Online Video: Algorithms, Creators & Social Impact (CVS-0047)

Fall 2026 · CVS 0047 · Tufts University · 3 credits · Undergraduate

The evolving landscape of online video platforms, the power dynamics that shape them, and the broader social impact of their content. The role of algorithms, surveillance capitalism, and the attention economy in the production and sharing of video content on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and more. Through a combination of social analysis and hands-on experience, engagement with key questions about why content goes viral, why people are compelled to share online, how platform design influences creators, and the social and political impact of these videos. Creation of an original video series, including production and marketing, with a critical reflection on the ethical implications of the work, as well as readings and written responses.

Course codes: CVS-0047, CVS 0047, CVS0047, CVS-47, CVS 47, CVS47, FMS-0037, FMS 0037, FMS0037, FMS-37, FMS 37, FMS37

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