The digital economy and the social media landscape are rapidly transforming social structures and ways of living. This module explores key features of the contemporary digital economy and addresses some of the following questions; how can we research digital cultures? What role do consumers play in producing the digital economy? What are the key differences between legacy media and social media? How have mobile phones transformed our lives? 

Aims and Objectives

  • To develop an understanding of the digital economy as historically situated.
  • To identify and reflect on key methodological issues raised by digital infrastructures for social research inquiry;
  • To develop an understanding of participatory culture within the context of platform capitalism 
  • To problematize and situate mundane seemingly everyday online consumption in a wider social context.
  • To examine assumptions of power, ownership and control in the digital economy.
  • To develop an understanding of the role of technology in contemporary society