Course description: | The ubiquitous presence of social media platforms has changed the way society operates. Businesses, brands, political campaigns, non-profit organizations, activists and more have had to re-conceptualize strategies around strategic communication. Citizens, too, as both voters and citizens, are grappling with changes in how they interact with each other and organizations on social media. Citizens are navigating a world in which government and big business have limitless data about our attitudes and behavior. In short, social media has had a profound influence on society. This seminar will explore social media and society through a focus on several areas: 1) data-driven persuasion, 2) online communication and relationship management, 3) data, privacy, and ethics, 4) social media analytics and 5) societal implications. This course builds on these concepts to explore social media theories and research. This course will also provide students with a practical overview of social media research methods and tools. (Odd S) |