• Home
• Study
• Study Information
• Modules
• Module Information

Internet Foundations and Frontiers

Module description

‘Internet Foundations and Frontiers’ invites you to explore the social, cultural, and political dimensions of the Internet's development and its impact on contemporary society. This module examines not only the foundational technologies and protocols but also the human choices and social forces that have shaped the evolution of digital platforms, news distribution, social media, and artificial intelligence. You will approach these topics through a mix of theory, historical case studies, and hands-on experience to gain a well-rounded understanding of the Internet’s role in society and future directions. 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 of the foundational technologies and protocols that underlie the Internet, from its inception through to present-day applications and future directions
• Enable you to investigate the transformative impacts of digital platforms on media, communications, and public discourse, highlighting the roles of search algorithms, social media, and AI.
• Equip you with the critical tools to analyse the cultural, social, and political forces that have shaped the Internet and the Web as we know them today.
• Help you in applying interdisciplinary perspectives to assess the ongoing transformations of the web, positioning them within broader contexts of media, communications, and societal change.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the foundational technologies that make up the Internet.
• 2. Analyse how the technological developments and affordances of the Internet have impacted media, communication, and society.
• 3. Critically evaluate the influence of cultural, social, and political factors on the function and impact of digital platforms.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 4. Apply key theories and concepts from media and communication studies to evaluate the evolution of digital platforms and their implications for society.
• 5. Contextualise current issues such as Internet regulation, the transformation of digital journalism, and the role of AI in the information ecosystem within broader theoretical debates, bridging historical and contemporary perspectives.

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 6. Collaborate effectively in contributing to the digital commons (e.g., editing Wikipedia), demonstrating skills in thorough research practices, digital literacy, and ethical content production.
• 7. Build and articulate a structured, critical argument in written work.

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:

• Origins and evolution of the technologies underpinning the Internet and World Wide Web

Digital commons and open knowledge movements

• Digital platforms and the transformation of media
• The changing landscape of digital journalism
• Dynamics of feed and search algorithms
• The rise of social media and its societal impact
• Content moderation and platform governance
• Internet regulation and digital rights
• Artificial intelligence in the digital ecosystem
• Future challenges and opportunities for the internet

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

• Broussard, M., 2018. Artificial unintelligence: How computers misunderstand the world. MIT Press.
• Burgess, J., Marwick, A. and Poell, T. eds., 2017. The SAGE handbook of social media. Sage.
• Diakopoulos, N., 2019. Automating the news: How algorithms are rewriting the media. Harvard University Press.
• Doctorow, C., 2024. The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation. Verso Books.
• Gillespie, T., 2018. Custodians of the Internet: Platforms, content moderation, and the hidden decisions that shape social media. Yale University Press.
• Lessig, L. (2006), Code: Version 2.0 , Basic Books , New York .
• Noble, S.U., 2018. Algorithms of oppression: How search engines reinforce racism. In Algorithms of oppression. New York university press.
• Zittrain, J., 2009. The future of the internet: and how to stop it. Penguin UK.

Key words search

Internet, Web, AI, Social media, News, Algorithms, Platforms