OLLI101321 - Social Media: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Course Description

SOCIAL MEDIA: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

Nancy McDonald
Thursdays, 10:00 AM-11:30 AM
Nov. 4-Dec. 9 | Session 2

During the Arab Spring of 2011, social media held the promise of enabling democracy. A decade later, the technology is amplifying extremism. The same platforms used to share family photos can be a cesspool of disinformation. Social networking systems meant to connect communities can also polarize populations. Though social media is free to use, free speech may be censored. Online ads that help small businesses reach customers also surreptitiously track individuals. This course explores the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of social networking systems.
Maximum registrants: 500