| SCHOOL | School of Economics and Political Science | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| DEPARTMENT | Sociology | ||
| Level of Study | Undergraduate | ||
| COURSE CODE | 431032 | ||
| COURSE TITLE | Sociology of the Internet (YE) | ||
| Independent Teaching Activities | Weekly Teaching Hours | CREDIT UNITS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 3 | 6 | |
| TOTAL | 3 | 6 | |
| Course Type | General Background | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite Courses | No | ||
| Teaching and Examination Language | Greek | ||
| THE COURSE IS OFFERED TO ERASMUS STUDENTS | Yes (in the form of assignments in English) | ||
| Course Webpage (URL) | https://eclass.uoa.gr/courses/SOC156/ | ||
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
Knowledge
• They describe the basic historical evolution of computers, the internet, and digital communication technologies.
• They understand the social, cultural, and political impacts of the proliferation of the internet and digital media on everyday life.
• They recognize the basic concepts and problematics of the Sociology of the Internet (digital identity, networking, surveillance, public sphere, digital labor, platformization).
Skills
• They apply sociological and theoretical approaches to the analysis of digital practices and technologies (social media, platforms, smart devices, geolocation).
• They apply theoretical tools to understand the attention economy, the «society of control,» memes, and other digital practices.
• They compare different theoretical interpretations of the social impacts of the internet and new technologies.
Skills
• They develop critical thinking regarding digital technologies and their impact on public and private life.
• They communicate theoretical arguments orally and in writing regarding the digital world and its social consequences.
• They collaborate on collective analyses and interactive activities using digital tools.
General Capabilities
Upon completion of the course, students will have developed:
The course Sociology of the Internet focuses on the study of the social, cultural, and political impacts resulting from the widespread dissemination of computers, the internet, and digital technologies in everyday and public life. The subject of the course is the analysis of how contemporary forms of digital communication and mediation—such as social media, the mobile phone, digital platforms, remote work, «smart» devices, and geolocation technologies—are transforming social relations, interaction practices, identity formation, and the modes of political participation and the exercise of power.
The central research question of the course concerns the relationship between technology and society, and more specifically how digital technologies do not merely function as neutral tools, but as socially and culturally embedded practices that reshape institutions, forms of communication, and social hierarchies. Special emphasis is placed on the dynamic interplay between the digital and the social, as well as on the new forms of sociality, labor, surveillance, and collective action that emerge within the digital environment.
The course combines theoretical analysis and the study of examples from everyday digital life, covering issues such as: (1) Internet aesthetics and post-internet aesthetics, (2) Digital games and gamification techniques, (3) The attention economy and the «society of control», (4) The Internet of Things, and (5) memes and cultural production in the digital environment.
The objectives of the course are: (a) the understanding of the historical evolution of computers and the internet and their integration into social practices; (b) the highlighting of the ways in which the digital intersects with the social, reshaping relations, identities, and forms of power; (c) the familiarization of students with different theoretical approaches for studying the social impacts of the internet; and (d) the cultivation of critical thinking regarding the role of digital technologies in the public sphere, democracy, and social life.
| DELIVERY METHOD | Face to face |
|---|---|
| Information and Communication Technologies | Teaching is actively supported by information and communication technologies, with the aim of enhancing understanding and critical thinking around the internet and digital technologies. Specifically:
|
| Activity | Semester Workload |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 39 |
| Participation in Exercises | 40 |
| Private Study | 68 |
| Examination Participation | 3 |
| Course Summary | 150 |
| Process Description Evaluation | Written exam at the end of the semester. The evaluation of students is based on the understanding of key theoretical concepts and frameworks, the ability to analyze social phenomena related to the internet and digital technologies, the critical processing and synthesis of arguments in written discourse, as well as the application of theoretical tools to examples of digital culture. The goal of the assessment is to ensure that students have understood the theoretical and practical content of the course, are able to analyze and interpret social phenomena within the digital context, and can express substantiated views with clarity, both orally and in writing. |
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