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Dr Jonathon Hutchinson

Social media connects us across space and time, allowing us to find like-minded communities and participate creatively in public life as never before. We may often use social media without thinking much about the possible consequences. But there is a shadow side associated with social media use, which takes the form of hate speech, increased surveillance, lack of anonymity and questionable use of our data. What do we need to know to use social media spaces effectively, in a way that is safe and productive for all?

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Social media connects us across space and time, allowing us to find like-minded communities and participate creatively in public life as never before. We may often use social media without thinking much about the possible consequences. But there is a shadow side associated with social media use, which takes the form of hate speech, increased surveillance, lack of anonymity and questionable use of our data. What do we need to know to use social media spaces effectively, in a way that is safe and productive for all?

This course will guide you into a deeper exploration of online identity, social media communities and their users. You will examine the ways that social media is being used by public institutions such as government to build participation and conversation with audiences. You will encounter the most common ethical debates in social media.

You will also have the opportunity to build your practical skills by developing your professional social media profile, defining your audience, building your social media influence and understanding how to interpret data analytics to "listen" and communicate well.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Social Media Concepts
In the introductory module, we will examine the concepts of being social, of self-representation, online identity and publishing. We will also look at how the social media technologies intersect with public and private spheres as networked communication develops.
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Collaborative Practices of Social Media Users
We examine who the users of social media are, how they use it and their motivations. We will also look at the difference between networks and communities. Through the lens of 'produsage' we will explore participatory culture and understand the motivations behind users contributing to cultural production.
Participatory Culture and Media Organisations
Organisations are often accused of exploiting their users and online community members when they participate in collaborative cultural production activities. Similarly, participants are also accused of ignoring reciprocal efforts in collective online arrangements for personal gain, or what has recently been described as 'hope labour' (Kuehn & Corrigan, 2013). In this module, we will explore the tensions that surround precarious labour models for the productuon and consumption of social media content. In particular we will look at the concepts of cultural production, institutions, cultural intermediation, creativity and art.
Social Media Data Analytics
Communication across social media platforms produces an enormous amount of data that can describe content, location, users, purchases, events and emotions, along with larger scale areas such as reactions to news and politics, integration with sporting events or information and knowledge exchange, Each of these instances provides an opportunity to understand both general patterns of large-scale communication alog with nuanced individual and niche communication spaces. This module provides the opportunity to identify this sort of data, how to access and collect it and interpret and display it to strategically target larger users and networks.
Ethics in Social Media
Just because we can access social media doesn't mean that we should. In this module, you are asked to critically examine the use of social media and think about how you can manipulate the data in meaningful and beneficial ways compared with typical neo-liberal approaches. You are also encouraged to think about some of the not so obvious areas of social media data analytics, for example reconstructing potentially sensitive material, uncovering a dangerous conversation in social media, or exposjng users that may wish to remain incognito. Using social media data is tremendously rewarding, yet presents ethical challenges that many scholars are still grappling with.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Develops a deep understanding of social media concepts and their implications
Taught by experienced instructor with expertise in social media
Covers a comprehensive range of topics, from social media ethics to data analytics
Provides practical skills for building a professional social media profile and understanding data analytics
Suitable for individuals interested in using social media effectively and safely
Requires some prior understanding of social media concepts

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Reviews summary

Social media ethics 101

Learners say this introductory Social Media course is largely positive well received. Students praise its clear content, practical assignments, and engaging videos. However, some have found the peer-grading system to be difficult at times.
Videos featuring industry experts make learning more engaging.
"I appreciated the videos, especially the interviews with prestigious people working in the field"
"The course gave me a good overview, and let me reflect once more on many things."
Assignments help learners apply course concepts to real-world scenarios.
"Very clear content, delivery and the assignments are very useful for actual implementation of a campaign."
"Very interesting. I will recommend it to both future social media managers as well to academic researchers."
"This course gave me the opportunity to think about social media in a new way."
Course material is well-presented and easy to follow.
"Broadens your view on social media and points out main concepts."
"Easy to listen and very good reading material!"
"The explanation of every modules is well-defined and comprehensive as well."
Peer-grading system can be unreliable due to lack of participation.
"Please think before choosing this course as you have to wait for a very long time to make your peer-graded assignment to get approved."
"I found that without other students there was only a very limited learning potential."
"Getting assignments graded was also impossible as there were not enough students to peer review."

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 Ethical Social Media with these activities:
Review concepts of social media
Review key concepts to refresh your understanding before studying the course materials
Show steps
  • Identify the core concepts of social media
  • Explain the evolution of social media
  • Describe how social media has changed communication
Attend a social media industry event
Engage with professionals in the field and learn about the latest developments in social media
Browse courses on Social Media
Show steps
  • Search for upcoming industry events related to social media
  • Register for and attend the event
  • Network with other attendees, speakers, and organizers
  • Follow up with your new connections after the event
Create a strategic social media marketing plan
Refine your skills through external tutorials to develop a plan for effective marketing using social media
Browse courses on Social Media Marketing
Show steps
  • Identify your target audience
  • Set specific and measurable goals for your campaign
  • Choose the right social media platforms
  • Create engaging content
  • Monitor and adjust your campaign
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Attend a social media marketing workshop
Expand your knowledge on the latest trends and best practices in social media marketing by participating in a workshop
Browse courses on Social Media Marketing
Show steps
  • Research and identify reputable workshops in your area
  • Register for a workshop that aligns with your interests and goals
  • Attend the workshop and actively participate in discussions
  • Follow up with the organizers or speakers to ask questions and stay connected
Practice social media listening and analysis
Sharpen your skills in identifying and interpreting social media data to gain valuable insights
Browse courses on Social Media Listening
Show steps
  • Identify a specific topic or brand to monitor
  • Use social media listening tools to track mentions and conversations related to your topic
  • Analyze the data to identify trends, patterns, and key influencers
  • Present your findings in a clear and concise way
Develop a social media dashboard
Solidify your understanding of social media data by building a tool to track and analyze metrics
Browse courses on Social Media Analytics
Show steps
  • Identify the key metrics to track
  • Collect data from various social media platforms
  • Visualize the data in a clear and concise way
  • Set up alerts and notifications for important metrics

Career center

Learners who complete Ethical Social Media will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Social Media Manager
Social Media Managers are responsible for developing and executing social media strategies. They create content, manage social media accounts, and track results. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Social Media Manager. You will learn about social media marketing, content creation, and community management.
Digital Strategist
Digital Strategists are responsible for developing and executing digital strategies for organizations. They use a variety of digital channels to reach their target audience, including social media, email, and paid advertising. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Digital Strategist. You will learn about digital marketing strategy, campaign planning, and data analysis.
Digital Marketing Manager
Digital Marketing Managers are responsible for planning and executing digital marketing campaigns. They use a variety of channels to reach their target audience, including social media, email, and paid advertising. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Digital Marketing Manager. You will learn about digital marketing strategy, campaign planning, and data analysis.
Social Media Analyst
Social Media Analysts are responsible for collecting and analyzing data about social media usage. They use this data to understand how people are using social media and to develop strategies for engaging with them. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Social Media Analyst. You will learn about social media analytics, data visualization, and social media marketing.
Community Manager
Community Managers are responsible for building and managing online communities. They create content, moderate discussions, and engage with members. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Community Manager. You will learn about community management, content creation, and social media marketing.
Market Researcher
Market Researchers are responsible for conducting market research to gather insights about consumer behavior. They use a variety of methods to collect data, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Market Researcher. You will learn about market research methods, data analysis, and consumer behavior.
Data Analyst
Data Analysts use data to extract meaningful insights and help companies make better decisions. This course can help you develop the skills needed to collect, clean, and analyze data. You will also learn how to use data visualization to communicate your findings. These skills are in high demand in a variety of industries, including technology, healthcare, and finance.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies for organizations. They oversee all aspects of marketing, including product development, pricing, and distribution. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Marketing Manager. You will learn about marketing strategy, market research, and customer relationship management.
Communications Manager
Communications Managers are responsible for developing and executing communications strategies for organizations. They oversee all aspects of communication, including public relations, media relations, and social media. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Communications Manager. You will learn about communications strategy, media relations, and crisis management.
Public Relations Specialist
Public Relations Specialists are responsible for managing the public image of an organization. They write press releases, manage media relations, and develop public relations campaigns. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Public Relations Specialist. You will learn about public relations strategy, media relations, and crisis management.
Advertising Manager
Advertising Managers are responsible for planning and executing advertising campaigns. They work with clients to develop creative concepts and media plans. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Advertising Manager. You will learn about advertising strategy, media planning, and creative development.
User Experience Designer
User Experience Designers are responsible for designing the user experience of websites and apps. They focus on making sure that users have a positive experience when interacting with a product. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful User Experience Designer. You will learn about user experience design principles, usability testing, and information architecture.
Content Writer
Content Writers are responsible for creating written content for a variety of purposes, including websites, blogs, and social media. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Content Writer. You will learn about content creation, copywriting, and SEO.
Brand Manager
Brand Managers are responsible for developing and managing the brand of an organization. They work to create a consistent brand experience across all channels, including marketing, advertising, and social media. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Brand Manager. You will learn about brand management, marketing strategy, and advertising.
Web Developer
Web Developers are responsible for developing and maintaining websites. They use a variety of programming languages to create websites that are both functional and visually appealing. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Web Developer. You will learn about web development fundamentals, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Reading list

We've selected six 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 Ethical Social Media .
Collection of essays from leading scholars and practitioners in the field of social media, providing a wide-ranging overview of the key issues and debates.
Provides a practical guide to using social media for marketing purposes, covering topics such as content creation, audience targeting, and measurement.
Provides a basic introduction to social media marketing, covering topics such as content creation, audience targeting, and measurement.

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