[COMU1130] Data and Society. Semester 2, 2025
Task description
For this assessment, you will write a critical academic essay on platformization. You will choose a specific social sector where platforms have changed the way people interact and communicate. You can work on a single platform that you think is the most important or several platforms in the same sector. You should develop well-structured arguments that explain the following;
1. What the social sector is; what kinds of social interactions occur there; how many different groups of people with different interests are involved in the interactions;
2. How these interactions WERE managed in the past; whether each participant was required to have proper knowledge or skill, or powerful intermediaries were intervening in people’s interactions;
3. How the platform(s) is (are) introduced as the disrupter of the established order
4. how platform(s) and its (their) algorithm-based data collection/process/application are introduced as the more optimal or smart solutions to the needs of different platform. stakeholders
Your essay also needs to critically address;
1. at least two different platform. narratives from the course at work in this sector to mobilize each stakeholder’s participation in platform(s)
2. whether there are conflicting interests between stakeholders, and whose interest platform(s) prioritize
3. how platforms popularize these narratives to make more people rely on their services
4. and the possible harmful consequences of platformization on the democratic process of communication.
Requirements
Should be put in a coherent essay structure. A numbered format is not allowed.
Every theory, concept, claim, and fact used in the essay should be properly referenced (according to APA) unless it is generally conceived as common sense or specified as something based on your personal experience.
At least four concepts from the course should be incorporated into the essay.
No cover page, just a header on the fi rst page that includes:
• Your name
• Your Tutor's name
• Student number
• Title of the assessment
• Word count (excluding references)
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.