Controlling Your Social Media In An Age Of Tech Giants

This course is for users of social media who strive to know what is going on behind the scenes of your screen. You will get the knowledge and tools you need to use social media to stay in contact with your chosen communities, while at the same time, protecting your values.

You will come to understand the social media tech giants’ business models and how they affect you. The sessions will start with the basics of how social media works, go through the pros and cons of different social media, work through Facebook as an example, and then, building on this base, in the last session, look into digital privacy, trolls, conspiracy theories, how social media is used by hate groups, and ways social media challenges democracy itself. Please note that this is not a how-to class or a social media marketing course. Ian Wells is a retired IT expert passionate about sharing his knowledge with others, democracy and cycling!

Please note there will not be a session on 3rd June (Queen's Birthday).