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SOCIO303-23A (NET)
Big Tech, Big Data, Algorithms and Society
15 Points
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Division of Arts Law Psychology & Social Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Sociology and Social Policy
Staff
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Convenor(s)
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Bruce Curtis
bruce.curtis@waikato.ac.nz
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Lecturer(s)
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Anna Friedlander
NON.0.CC01
anna.friedlander@waikato.ac.nz
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Librarian(s)
: melanie.chivers@waikato.ac.nz
You can contact staff by:
- Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
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Extensions starting with 4, 5, 9 or 3 can also be direct dialled:
- For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension.
- For extensions starting with 5: dial +64 7 858 extension.
- For extensions starting with 9: dial +64 7 837 extension.
- For extensions starting with 3: dial +64 7 2620 + the last 3 digits of the extension e.g. 3123 = +64 7 262 0123.
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What this paper is about
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The purpose of the paper is to develop a sociological analysis of the causes and impacts of new digital technologies, including the increasing role of algorithms and other non-human actors in decision-making and other aspects of social life. The paper will address a range of issues including capitalist surveillance, algorithmic bias, the gig economy and precarity, digital self-tracking practices, digital labour and 'prosumption', misinformation, disinformation and 'conspirituality', online hate and the virtual public sphere, and corporate-state surveillance. We will also consider what it means to do sociology in the age of big tech. Our core text will be Christian Fuchs’ Marxist account of digital capitalism in Social Media: A Critical Introduction (3rd edition).
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How this paper will be taught
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This is a NET paper.
All course materials will be available on Moodle and via the course reading list. There will be a weekly net lesson, and we will meet once a week over Zoom (Friday, 9am-10am) to discuss the course content. Students are expected to come to the Zoom meeting having done the readings and net lesson, ready to discuss their thoughts on the week's content.
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Required Readings
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Required readings will be made available on the course Moodle page and the SOCIO303 library reading list.
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Learning Outcomes
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Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:
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Assessments
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How you will be assessed
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The assessment for the paper is three 2000-word essays and marks for class participation. Essay questions can be found on the Moodle page. Familiarise yourself with the questions at the start of the semester and start thinking about how you will answer the essay questions. Class participation will be measured by attendance in lecture and contribution to the class discussion - one mark per lecture up to a maximum of 10 marks.
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The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0. There is no final exam.
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