Data Analytics and Computation 695SL - S- Social Life of Algorithms

Algorithmic systems are at the center of today's digital world, and mediate communication processes in areas as diverse as social media, journalism, healthcare, and governments. How do algorithmic systems capture, represent, and transmit information about everyday interactions? How do they shape, and are shaped by, social, cultural, and political life? What kind of new issues and concerns arise from their ubiquitous use? This course provides a critical introduction to algorithmic systems, and how they relate to issues of communication, power and inequalities in society. In addition to reading responses and a midterm essay, students will complete a research project on an algorithmic system of their choice to unpack how they are constructed and used in everyday life.

Open to DACSS students. Social Life of Algorithms will be a mix of 1) synchronous Zoom meetings during regular class time, 2) a series of short, recorded lectures on Moodle, and 3) a Slack channel to have asynchronous class discussions. Students who are unable to meet synchronously will have opportunities to engage in the course and discussions on their own time.

An additional discussion group will also be added for graduate students. This section open to DACSS students only. Contact dacss@umass.edu if interested in registering for this course.