B8121 - DIGITAL SOCIOLOGY

Learning outcomes

The course aims to describe and critically analyze the multiple dimensions of daily life in which the digital intervenes, with specific reference to the ways in which technology is incorporated into social worlds, in the constitution of the self, of the body and of the relationships between subjects. In particular, at the end of the course, the student will be able to apply the main sociological theories to analyze the consequences at the micro and macro social level of the phenomena produced by the digital society. Furthermore, students will be able to devise social research designs in the digital environment. On this basis, the student will be able to recognize the opportunities and risks that technological infrastructures and digital practices offer to social life.

Course contents

The course opens with an introduction to digital sociology, offering a conceptual map of its origins, key themes, and contemporary significance. Early sessions are dedicated to exploring the mutual shaping of technology and daily life, focusing on processes of appropriation, domestication, and infrastructural power. As the course progresses, attention turns to the construction of digital identities, considering how the self and the body are performed and experienced in online spaces. We will then delve into the dynamics of online communities, relationships, and networks, drawing on empirical case studies—such as digital practices among migrant mothers and gendered interactions within platformed groups—to illustrate the lived realities of digital sociality. Special focus is given to the analysis of digital inequalities, the evolution of power and governance in the era of algorithmic mediation, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding privacy and surveillance. Throughout, we will continuously interrogate both the methodological challenges of doing sociology in digital environments and the transformative impact that digital methods have had on the field itself.

Readings/Bibliography

Main text:
• Ori Schwarz, Sociological Theory for Digital Society: The Codes that Bind Us Together

 

Empirical and methodological articles using digital methods:
• Pronzato, R. & Markham, A.N., “Returning to critical pedagogy in a world of datafication” – explores autoethnography and critical pedagogical techniques in digital research.
• Williams Veazey, L., “Migrant mothers and the ambivalence of co-ethnicity in online communities” – an ethnographic study of migrant maternal imaginaries and Facebook groups.
• Semenzin, S. & Bainotti, L., “The use of Telegram for non-consensual dissemination of intimate images: Gendered affordances and the construction of masculinities” – combines digital ethnography and content analysis of Telegram groups to examine online gendered violence.

Teaching methods

The pedagogical approach will combine dynamic lectures, in which key theoretical frameworks and concepts are presented and contextualized, with interactive seminars designed for reflective discussion and close reading of empirical research. Case studies drawn from recent academic articles will be employed to ground abstract concepts in tangible social phenomena. Students will participate in guided practical exercises—such as practicing digital ethnography or designing small-scale research in online communities—in order to build hands-on methodological competence. Reflexive diaries and classroom debate will encourage students to connect their own digital experiences with course content, fostering a learning environment that is both intellectually rigorous and personally meaningful.

Assessment methods

• Research Project: Development and presentation of a digital sociology research project, including methodological design, empirical investigation (digital fieldwork, content analysis, network analysis, or autoethnography), and critical discussion.

• Reflective Diary: Weekly reflexive logs based on engagement with course readings and digital practices, informed by autoethnographic approaches.

• Participation: Active contribution in seminars and group discussions.

Teaching tools

• Digital learning platforms for sharing resources and collaborating on research projects

• Use of online ethnography and digital methods tools (e.g., for analyzing social networks, content, or platform affordances)
• Access to online databases and digital archives for empirical investigation
• Collaborative software for group analysis and discussion
• Practical workshops on critical data literacy and digital justice

Office hours

See the website of Veronica Moretti