STS 214
Understanding Social Media Fall 2025
Division II
Cross-listed SOC 212

Over the last quarter century–beginning with Friendster and MySpace and continuing through Facebook and Snapchat, TikTok and X–the rise of social media has had a profound influence on the way we live. It has given a new rhythm to our daily routines, shaped the way we inform ourselves and converse with others, and transformed media and entertainment, politics and public discourse, and many other aspects of society. This seminar course will undertake a broad and critical examination of social media, looking at it from historical, economic, legal, and philosophical perspectives. The topics addressed will include social media’s effects on self-image and self-formation, its influence on politics and government, its use as a conduit for news and debate, and the way commercial interests and technical characteristics have influenced its design and use. Through pertinent readings and lively discussions, and drawing on students’ own experiences with social media, the course will illuminate the technology’s role in shaping contemporary society while providing a foundation for thinking about possible legal, regulatory, and personal responses to this far-reaching and still unfolding phenomenon.