This capstone unit examines the social, technical, and policy dimensions of online ecosystems, from surveillance capitalism through Web3 to a proposed Web4 restoration. Students synthesize privacy, moderation, governance, creator economics, and accountability strategies to develop practical interventions and policy recommendations for healthier digital spaces.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze the evolution from Web1/Web2 to Web3/Web4 and identify at least five ways platform design and surveillance capitalism impact user privacy, mental health, and creator economics
- Evaluate alternative governance, moderation, and accountability models (including decentralized governance, ID verification, and AI-based moderation) by comparing strengths, weaknesses, and legal/ethical implications across at least three case studies
- Apply privacy-preserving and safety techniques by configuring or recommending technical and policy interventions (e.g., anonymity tools, verification protocols, parental controls, bot detection parameters) to mitigate risks in at least two simulated platform scenarios
- Design a comprehensive restoration plan—incorporating legislative recommendations, accountability structures, and sustainable creator revenue strategies—and produce a 3–5 page policy brief or implementation roadmap for healthier online ecosystems
Curriculum
- 1 Section
- 27 Lessons
- 30 hours
Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections
- Unit 4 — Restoring Sanity Online27
- 1.1Helpful Tools for Creators20 mins
- 1.2Donations20 mins
- 1.3Introduction20 mins
- 1.4My Adventures in Web1 and Web2: The Rise of Surveillance Capitalism20 mins
- 1.5Uncanny Parallels: Big Ag, Big Energy, Big Tech20 mins
- 1.6Promising Movements Afoot20 mins
- 1.7Web3 Is Here: What the Heck Is It?20 mins
- 1.8A Healthy Dose of Web3 Reality20 mins
- 1.9Meet Your New Boss, Same as the Old Boss20 mins
- 1.10Is There a Better Way?20 mins
- 1.11Empowering You: Social Media User, Creator, Star20 mins
- 1.12Do I Need a Social Media Wallet: Is There Money in It?20 mins
- 1.13How Do We Overcome C-Suite Tyranny?20 mins
- 1.14In the Crosshairs: Privacy and Anonymity20 mins
- 1.15User ID Verification: Friend or Foe?20 mins
- 1.16Saving Our Kids from the Abyss20 mins
- 1.17Surprise! Social Media Can Be Good for Your Mental Health20 mins
- 1.18Is AI the High-Tech Tattletale in Your Social Experience?20 mins
- 1.19Lifting the Veil on Bots and Trolls20 mins
- 1.20Balancing Act: Free Speech versus Moderation20 mins
- 1.21Facts, Opinions, Lies: Who Decides?20 mins
- 1.22Seven Lessons for the Street Fight20 mins
- 1.23Welcome to Web4: The Restoration of Sanity20 mins
- 1.24Taking It to the Streets20 mins
- 1.25Advice to Legislators20 mins
- 1.26Accountability Structures forRestoration Networking20 mins
- 1.27Revenue Superchargers20 mins
Instructor
Free
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