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Digital Inequalities

Module description

This module will adopt a global perspective to enable you to explore the digital inequalities that have surfaced and gained prominence due to the rapid development of digital technologies in recent years. On this module you will examine the various forms of digital inequalities observed, encountered, and experienced in our daily interactions with digital media and technologies. There are no pre-requisites or co-requisites for this module, and no specialist knowledge, skills, or experience are required to take it.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to:

• Provide you with a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the various types of digital inequalities prevalent in an increasingly digitalised society.
• Introduce key concepts and theories essential for the study of digital inequalities.
• Explore classic and current approaches and methods for studying topics related to digital inequalities.
• Help you develop a critical perspective for viewing, reflecting upon, and examining pressing social issues associated with digital inequalities.
• Assist you in cultivating an interdisciplinary and intersectional perspective for understanding and studying digital inequality issues.
• Foster an understanding of the connections and intersections between digital media, society, and real-world inequalities.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate a broad and comprehensive knowledge of key concepts, theories, and relevant scholarly literature in the field of digital inequalities.
• 2. Develop a critical understanding of a diverse array of social issues and topics in the domain of digital inequalities.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Apply theories and concepts to assess and examine real-world problems and pressing social issues related to digital inequalities, media and communications.
• 4. Exercise sound judgement in researching, collecting, and interpreting information from a range of appropriate primary and secondary sources.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Demonstrate skills in critical thinking and constructing a coherent argument in a written essay.
• 6. Question assumptions, distinguish between fact and opinion, and critically reflect on your own learning process.

Syllabus plan

The content will vary from year to year, but it is envisioned that the module will cover some or all of the following topics:

• AI and algorithmic bias, discrimination, and unfairness
• Public engagement in algorithmic and automated technologies
• Digital surveillance, censorship, and privacy
• Race and ethnicity-related discrimination and inequalities (e.g., encountered by diasporic communities) in the digital context
• Gender and sexual bias (particularly towards marginalised and vulnerable communities such as LGBTQI groups) in the digital context
• Harassment, abuse, and violence in digital spaces
• Digital divides, exclusion, and inclusion

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e., a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Graham, M., & Dittus, M. (2022). Geographies of Digital Exclusion: Data and Inequality. Pluto Press.
• Hargittai, E. (2021). Handbook of Digital Inequality. Edward Elgar.
• Helsper, E. (2021). Digital Disconnect:The Social Causes and Consequences of Digital Inequalities. SAGE Publications.
• Ragnedda, M., & Gladkova, A. (2020). Digital inequalities in the Global South. Palgrave Macmillan.
• van Dijk, J. A. (2019). The Digital Divide. Polity.

Key words search

Digital inequalities; Media studies; Communication studies; Digital media; Digital technologies