Social Media, Communication, Community, and Connections in an Online World
In this course we will explore how our online (driven) lives impact relationships, expressions of emotion, values, and the ways in which we portray our humanity. As we bring the distant (e.g., family, friends, acquaintances, and others) close, are we making those close to us more distant? Do the demands for “being connected” alter our experiences of intimacy and the tones and textures of how we relate to and with each other, and do they therein affect how we treat our fellow human beings? Does the prevalence of social media in our lives, as evidenced in recent local, national, and global events inform and shape us in positive and/or negative ways?