Social media shapes how we think, what we believe and how we interact. This theme covers online behaviour, algorithmic manipulation, cyberbullying, deepfakes and the ethics of the digital world.
Why this theme matters
Social platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive, exploiting psychological biases to maximise engagement.
Cyberbullying affects 1 in 3 young people, and its impacts can be as severe as offline harassment.
Disinformation spread on social media has real-world consequences for elections, health and social cohesion.
What you'll learn
Algorithms & echo chambers
How recommendation systems shape what you see, and how to break out of filter bubbles.
Cyberbullying
Recognising, reporting and responding to online harassment at every age level.
Online reputation
How your digital footprint follows you, and how to manage what others find about you.
Deepfakes & manipulated media
How to detect AI-generated or altered images, videos and audio.
Screen time & wellbeing
Understanding the relationship between social media use and mental health.
Ethics & responsible disclosure
The moral frameworks behind security research, bug bounties and digital citizenship.