Sociology 248: Sociology of Big Data: Algorithms, Robots, and Digital Societies

In recent decades, most societies around the world have experienced an explosion in the production, circulation, and consumption of data. This ongoing revolution, often associated with the word Big Data, is having unprecedented social and cultural consequences. This course will explore such consequences by looking at global usages of Big Data. Sites of observation and analysis will include technological tools and social groups that interact with such data, including algorithms, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robots, social media, and digital influencers. Areas looked into will include labor markets, political policies, social relations, and cultural values. Students will leave the course with a better understanding of the current relationship between society and technology and especially of the social implications surrounding use of Big Data.