COMM 4410

Communicating Self in Social Media

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2014-2015.

Communicating self has become ubiquitous in social media blurring boundaries between public and private and raising questions about online disclosure behaviors and their implications for people's lives. This seminar focuses on communication of personal information, privacy management, and social support in social media. We will examine socio-psychological dynamics underlying online disclosure and support behaviors, including motivational perspectives, sharing contexts and contents, issues of identity and emotional well-being, problematic sharing and sharing avoidance, and collective actions emerging around information sharing on the social web. The course emphasizes students' active participation and engagement through discussions, readings, reflections, and collaborative and individual activities in and outside the classroom.

When Offered Spring.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: COMM 2450.

Distribution Category (SBA)

• This course will give students knowledge and tools for a) understanding theories and research about disclosure, privacy, and social support in social media, b) integrating different theoretical perspectives to analyzing social behavior on the Internet, c) identifying practical implications of scholarly research in this area, particularly those aimed at promoting awareness around online sharing, minimizing privacy risks, and supporting well-being of individuals and communities.

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