The rapid advancement of network and computer technologies has dramatically changed the ways in which personal information is created, stored, retrieved, and shared. There is no doubt that personal privacy is one of the biggest concerns of Internet users today. Meanwhile, new media and communication technologies also allow users to actively construct and maintain virtual identities that are separa
te from their real world identities. People can use these virtual identities to strategically and effectively manage personal boundaries and social relations. This course focuses on the social aspects of new media technologies and online communication. It examines issues related to online identity development and management, personal privacy protection, and virtual community from a communication management perspective. Topics in this course include media theories, social and psychological impacts of social media, computer-mediated communication, and human-Computer communication.
