Sociology and Criminology

Digital Societies

Module code: L4080B
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Seminar
Assessment modes: Coursework

On this module, you'll critically examine how digital technologies are shaping contemporary societies, placing the ‘digital’ in historical context and analysing its relationship to inequalities.

Drawing on contemporary sociological theories, you'll explore digital technologies as both socially shaped by dominant norms and assumptions and as technical objects that transform the social world.

Key topics include:

• the historical emergence of digital technologies
• the impact of digital infrastructures on society
• the role of social media networks in shaping social interactions
• the influence of algorithms and artificial intelligence
• the intersections of digital technologies with race, class and gender.

Through these themes, you'll assess how digital technologies influence and are influenced by broader sociological issues.

Module learning outcomes

• Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of sociological and other perspectives on different aspects of digital societies
• Critically explore debates about the impact of digital technologies on core sociological issues (race, gender, class, etc.)
• Assimilate and evaluate evidence from studies of digital societies which is relevant to digital sociology
• Make appropriate use of empirical data and theoretical work on digital societies to produce coherent and detailed written work for an academic audience