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Course Outline

CMN108 Issues in Social Media

Course Coordinator:Lauren Istvandity (listvandity@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2025Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Social media use has become a pervasive part of everyday life for billions throughout the world. This course will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the issues facing organisations, professionals and individual users of social media technologies. Using local and international case studies, you will develop a critical and analytical understanding of the moral, legal and ethical issues arising from contemporary social media use. Furthermore, you will gain valuable research and analytical skills to develop and articulate recommendations to manage social media issues.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Lecture – 1 hour online lecture content for 12 weeks (or equivalent). 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – In-class tutorial 2hrs Week 1 12 times
Online
Lecture – 1 hour online content for 12 weeks (or equivalent). 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Interactive zoom tutorial 2hrs Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

  1. Defining Social Media 
  2. Power, Control and Regulation
  3. Legal and Ethical Issues 
  4. Privacy and Surveillance
  5. Social Media Audiences 
  6. Trolling, Bullying and Extremism 
  7. #Activism 
  8. Memes and Images as Cultural and Political Objects
  9. Information Overload
  10. Crisis Communication and Social Media
  11. Influencers and Celebrity
  12. Social Media and Creative Entrepreneurship 

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Identify and describe contemporary social media issues faced by organisations and individuals. Knowledgeable
2 Identify and evaluate the ethical implications relating to social media issues. Ethical
3 Investigate and analyse contemporary social media issues and their impact on organisations, social media professionals and individual users. Creative and critical thinker
4 Communicate relevant recommendations appropriate to a specific target audience Engaged
5 Apply academic literacies to written and oral communication modes. Empowered

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Students in this course should have an understanding of social media technologies.

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

In-class drafts of Task 1 will be reviewed in Week 3 and 4 and feedback provided to ensure students’ understanding of course content.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
Blended learning 1 Written Piece Individual 25% 
900 words
 Week 5 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
Blended learning 2 Oral Group 35% 
10 slides in 10 minutes
 Week 9 In Class
Blended learning 3 Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece Individual 40% 
2500 words
 Week 13 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
Online 1 Written Piece Individual 25% 
900 words
 Week 5 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
Online 2 Oral Group 35% 
10 slides in 10 minutes
 Week 9 Online Submission
Online 3 Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece Individual 40% 
2500 words
 Week 13 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
Blended learning - Assessment Task 1:Annotated Bibliography
Goal: 
You will become familiar with and be able to demonstrate foundational theoretical knowledge including concepts and approaches to social media.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Academic writing. You will produce an annotated bibliography of 900 words consisting of six sources (4 scholarly and 2 non-scholarly sources) pertaining to an identified topic or issue in social media. Each entry of approximately 150 words will demonstrate your understanding of the text, the main concepts or arguments presented, and the relevance of the text to the identified topic or issue. The issue will be relevant to topics covered in Weeks 1-5 of course content.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Selection of appropriate sources and relevance to selected issue
 2 5
2 
Critical understanding of social media issues, theory and approaches
 1
3 
Identification of ethical and legal aspects of social media issues.
 1 2
4 
Demonstration of appropriate academic writing, research, and referencing skills.
 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Organisation, Information literacy
Blended learning - Assessment Task 2:Case Study Brief-Oral Presentation
Goal: 
You will identify and assess problems relating to social media and formulate plausible ways to solve and/or minimise their impact on individual/organisational reputations and the community.
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
In groups, you will have 10 slides (PowerPoint or Prezi) and 10 minutes to present a case study analysis relating to one of the social media issues covered in Weeks 3-8. The case should have gained prominence on social media and received traditional media coverage (television, radio, newspapers). Presentations will be held in tutorials.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Evaluation of the ethical implications relating to social media issues.
 2
2 
Description and analysis of case.
 1 3
3 
Evidence of research.
 3 5
4 
Application of oral academic literacies.
 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
Blended learning - Assessment Task 3:Guiding Secondary School Students' Use of Social Media
Goal: 
The goal of this task is to develop an awareness of the connection between communication and audience as a key part of the process of designing influential communication artefacts for a specific audience.
Product: Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will write a 1500 word equivalent "How to Guide" for secondary school students to provide advice on how to manage one of the issues covered in Week 5 - 12. The Guide will include a description of the issue, background analysis, legal and ethical considerations and 5-10 recommendations relating specifically to the issue to guide secondary students' use of social media.1000 word analysis. 1500 word equivalent - How To Guide
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Analysis of selected issue and its theoretical and practical implications.
 3
2 
Appropriateness of communication of information to the target audience.
 4
3 
Evidence of research.
 3 5
4 
Application of academic literacies.
 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
Online - Assessment Task 1:Annotated Bibliography
Goal: 
You will become familiar with and be able to demonstrate foundational theoretical knowledge including concepts and approaches to social media.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Academic writing. You will produce an annotated bibliography of 900 words consisting of six sources (4 scholarly and 2 non-scholarly sources) pertaining to an identified topic or issue in social media. Each entry of approximately 150 words will demonstrate your understanding of the text, the main concepts or arguments presented, and the relevance of the text to the identified topic or issue. The issue will be relevant to topics covered in Weeks 1-5 of course content.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Selection of appropriate sources and relevance to selected issue
 1 2 5
2 
Critical understanding of social media issues, theory and approaches
 1
3 
Identification of ethical and legal aspects of social media issues.
 1 2
4 
Demonstration of appropriate academic writing, research, and referencing skills.
 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Organisation, Information literacy
Online - Assessment Task 2:Case Study Brief-Oral Presentation
Goal: 
You will identify and assess problems relating to social media and formulate plausible ways to solve and/or minimise their impact on individual/organisational reputations and the community.
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
In groups, you will have 10 slides (PowerPoint or Prezi) and 10 minutes to present a case study analysis relating to one of the social media issues covered in Weeks 3-8. The case should have gained prominence on social media and received traditional media coverage (television, radio, newspapers). Online students can submit their group's oral presentation using one of the following three methods:
1. Audio/video recording over PowerPoint slides
2. Audio/video recording over Zoom
3. YouTube video
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Evaluation of the ethical implications relating to social media issues.
 2
2 
Description and analysis of case.
 1 3
3 
Evidence of research.
 3 5
4 
Application of oral academic literacies.
 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
Online - Assessment Task 3:Guiding Secondary School Students' Use of Social Media
Goal: 
The goal of this task is to develop an awareness of the connection between communication and audience as a key part of the process of designing influential communication artefacts for a specific audience.
Product: Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will write a 1500 word equivalent "How to Guide" for secondary school students to provide advice on how to manage one of the issues covered in Week 5 - 12. The Guide will include a description of the issue, background analysis, legal and ethical considerations and 5-10 recommendations relating specifically to the issue to guide secondary students' use of social media.
1000 word analysis
1500 word equivalent - How To Guide
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Analysis of selected issue and its theoretical and practical implications.
 3
2 
Appropriateness of communication of information to the target audience.
 4
3 
Evidence of research.
 3 5
4 
Application of academic literacies.
 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Students must have access to a computer and the internet to undertake this course.

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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