Overview

In this unit, we examine connections. As we brand ourselves as individuals on social media we are also creating communities. From fan cultures and live streaming to activism and politics, our social media platforms have become a powerful tool of connection but also of conflict. What types of social media engagement help to form these emerging online communities? This unit equips students with the capacity to understand the risks and opportunities of managing the social media self as it functions within digital community.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
07-July-2025
05-October-2025
Last self-enrolment date
20-July-2025
Census date
01-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
22-August-2025
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Identify the areas of social media that are central to our experience of various digital communities
  • Critically analyse social media using contemporary media theories
  • Critically discuss the impact of social media on our cultural, social, political and economic communities
  • Develop critical skills of social commentary and practical skills of social media strategy and management in media industries

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Lecture		2.00 12 weeks 24
On-campus
Class		1.00 12 weeks 12
Specified Activities
Various		3.00 12 weeks 36
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		6.50 12 weeks 78
TOTAL150

Sarawak

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning		12.50 12 weeks 150
On-campus
Lecture		2.00 12 weeks 24
On-campus
Class		1.00 12 weeks 12
Specified Activities
Various		3.00 12 weeks 36
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		6.50 12 weeks 78
TOTAL300

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
BlogIndividual 30% 1,2,3 
Class ExercisesGroup 30% 1,2,3,4 
EssayIndividual 40% 1,2,3,4 
AnalysisIndividual 30% 1,2,3 
Class ExercisesGroup 30% 1,2,3,4 
EssayIndividual 40% 1,2,3,4 

Content

  • Digital Self and Digital Community: Identity Curation and Community Building on social media
  • Digital Community and Blogging: Tumblr Case Study
  • Hashtag Publics, feminism, political engagement and activism
  • Digital Community and Fandom: Reality TV Case Study
  • Digital Citizenship and Conflict: Social Media Governance
  • Digital Health Campaigns: Body modification and Cosmetic Surgery on Visual Social Media
  • Influencer Identity and the Slow Fashion Movement
  • Gaming Communities, social gaming and live streaming.

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.