MDS-30023 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

Social media and other digital platforms offer paid (and unpaid) employment for a large and growing segment of workers. From Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to live streamers, content creators, influencers, crowd workers, and content moderators, this module explores the nature of labour in the global digital economy, examining issues such as algorithmic management, emotional labour, and self-branding. While some highly visible social media celebrities and entrepreneurs make significant incomes, labour on digital platforms is more likely to be invisible, precarious and under- or un-paid, reflecting and exacerbating social inequalities. This module aims to equip students with an understanding of the role that digital work plays in contemporary political and economic structures, and what it can tell us about the nature of labour and power in global capitalism today.
The module asks critical questions about issues like worker rights, precarity, exploitation, global inequalities, and mental health. We will also explore anti-work and post-work approaches and examine worker struggles to resist exploitation through collective organising.
Throughout the module there is a focus on the lived experience of platform workers, and students will have the opportunity to engage in guest Q&As with workers from different social media and digital sectors. Students will develop their theoretical, analytical and practical skills on this module which encourages creative engagement with critical media theory.

To develop an understanding of the role that digital platform labour plays in contemporary social, political and economic structures.
To apply a critical understanding of labour and power in digital platform work to the analysis of specific examples and case studies.
To gain insight into the lived experiences of digital platform workers in a range of different sectors.
To develop creative and critical skills through working on an original analysis of digital platform work.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Recognise and explain various critical approaches to digital platform labour: 1,2
Analyse the role of digital platform labour within the contemporary political economy: 1,2
Apply critical concepts in digital platform labour studies to specific contexts and case studies: 1,2
Apply an understanding of labour and power within digital platform work to an analysis of the lived experiences of workers: 1
Use creative presentation to support a critical analysis of digital platform labour: 2

Study hours

22 hours lectures/seminars
4 hours Teams Q&A sessions
20 hours case study preparation
50 hours vlog preparation
54 hours independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment