

What Students Will Learn

  • Map significant milestones in the emergence of social media
  • Differentiate between 'Web 2.0' and participatory culture
  • Understand the differences in how users and social media companies utilize and perceive social media
  • Develop the ability to extrapolate current social trends online and predict possible future directions in social media

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course, making it accessible to anyone interested in understanding the evolution of social media and its impact on society.

Course Content

  • The emergence of social communication on early internet networks
  • The explosion of networked interaction with the advent of the World Wide Web
  • The rise of dominant social media platforms and their impact on everyday life
  • The transition to mobile-based social media and its implications
  • The role of social media in political communication
  • The evolution of online identity and privacy concerns
  • The future of social media and emerging trends

Who This Course Is For

  • Students interested in communications, media studies, or digital technologies
  • Professionals seeking to understand the history and impact of social media on society
  • Digital marketers looking to gain a deeper understanding of social media evolution
  • Anyone curious about how social media has shaped our online and offline interactions

Real-World Applications

  • Developing more effective social media strategies for personal or professional use
  • Understanding the societal impact of social media for policy-making or social research
  • Enhancing digital literacy and critical thinking about online interactions
  • Predicting future trends in social media for business or academic purposes
  • Improving online communication skills and understanding of digital culture

Syllabus

Module 1: Social Media before the Web

  • The internet's first 'killer app': email
  • Newsgroups and BBS Bulletin Boards
  • The emergence of online communities
  • Aliases, avatars and pseudonyms: identity experimentation

Module 2: Web 2.0 and Participatory Culture

  • Blogs: the democratization of publication
  • Wikis: participatory culture, collective intelligence and the emergence of Wikipedia
  • 'Web 2.0' and the selling of social media
  • The emergence of social presence: you are your web presence

Module 3: Social Platforms

  • Facebook: how people became profiles
  • Twitter: how 140 characters became the new politics
  • Google's YouTube: social meets video, and the challenges of building communities on ever-expanding platforms
  • The 'real name' web: the push to make online and offline identities the same

Module 4: Social Goes Everywhere: The Mobile Web

  • Snapchat and Instagram: mobile, visual and the communication that deletes-by-default
  • Locative media: how places are augmented by a social layer
  • Wearables: FitBits and trackers as social media
  • Owning big data: are users a source of big data, and how might that be used?

This course offers a unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of social media, equipping you with valuable insights into the digital landscape that shapes our modern world. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your digital literacy and gain a competitive edge in today's interconnected society!