Digital Society: Big Data, Social Media, and Ethical Engagement

1 Credit.

How do big data and social media shape our ideas about ourselves and our participation in governance? This interdisciplinary course examines the influence of algorithms and large-scale data systems in our lives and society at large. Students explore how data-driven technologies affect brain function, human behavior, and public discourse as they engage with the work of Dr. Lilliana Mason and other JHU faculty experts. Students investigate pressing ethical issues related to privacy, misinformation, data security, and digital manipulation. Through hands-on programming in Python, students will work with real-world datasets to analyze trends and patterns, culminating in a final project that explores data’s impact on social behavior and participatory governance. This course is ideal for students interested in computer science, data science, neuroscience, psychology, cybersecurity, and/or governance. No prior programming experience is required.