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Social Media

How Media Got Social

Tama Leaver and Gwyneth Peaty

Social media and online communication dominate our daily lives in an unprecedented manner. Wireless connectivity, mobile devices and wearable technologies mean that social media is always on, always part of everyday life for billions of people across the world.

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Social media and online communication dominate our daily lives in an unprecedented manner. Wireless connectivity, mobile devices and wearable technologies mean that social media is always on, always part of everyday life for billions of people across the world.

While the term 'social media' is barely a decade old, the story of how people started using the internet in a social manner is a much longer and more interesting one. This course willincrease learners' understanding of social media by looking at the ways networked connectivity let users become 'social', how this was amplified with the emergence of the web, and how social media became the default mode of the mobile web we use today.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Map significant milestones in the emergence of social media
  • Differentiate between 'web 2.0' and participatory culture
  • Understand the differences in the way users and social media companies utilise and think about social media
  • Extrapolate current social trends online and map possible directions in social media.
  • By completing this course, you should be able to:

Syllabus

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

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores social media's rise and impact, providing a comprehensive overview
Examines various social media platforms, highlighting their role in shaping communication and society
Led by instructors with expertise in the field, ensuring high-quality content
Covers the history and evolution of social media, providing historical context
Analyzes the impact of mobile devices and wearables on social media usage, reflecting current trends

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Reviews summary

A historical journey of social media

According to students, this course offers a deep historical dive into the evolution of social media, providing a strong foundational understanding of how online communication became 'social.' Learners frequently praise the well-structured content and engaging lectures delivered by a knowledgeable and articulate instructor. While highly valued for its conceptual insights, some recent feedback indicates that the course could benefit from more in-depth coverage of current trends and newer platforms, with some finding certain sections slightly dated. Overall, it's considered an excellent overview for historical context, though perhaps less suited for those seeking cutting-edge practical strategies.
Geared towards historical and conceptual understanding, not practical application or modern strategy.
"I expected more on modern social media strategy, but this course was distinctly a history lesson."
"This course is better suited for true beginners interested in the academic history, rather than practical job skills."
"If you're looking for practical application, you might find it too academic and not what you need for your job."
Features clear lectures and a knowledgeable instructor, making topics accessible.
"The course was well-structured, engaging, and the instructor was clearly knowledgeable and passionate."
"Lectures were clear and thought-provoking, while assignments reinforced key concepts effectively."
"The professor was excellent, delivering articulate and engaging material that truly opened my eyes."
Provides an insightful and well-researched look at social media's origins.
"This course really helped me understand the history of social media and provided great foundational information."
"I loved tracing the evolution of networked communication; the assignments truly reinforced my learning."
"It's a fascinating journey into how media got social, highly informative, and well-researched."
"The course offers a solid historical foundation, which is valuable for understanding its ongoing evolution."
Some current and emerging social media topics could benefit from deeper, more up-to-date coverage.
"While providing a solid historical foundation, some parts felt a bit dated regarding current social media trends."
"I found it a good overview, but it felt a little surface-level on modern platforms and cutting-edge information."
"It was interesting, but I personally found it wasn't deep enough for me and felt more like an introductory course."
"I was hoping for more insights into future trends and modern platform strategies, which felt light."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Social Media: How Media Got Social with these activities:
Organize Course Materials
Improve your retention and understanding by organizing notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams in a structured manner.
Show steps
  • Review and categorize course materials
  • Create a filing system for easy retrieval
  • Highlight key concepts and summarize notes
Explore the Evolution of Social Media Platforms
Deepen your understanding of the historical progression of social media by researching and following tutorials that trace its evolution from early online communities to contemporary platforms.
Show steps
  • Identify key milestones in the development of social media
  • Analyze the impact of technological advancements on social media
Join a Social Media Discussion Group
Expand your perspectives and engage in meaningful discussions with peers by joining an online forum or discussion group dedicated to social media.
Show steps
  • Identify and join relevant discussion groups
  • Actively participate in discussions and share insights
  • Collaborate on projects or case studies
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Review 'The Social Media Bible'
Enhance your comprehension of social media principles and strategies by delving into 'The Social Media Bible,' a comprehensive guide that provides valuable insights into the industry.
View The Social Media Bible on Amazon
Show steps
Attend a Social Media Marketing Workshop
Enhance your practical skills and knowledge by attending a workshop that provides hands-on experience in social media marketing strategies and best practices.
Show steps
Create a Social Media Campaign Proposal
Apply your learning by developing a comprehensive social media campaign proposal that outlines strategies, target audience, content plans, and evaluation metrics.
Show steps
  • Define campaign objectives and target audience
  • Develop content ideas and a posting schedule
  • Identify potential influencers and partnerships
  • Create a budget and timeline for the campaign
  • Outline evaluation metrics and reporting strategies
Practice Social Media Content Creation
Improve your ability to create engaging and effective social media content by participating in exercises and challenges that focus on different content formats and strategies.
Show steps
  • Create social media posts for different platforms
  • Develop content calendars and schedules
  • Analyze social media metrics and optimize content
Contribute to Social Media Open Source Projects
Enhance your technical skills and understanding of social media platforms by contributing to open source projects related to social media development.
Show steps
  • Identify open source projects related to social media
  • Review project documentation and codebase
  • Contribute code, documentation, or bug fixes

Career center

Learners who complete Social Media: How Media Got Social will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Social Media Manager
Social Media Managers develop and execute social media strategies for businesses and organizations. As a Social Media Manager, you will need to have a deep understanding of social media platforms and how to use them to reach target audiences. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how to use them effectively to achieve your goals.
See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager
Digital Marketing Specialist
Digital Marketing Specialists develop and execute digital marketing campaigns for businesses and organizations. As a Digital Marketing Specialist, you will need to have a strong understanding of digital marketing channels, including social media, search engine optimization (SEO), and email marketing. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how to use them effectively to achieve your goals.
See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Marketing Specialist
Community Manager
Community Managers build and manage online communities for businesses and organizations. As a Community Manager, you will need to have a deep understanding of social media and how to use it to engage with customers and build relationships. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how to use them effectively to build and manage online communities.
See salaries and explore the career path for Community Manager
Content Creator
Content Creators develop and create content for businesses and organizations. As a Content Creator, you will need to have a strong understanding of social media and how to use it to create engaging content that will reach your target audience. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how to use them effectively to create and share content.
See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator
Social Media Analyst
Social Media Analysts collect and analyze data from social media platforms to help businesses and organizations understand their audience and measure the effectiveness of their social media campaigns. As a Social Media Analyst, you will need to have a strong understanding of social media and how to use it to collect and analyze data. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how to use them effectively to collect and analyze data.
See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Analyst
UX Designer
UX Designers design the user experience for websites and mobile apps. As a UX Designer, you will need to have a deep understanding of how users interact with technology. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how users interact with them.
See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer
Web Developer
Web Developers develop and maintain websites. As a Web Developer, you will need to have a strong understanding of web development technologies and how to use them to create websites that are user-friendly and effective. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how they are built.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer
Technical Writer
Technical Writers create documentation for software and other technical products. As a Technical Writer, you will need to have a strong understanding of technical concepts and how to explain them clearly to users. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how they work.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer
Journalist
Journalists write and report on news and current events. As a Journalist, you will need to have a strong understanding of current events and how to write and report on them clearly and concisely. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how they are used to share news and information.
See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist
Public Relations Specialist
Public Relations Specialists manage the public image of businesses and organizations. As a Public Relations Specialist, you will need to have a strong understanding of media relations and how to build and maintain positive relationships with the media. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how they are used to build and maintain relationships with the media.
See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist
Salesforce Administrator
Salesforce Administrators manage and maintain Salesforce software for businesses and organizations. As a Salesforce Administrator, you will need to have a strong understanding of Salesforce and how to use it to manage customer relationships. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how they are used to manage customer relationships.
See salaries and explore the career path for Salesforce Administrator
Data Analyst
Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help businesses and organizations make informed decisions. As a Data Analyst, you will need to have a strong understanding of data analysis techniques and how to use them to solve business problems. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how they are used to collect and analyze data.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst
Business Analyst
Business Analysts analyze business processes and make recommendations for improvement. As a Business Analyst, you will need to have a strong understanding of business analysis techniques and how to use them to improve business processes. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how they are used to improve business processes.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst
Project Manager
Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. As a Project Manager, you will need to have a strong understanding of project management techniques and how to use them to manage projects successfully. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how they are used to manage projects.
See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager
Software Engineer
Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. As a Software Engineer, you will need to have a strong understanding of software engineering principles and how to use them to develop software applications. This course will help you understand the history of social media and how it has evolved over time. You will also learn about the different types of social media platforms and how they are built.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Social Media: How Media Got Social.
Cover image
Location-Based Social Media
Save
Collection of essays that explore the history, impact, and future of social media. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the topic.
Location-Based Social Media: Space, Time and...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Brian Solis Digital Reader
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the social media landscape, from its early days to the present day. It discusses the different types of social media platforms, the ways people use them, and the impact they have on our lives.
The Brian Solis Digital Reader
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Social Media Bible
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of social media marketing. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to use social media to promote their business or organization.
The Social Media Bible
Paperback
Check
The Social Media Bible
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Social Media ROI
Save
Provides guidance on how to measure the return on investment (ROI) of social media marketing. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to justify the cost of social media marketing.
Social Media ROI: Managing and Measuring Social...
Paperback
$$
Social Media ROI: Managing and Measuring Social...
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
The Power of Visual Storytelling: How to Use...
Save
Provides practical advice on how to use visual content to market your business on social media. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their social media marketing efforts.
The Power of Visual Storytelling: How to Use...
Paperback
Check
The Power of Visual Storytelling: How to Use...
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
The Culture of Connectivity
Save
Provides a critical history of social media. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to understand the historical development of social media and its impact on our culture.
The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of...
Paperback
$$
The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
How to Make Money with Social Media
Save
Provides practical advice on how to make money using social media. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to use social media to generate income.
How to Make Money with Social Media: An Insider's...
Kindle Edition
$$
How to Make Money with Social Media: An Insider's...
Hardcover
$$
Cover image
Sharing our Lives Online
Save
Explores the impact of social media on our lives. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to understand the social and cultural implications of social media.
Sharing our Lives Online: Risks and Exposure in...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Fifth Estate
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the social impact of social media. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to understand the role of social media in our社会.
The Fifth Estate: The Power Shift of the Digital...
Paperback
$$
The Fifth Estate: The Power Shift of the Digital...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Nonprofit Management All-in-One For Dummies
Save
Provides a basic overview of social media marketing. It valuable resource for anyone who is new to social media marketing.
Nonprofit Management All-in-One For Dummies (For...
Paperback
$$
Nonprofit Management All-in-One For Dummies
Kindle Edition
$$

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Course image
Effort
2 to 3 hours per week for 4 weeks
Level
Introductory
Via
edX
Institution
Curtin University
Instructors
Tama Leaver
Gwyneth Peaty
Language
English
Transcript
English
This course belongs to a collection called From Digital Technologies to Social Media. It's comprised of three courses:
  1. Disability and Digital Media: Accessibility, Representation and Inclusion
  2. Social Media: How Media Got Social (viewing)
  3. Communicating with Robots and Bots
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores social media's rise and impact, providing a comprehensive overview
Examines various social media platforms, highlighting their role in shaping communication and society
Led by instructors with expertise in the field, ensuring high-quality content
Covers the history and evolution of social media, providing historical context
Analyzes the impact of mobile devices and wearables on social media usage, reflecting current trends
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