Communication in the Digital Age

Communication in the Digital Age
COMM 1255 <2026-SP>
Help desk
Content
TU/FR 9:50–11:30am
Ryder 435 (
map
TU&FR at 15:30+
email to schedule
Dr. Reagle
215 Holmes Hall
Tip: Enter at
41A
Leon St.
Policies
Assignments
Rubrics
Resources
Schedule
Course objectives
Digital communication is central to contemporary life and yet (or consequently) we take it for
granted.
Communication in the Digital Age
will remedy this. At its successful completion,
you will be able to explain the technical basis, communicative effects, and commercial aspects of
digital communication. For instance, you will learn about web protocols, attention and
multi-tasking, the shape and strengths of one’s network of relationships; you’ll learn about online
ads, content, and privacy; and we’ll discuss how bias can emerge in online platforms.
Successful completion of this course enables one to:
recall, compare, and give examples of key issues and theories of online communication (e.g.,
deindividuation);
explain how the Internet & web work (e.g., DNS);
ask complex questions and have a sense of how one might address those questions (e.g., are
digital natives tech-savvy?);
exercise practical digital competencies (e.g., filtering email, writing web pages, and assessing
your digital footprint);
compellingly write in both a short-form online venue and longer-form academic format;
Policies
Active learning and the Web
To really know shoelaces, you have to tie shoes.—Matthew Crawford (2009)
Shop Class as
Soulcraft
This is an
active learning
course meaning that you will be partaking in class and group discussions, participating in class
exercises, and sharing and relating what we learn to the larger world.
I also make much use of the Web. For instance, this syllabus is a Web page that I update; I
expect you to
it and
follow links. (If you find a broken link or typo, let me know!) You can easily find things on this
page with
⌘+f
. You
can open links in new tabs with
control-click
. We will also make use of
Google Drive. In emails I often use
markdown conventions
and
respond below your
quoted (‘>’)
text
Academic Integrity
In short, come to class on time and with the readings and assignments completed; be respectful
and willing to collaborate. There are no provisions for missed exams or late assignments. If you
have an issue, such as needing accommodation—illness, disability, athletic event, or religious
obligation—do not plead afterward. Instead, beforehand, offer proposals that show initiative and a
willingness to work.
Academic Integrity
is of utmost importance: “The promotion of independent and original scholarship ensures that
students derive the most from their educational experience and their pursuit of knowledge.”
Violations include cheating, plagiarism, and participating in or encouraging dishonesty. If you
cheat on an exam, you will receive zero credit and be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. If
you
plagiarize
seven or more
words in a row or misuse AI-based tools, the same will follow.
AI tool usage
AI-based tools can
help and hinder
our education. They can tempt us to skip learning and
misrepresent our work; this is academic misconduct. They can also be used well and honestly, which
requires disclosure and careful effort—they can plagiarize and “hallucinate” facts and sources.
Therefore,
AI tools
cannot
be used for quizzes or exams
; doing so is
misconduct. For anything else, submitted work
must substantively be your own
; if not, this
is misconduct.
All assignments submitted to Canvas
must
have an appendix with a link to your
document’s version history (i.e., a link to itself). Versioning and history is native to
GDocs
which I strongly recommend. If you use MS
Word
you
must
enable [Track Changes] from the start
and
save the file on
Northeastern’s
Office 365
or
OneDrive/Sharepoint
You must grant me editor permissions
from the start
. You
must
also be prepared to
speak with me to demonstrate your understanding.
If you use AI tools for improving your work (e.g., ChatGPT for feedback or GrammarlyGo and
Quillbot for improving composition), include a note or appendix
describing your use
(feel
free to link to your chat thread); failing to do so is misconduct.
Devices and professionalism
If you want to use a device throughout the course, email me a
device proposal
with
your intended usage. Device users might also be called upon to perform tasks such as looking things
up or taking collaborative notes.
Deviations from classroom professionalism and respect may result in dismissal from class and
demerits against your grade. See full
course policies
for more
details.
Assignments
There are 1000 points at stake over the term. This is converted to letter grades based on
thresholds
, without rounding. For
example, 870 is a B+; 869 is not. Due dates are in the
schedule
(200 pts)
Class participation
Unexcused absences will affect your participation grade. Excused absences are shared with the
instructor beforehand and include: athletic, religious, health and disability accommodations, and
two
Wellness Days
(via
Student Hub
).
Participation entails much more than (even perfect) attendance; participation is assessed
rigorously. Please see
participation
assessment
for more.
Web assignments
You will be creating a website with a homepage that links to webpages for five practical
exercises and two sets of reading responses—eight pages in total.
When you send me an assignment, email it ninety minutes before class; include your page’s URL at
the top followed by the assignment’s markdown content so I can give you feedback—an
email like this
, no attachments. Email submissions to me
(j.reagle) and include
HackMD
in your descriptive subject line. (For example, “HackMD:
Privacy response” or “HackMD: Web search and evaluation.”) If you fail to do this, I might not see
the email and you could fail to get credit. Submissions sent since the last class are
viewable
by others on the web.
(200 pts)
Practical exercises
These are
mandatory
and require you to document a specific competency (e.g.,
filtering your email) on
HackMD
within the context of that class’s
readings. Responding to the readings is a part of this assignment, so you can’t count this toward
your response quota. If you want to include screenshots, use HackMD’s image upload or an image host
such as
imgur.com
. Make good use of markdown: use headings, links,
and quotes, and embed images, video, or audio as appropriate. Email me your assignment no later than
90 minutes before class: include
HackMD
in your descriptive subject line; include the
to your pagAcademic Integrity Do not create a new account for each assignment; create a
new page with your existing account. These are typically 300–500 words. Link to your new note from
your homepage and make sure you set:
share/readable:everyone.
Mention but don’t focus on Derrida’s
deconstruction.
Wiki tutorial
(0 pts)
Web search & evaluation
(50 pts)
Filter your email
(50 pts)
Adblocking
(50 pts)
Privacy footprint
(50 pts)
I assess these based on: substantive engagement with the assignment’s task and accurate results;
good use and integration of that day’s readings; deft use of markdown (headings, links to readings,
images, etc.); and prose quality.
(200 pts)
Reading responses
You must read and prepare to discuss
all
readings for each class.
For most classes, you can write a reading response, which must be sent no later than 60 minutes
before the class in which we address those readings. In each half of the course, you must complete a
set of five reading responses—in addition to all
practical exercises
above. That is, for
classes that
don’t
already have
REQUIRED
practical exercises, you must
complete a quota of
five
responses by the middle of the semester (see schedule
below) and
five
after. Plan this ahead of time so you are not caught short.
You will have two response pages on your website for each set—see one
example response page
on
my website
—where each response has a
heading with the class date and topic title. If you write a response, email it to me : include
HackMD
in your descriptive subject line; include the to your page,
followed by the markdown in an
email like this
I assess these solely on the quality of the content: you do not need to use links, images, etc. I
recommend you spell and grammar check your writing and maintain a
checklist
of how to write an
excellent
response
(200 pts)
Exam
The exam includes multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short essay questions.
(200 pts)
Topical essay and proposal
These assignments must be double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins. (One page contains
approximately 250 words.) Citations and bibliography must be in the
APA style
. No APA cover page is
required. Include your name and submit the electronic version via
Canvas
before class. Remember to
include an appendix with a description of
AI tool usage
, if any, and a
link to your document’s revision history.
I will be looking for comprehensive engagement and understanding of course material in prose that
is clear, concise, coherent, and cohesive; see the
writing rubric
and
example structure
(50 pts) Write a ~500 word essay proposal identifying a strong thesis about a “digital age”
issue and candidate sources for a larger essay. In your proposal don’t “plan” to “discuss” or
“explore” an issue; instead, state a strong
thesis
(i.e., an
argument or answer to a puzzle) and describe how your sources will support your thesis.
Mention but don’t focus on Derrida’s
deconstruction.
Engage class sources and three or more external sources, at least one of which is scholarly.
Besides being about life “in the digital age,” this is otherwise open-ended; see
Choosing a Topic
for
help. Previous topics have included, but are not limited to: “Productive Procrastination vs
Media-Multitasking,” and “Homophily in Online Dating.” Write this as an essay, rather than an
outline, so I can give you feedback on essay structure and mechanics.
If you have permission to revise a written assignment for re-assessment, please see these
revision instructions
and
make sure you can see my
feedback on
Canvas
(150 pts) Based on your essay proposal, write a ~1500 word essay with a sharp thesis
supported by course and external sources (at least five total). Consider addressing the strongest
argument or evidence contrary to your thesis and how it affects your confidence in your position.
Mention but don’t focus on Derrida’s
deconstruction.
(2pts)
TRACE
Our college requires all students to complete TRACE evaluations at the end of the semester even
if you (anonymously) opt out of completing the survey. To receive a 2-point bonus, submit evidence
of completing TRACE to the Canvas assignment.
Rubrics
Course
Communication Studies courses are expected, on average, to have a GPA of no more than a 3.3 (B+);
this means those receiving an A or A- are in the minority.
According to the
course
rubric
, an excellent “A” student:
shows
mastery
in assignments. Their work demonstrates an impressive
understanding of readings, discussions, themes, and ideas. It is fluid, clear, analytical,
well-organized and grammatically polished. Reasoning and logic are well-grounded and examples
precise.
has virtually perfect
attendance
. Their commitment to the class resembles that
of the teacher.
is
prepared
for class. They always read assignments and participate fully.
Their attention to detail is such that they occasionally catch the teacher in a mistake.
shows
interest
in the class. They look up what they don’t understand. They
often ask interesting questions or make thoughtful comments.
has
retentive
minds. They can connect past learning with the present.
has a winning
attitude
. They have the determination, initiative, and
self-discipline to succeed.
Letter grades
Impressive: worthy of being an exemplar.
Good: many strengths and some weaknesses.
Satisfactory: strengths marred by weaknesses.
Unsatisfactory: weaknesses dominate (any) strengths.
Deficient: fails to address assignment or academic requirements.
See the
grading
scale
for letter↔︎points thresholds.
Writing
As the
writing
rubric
states, excellent prose:
has
impressive
engagement
with the assignment, sources, and concepts.
has
impressive
understanding
of the same.
is
polished
with a
snappy
start
sharp
thesis
; it is
clear
and
concise
, with
coherent
structure
, and
cohesive
sentences
correctly
uses
sourcing
when appropriate.
Participation
See the
participation
assessment
Resources
Many links are found throughout this syllabus (remember,
⌘+f
is
your friend), but I’ve gathered some of the most important ones below.
Northeastern
Library
resources
writing center
, and
international tutoring
center
Reading responses
How
to write an excellent response
An
example/template page
of what
your two response pages should look like
Student responses for the most recent class
(These are
emails with
HackMD
in the subject line and are
publicly
viewable
.)
Essays
Choosing a
topic
Writing rubric and
guide
Revision
instructions
In class
Class
Google
Drive
Show & tell submissions
Lecture slide deck handouts
Participation
assessment
Readings
Most readings are linked to from this page, if not check this
zip file
. For selections, I specify the chapter (ch=) or pages (pp=) to read.
If you encounter a
paywall
, try
incognito mode
; pasting the URL at
archive.ph
GhostArchive.org
archive.org
, or searching for the title at
Proquest
via our library. I use the browser
plugin Web
Archives
to help with this.
Schedule
Jan 09 Fri - Are you tech-savvy?
Welcome! We introduce ourselves, cover class logistics, and consider if digital natives are
tech-savvy. We also try to put this concern about “digital natives” in context. Come to class
prepared to discuss the readings and complete the two small assignments below (not a reading
response).
Kate Moran, 2016,
Millennials as digital natives:
Myths and realities
Chris Evans, Wenqian Robertson, 2020,
The four
phases of the digital natives debate
Bring a
mnemonic
that connects your name
with a memorable image: “Imagine me …” I could say: “Imagine Prof. Reagle being chased by
beagles.”
Use the readings to generate a higher-order question (analysis, synthesis, evaluation) from
Question
Taxonomy
. Do you have a sense of how you would go about answering your question?
Jan 13 Tue - Markdown
Complete the assignment below;
bring a device
to class.
Due: Wiki tutorial
A wiki is an easy-to-create website using a lightweight syntax—such as markdown—for specifying
images, links, and headings. Markdown is simple text, easy to read and write, supported by many
editors, and can be mixed with HTML when needed (such as to embed a YouTube video). You can use it
on websites such as
Reddit
, in note-taking
apps such as
Notion
and
Obsidian
, or even with
Google Docs
REQUIRED
: Go to
HackMD
and create your
wiki.
Sign in by creating an account or using an existing social media account. You could use Dropbox
and easily backup/export your work there.
Create a new note/page entitled “Home Page.”
Read about
markdown syntax
(or watch a
video tutorial
). Copy the markdown from
my homepage
into your page and edit it to
make it your own.
Press
to create a note for your “Wiki tutorial.” Create a page about a hobby or
interest of yours using
headings, links, images, and videos
. (Remember to use blank
lines above and below paragraphs.)
Copy the URL of this page, go back to your home page, and link to it.
Similarly, create and link to a page for your first set of reading responses. Feel free to copy
the source of my
example/template
page
Make sure all three of your pages have their share options
, set
Read
to
Everyone
and
Write
to
Owners
This isn’t graded and does
not
count toward your five reading responses, but I
will give you feedback. Email me your assignment no later than 90 minutes before class: include
HackMD
in your descriptive subject line; include the to your home page and
tutorial page, followed by the markdown of the tutorial page (e.g., an
email like this
).
Jan 16 Fri - Attention
Read the chapter below and conduct the “online intention” exercise from the
Attention
Probes
Chayko, 2017,
Superconnected
, “More benefits and hazards of 24/7 superconnectedness”,
ch. 9. (This PDF is in the
zip file above
.)
(Remember, you don’t
have
to write a response to
this
reading because
it is
not a required
practical exercise; but, you do have to write five responses
by the middle of the term so pace yourself. If you do write a response, include it on your
wiki response page
and send an email with
HackMD
in your descriptive subject line and the URL and markdown following the
directions above
.)
Jan 20 Tue - How the web works
Identify something about the web that you would like to learn more about or something from the
reading you found confusing. Don’t get too hung up on technical details (especially about
cryptography), we’ll cover everything in class.
MDN, 2023,
How
the web works
Hartley Brody, 2013,
How HTTPS
secures connections: What every web dev should know
(Again, you can write a response to these toward the five due by the middle of the semester.)
Jan 23 Fri - Crap detection
Many people are not aware of the power available to them in web searches nor how to evaluate the
information they encounter. I’m asking you to use advanced search techniques and reflect on the
credibility of online information.
Joyce Valenza, 2016,
Truth,
Truthiness, Triangulation: A News Literacy Toolkit for a ‘Post-Truth’ World
Berkeley Library, 2022,
Evaluating Internet Sources
danah boyd, 2019,
Agnotology
and epistemological fragmentation
Due: Web search & evaluation
REQUIRED
: Review the
instructions above
and
create a HackMd note using the power of the web (headings, links, embedded images, etc.) to show me
your searches and results
while
responding to the readings on the same page. Link to your
new note from your homepage and make sure you set:
share/readable:everyone.
Responding to the readings is part of this assignment, so you can’t count it toward your
quota.
Link to the results of your searches and findings when possible. For example,
this
link
shows the results of searching for “Joseph Aoun” from January 1st to April 30th in 2014,
excluding pages on northeastern.edu.
Google Search
Learn to
refine your Google
– Google’s
Advanced Search
can also
be handy. (See
video tutorial
, if needed.)
What would you query to see how many pages on the
Wikipedia site
contain the exact phrase “Northeastern University”? If shown, how many results did you get?
(Clicking
Tools
often shows the count.)
What would you query to see web pages about the skatefish without mention of the phrase “ice
rink”? (Hint: It can still mention “ice” or “rink” but not “ice rink.”)
What would you query to see web pages about the Northeastern Huskies
from
the first day of 2001 through the last day of 2002
Find me the top image
of the exact
phrase “penguin pair” with a
Creative
Commons
” usage right.
Web credibility
Find a web page of questionable credibility and apply some of the criteria discussed by
Valenza
and
Berkley Library
Wikipedia evaluation
A version of the “
Joseph
Reagle
” Wikipedia article stated (a) I worked at the World Wide Web Consortium and (b) my book
Good Faith Collaboration
was “bestselling.” How do these claims relate to the policy of
Wikipedia:Verifiability
? Would you
suggest any changes to the page?
According to its
history
, when was
this article
first
created (i.e., the
oldest
version)?
Email me your assignment no later than 90 minutes before class: include
HackMD
in
your email’s descriptive subject line; include the to your page, followed by the
markdown.
Jan 27 Tue - Learning
We learn about the science of learning.
Brown, Roediger, McDaniel, 2014,
Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning
ch=1; plus “take aways” of the other chapters (see
zip file above
).
Jan 30 Fri - Filtering and fake news
Had everyone in the country learned and used “crap detection” skills, would we be so affected by
“fake news” and media manipulation, or would we end up in filter bubbles?
Claire Wardle, 2020,
Understanding
Information disorder
FS, 2017,
How filter bubbles distort reality:
Everything you need to know
danah boyd, 2017,
Did media
literacy backfire?
Due: Filter your email
REQUIRED
: Review the
instructions above
and
create a
HackMD
page/note with one-to-two screenshots (no more) of
your filter and results
while
responding to the readings on the same page. Link to your new
page from your homepage and make sure you set:
share/readable:everyone.
Remember, in
your email to me, include
HackMD
in your descriptive subject line; include the URL to
your page, followed by the markdown.
Responding to the readings is a part of this
assignment, so you can’t count it toward your response quota.
Review this video on
How to Create a
Rule in Outlook 365
Microsoft
help
provides detailed instructions.
Select the
Settings
gear icon
; select
View all Outlook settings
and/or
Rules
Select
+ Add new rule
and name it “NU News”.
Add a condition:
From
includes
news@northeastern.edu
”.
Add an action:
Move to
New folder
named “NU News”.
Uncheck
Stop processing more rules
If you see the option, you can click the option
Run rule now
; if not, simply
select
in lower right.
Once saved, look at your list of rules. To apply the filter to your existing emails, click
the options
and then play icon
to run the rule on your
inbox
You will then see your
News@Northeastern
emails move to the new folder.
Try creating another rule for yourself. (Note: Only rules about senders transferred to a
different folder can run on existing messages; all other rules apply to new messages only.)
Note: If the above conditions don’t apply to you (e.g., you unsubscribed from News@Northeastern),
say so and create a different rule of your choice. I’m not concerned with what rules you have, or if
you keep them, I simply want you to try creating one. Also, Outlook often changes its interface,
feel free to query a smart AI (Gemini 3.0 Pro or Claude Opus) for suggestions.
Feb 03 Tue - Cooperation
Why do we cooperate, and when and why do we fail to do so? How might the concepts you read about
apply to what we see online?
Martin Nowak, 2011, “Super cooperators,” (See PDF or ePub in
zip file
above
, which I’ve edited to include only the necessary material).
Joseph Reagle, 2015, “
Gossip
,” from
Reading
the Comments
(that section only).
Feb 06 Fri - Social networks
Rheingold, 2012, “Social has a shape,” ch=5, pp=191-225.
Feb 10 Tue - Catfishing and scams
What do we know of the psychology of those who perpetrate and fall victim to relationship
scams?
For class, watch “
My wife sent $250,000 to a
Romance Scammer
.” What psychological attributes do you see in this episode’s characters?
Evita March, 2023,
What
kinds of people ‘catfish’? Study finds they have higher psychopathy, sadism, and narcissism
Monica T. Whitty, 2018,
Do you love me?
Psychological characteristics of romance scam victims
Emma Fletcher, 2023,
Romance
scammers’ favorite lies exposed
Feb 13 Fri - Haters
Why does digital communication give rise to such toxic behavior, including that of haters and
that seen in “bully battles”?
Joseph Reagle, 2015, “Alienated: You fail it! Your skill is not enough!,”
Reading the Comments
, ch=5.
Zoe Williams, 2024
Racism,
misogyny, lies: how did X become so full of hatred? And is it ethical to keep using it?
Feb 17 Tue - The darknet
What is the “darknet” and the two technologies (Tor and Bitcoin) it is dependent on? We have two
introductory readings and two related news stories.
Jordan Wright, 2015,
How Tor works: Part
one
Nik Custodio, 2013,
Explain Bitcoin
like I’m five
Jacob Kozhipatt, 2022,
Silkroad was
the darknet testing-ground for bitcoin
Patrick Thompson, 2025,
This week in
crypto: $TRUMP memecoin and task force launch
Feb 20 Fri - Exam review
If you do a response, craft
two
multiple
choice questions
and
two
short/essay questions that could appear on the exam.
For each question, provide an answer/explanation, or even a mnemonic, in a section
below
all
the questions so everyone can self-quiz.
Feb 24 Tue - Exam
Moved to Feb 27 Fri because of snow.
The exam will be in class, on paper, and unaided—no notes or devices (e.g., phones, watches, or
earphones). There will be about eighteen multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank and four bullet-point
responses.
If you have an extended-time accommodation, make sure your instructor has received the DRC
notification letter at the start of the semester and the
room reservation
form
one week before the exam.
Feb 27 Fri - Shaped
Now exam day because of snow.
DUE: Reading responses set #1
This ends the period for the first set of five reading responses, which will receive an entry in
the grade book. Please send me the URL of your responses page following
example/template page
structure. If you do
a response for today, include that markdown as well, but I don’t need the markdown of all your
previous responses.
Mar 03 Tue - NO CLASS
Mar 06 Fri - NO CLASS
Mar 10 Tue - Collapsed context
Is it possible anymore to have more than one persona online? To answer these questions we read a
classic study and a scholarly reflection about a recent app.
Alice E. Marwick, danah boyd, 2010,
I tweet
honestly, I tweet passionately: Twitter users, context collapse, and the imagined audience
Brooke Erin Duffy, Ysabel Gerrard, 2022,
BeReal and the doomed quest
for online authenticity
paywall?
Mar 13 Fri - Shaped
How does digital communication affect our ability to be mindful? How does it affect self-esteem;
is it making us narcissistic?
Joseph Reagle, 2015, “Shaped: Aw shit, I have to update my Twitter,”
Reading the Comments
, ch=6.
DUE: Essay proposal, see
assignments
Mar 17 Tue - Finding someone & living alone
How has digital communication changed the relational landscape?
Christian Rudder, 2010,
The big
lies people tell in online dating
Derek Thompson, 2019,
Why
online dating can feel like such an existential nightmare
paywall?
Robyn Vinter, 2023,
“It’s
quite soul-destroying”: How we fell out of love with dating apps
paywall?
Joseph Chamie, 2021,
Living alone in
America
Mar 20 Fri - Ads & social graph background
What are the main types of advertisements available online? This will be relevant to our
discussions of algorithmic discrimination, online manipulation, and privacy.
Robe Stokes, 2014, Online Advertising, ch=11, see
zip file above
Cleo Abrams, 2020, Vox,
How ads follow you
around the internet
Mar 24 Tue - Manipulated
In what ways are online reviews, ratings, rankings, and comments manipulated? What can you trust
and how would you know?
Joseph Reagle, 2015, Manipulated: Which ice cube is the best?,
Reading the Comments
, ch=3
Geoffrey Fowler, 2023,
Fake reviews
are illegal and subject to big fines under new FTC rules
alternative
Mar 27 Fri - Bemused
Joseph Reagle, 2015, “Bemused: WTF!,”
Reading the Comments
, ch=7
Mar 31 Tue - Online ads & blockers
Knowing what we know about online advertising, should users be able to easily block ads? If so,
who then pays for the free content and services we consume?
Don Marti, 2017,
Targeted
advertising considered harmful
,” zgp.
Sven Taylor, 2020,
“Advertisers are
paying off ad-blockers to show users ‘acceptable ads’”
Ax Sharma, 2022,
“Google
ad for GIMP.org served info-stealing malware via lookalike site”
Due: Ad blocking
REQUIRED
: Review the
instructions above
and
create a HackMD note/page with screenshots of a webpage with and without ad blocking
while
responding to the readings on the same page. Link to your new note from your homepage and make sure
you set:
share/readable:everyone.
In this assignment I want you to learn how to install
an ad blocker and experience what it is like to browse a saner web. Whether you continue to use it
is up to you!
Install a web browser ad blocker and review some of your favorite sites. I use
UBlock Origin Lite
on Chrome/Firefox and
AdGuard
on Safari.
Take a before and after
screenshot
of a site that
demonstrates the difference.
Note
: if Northeastern rejects your email as spam because of a discussion of ads,
you may send your email to me at
my
personal address
Apr 03 Fri - Artificial intelligence
Bots are now capable of creating astounding prose and images. What do you think the consequences
will be?
For class, make sure you can access
and
Mary Newhauser, 2023,
The two models
fueling generative AI products: Transformers and diffusion models
Tyler Gold, 2023,
Sydney, Spotify, and
speedy
Apr 07 Tue - Algorithmic bias
Why and how do algorithms exhibit biases (intentional or otherwise)?
Cathy O’Neil, 2016,
Weapons of math destruction
, ch=1,3.
Fiona Rutherford and Alan White, 2016,
This
is why some people think Google’s results are ‘racist’
Nate Hochman, 2023,
ChatGPT
and woke ideology
paywall?
Apr 10 Fri - Privacy
How concerned should we be about our privacy online? Is there anything we can do to protect
it?
Brian W. Kernighan, 2017, “Data and information,”
D Is for Digital, DisforDigital.net
ch=11.
Rich Haridy, 2019,
Facebook isn’t
secretly listening to your conversations, but the truth is much more disturbing
Richard Lawler, 2025,
Apple
says Siri isn’t sending your conversations to advertisers
Due: Privacy footprint
REQUIRED
: Review the
instructions above
and
create a HackMD note with
some
of the results of your self-stalking (via links or
screenshots)
while
responding to the readings on the same page. Link to your new note from
your homepage and make sure you set:
share/readable:everyone.
You might be surprised by
what is revealed in your public online footprint, but so much more can be had for a fee. You don’t
have to document everything, just the interesting highlights.
Your identity
Do a web or AI search of your name.
Do a
TruePeopleSearch
search of your (or perhaps
your parents’) name or phone number. (
Do not
confirm any information or pay for any
extra services.)
Browser
Check out
What every browser knows about you
Google
Check your
Google Privacy
and follow
up with your:
Search activity
Google Ads Preferences
. (Much of this
is also available via
Google
Dashboard
).
Social networks
If you use Twitter, Facebook, or TikTok
check what you are
sharing
. For example, if you are concerned about FB, you can try their
Privacy Checkup
Please be
mindful of your privacy
in this assignment and
do not share
anything
that weakens your privacy further, such as screenshots of your phone number.
Apr 14 Tue - Digital language and generations
We return to a thread we begin the course with, how different generations have inhabited the
digital age (McCulloch’s chapter 3); we also consider how language evolves (via an interview with
McCulloch).
Gretchen McCulloch, 2019, “Internet People” in
Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules
of Language
, ch. 3. (This HTML file is in the
zip file above
.)
Gretchen McCulloch and Audie Cornish, 2019,
‘Because
Internet,’ a guide to our changing language, LOL
Apr 17 Fri - Pushback
Stacey L. Morrison, Ricardo Gomez, 2014,
Pushback: Expressions of resistance to the ‘evertime’
of constant online connectivity
Alex Vadukul, 2025,
Now in College, Luddite
Teens Still Don’t Want Your Likes
paywall?
DUE: Reading responses set #2
This ends the period for the second set of five reading responses, which will receive an entry in
the grade book. Please send me the URL of your responses page following
example/template page
structure. If you do
a response for today, include that markdown as well, but I don’t need the markdown of all your
previous responses.
DUE: Screenshot of TRACE completion due on Canvas.
Apr 21 Tue - (no class meeting)
DUE: Essay, see
assignments
Joseph Reagle
. Please reuse and share!