Media, Digitalisation & Social Impact

The right choice

After finishing my Bachelor in Maastricht (The Netherlands) I was excited to discover a new city, new university and of course a new study. With the Master Media, Digitalisation & Social Impact only being offered at Erasmus University my choice was quickly made. With everything the vibrant city of Rotterdam has to offer, it immediately felt like the right choice.

The opportunities and challenges of digitalization

The master is very small-scale with diverse groups of students having different academic and cultural backgrounds. This innovative master specialization builds greatly upon my bachelor’s degree 'Digital Society' and offers a great way to expand my knowledge on the opportunities and challenges presented by digitalisation. But what is great is that this master specialization welcomes students from all different bachelor’s degrees, which makes classroom conversation diverse and eye-opening.

These in-classroom conversations are something that made Erasmus University the right choice for me. While our professors are highly knowledgeable in their fields, they are also interested in our opinions and perspectives and encourage us to share them.

Becoming an expert

The master is fast-paced and only one year, including the final thesis, which makes balancing schoolwork, social life, and a student job quite challenging. But this just takes some getting used to and if you need any help, the university offers plenty! Weeks pass by quickly, and before you know it, you are an expert in the field of digitalisation, surveillance, and societies.

Media, Digitalisation & Social Impact is a dynamic and progressive master specialisation, incredibly contemporary to our society’s technological developments. I was drawn towards the specialisation thanks to the concrete examples that emerge in our seminars concerning how digital artifacts are impacting our identities, how they are shaping our relationships, and our seemingly mundane routines.

A cozy and familiar atmosphere

I thoroughly enjoy being part of a small cohort as it creates a cozy and familiar atmosphere that allows students and professors alike to engage in more lively discussions. Moreover, the international and interdisciplinary background of the students allows for multidimensional analyses brought forth by other students, which offers an insight on how digitalisation is engaged with both on a local level and on a global one.

Real world cases

The structure of the specialisation is cohesive and intentional; each module and assignment is purposeful and I do not feel as if I am being chased by deadlines. Additionally, we discuss real world cases, such as the role online forums played during the COVID-19 pandemic, the contentification of our lives for social media personas, and the ethical implications of having a camera on your doorbell. Professors, too, are significantly involved in class discussions and workshops, always eager to learn new perspectives and case studies for their personal projects!

Eye opening

Media, Digitalisation & Social Impact has opened my eyes on how surveillance and technology echo in our lives in manners that we are too accustomed to notice. Moreover, this relatively young field is one that easily intersects with other spheres, such as sociology, business, Black studies, and postcolonial studies – granting us incredible opportunities for research as well as personal reflection.

For my bachelors I did the interdisciplinary program Politics, Psychology, Law, and Economics at the University of Amsterdam, where I majored in economics. Afterwards, I decided to take an entirely different route than economics and go for the MSc. Cybersecurity Governance at Leiden University.

In completing the Master programme at Leiden, I realized that while it thoroughly discussed the security angle to cybersecurity and digitalisation, it lacked focus on the sociological aspects of technological development, the implications for identity, politics, and society. Also, I wanted to do more research and find a focus in this relatively new and wide academic field. I found the master specialisation Media, Digitalisation & Social Impact and realized it might bring me those things.  So, I decided to apply!

Passion for digital sociology

What makes this master specialisation interesting is the fact that everyone there shares a very specific passion for the topic of study. No one passively decides to move into the direction of digital sociology, everyone sitting with us in the classroom came specifically for the content we cover. This makes for very interesting and productive discussions. Also, given the fact that the academic community around this topic is very small the readings we do and authors we discuss - there’s a sort of intimacy to it, which I really enjoy. 

Unboxing the Algorithms

My favorite course, though I haven’t even started it, is absolutely going to be Unboxing the Algorithms. That is the type of course you don’t find unless you end up doing something like a computer science degree. Still, if you’re interested in societal aspects of digitalisation, such insight is extremely important and relevant. I’m very happy to be part of a master specialisation that provides it. 

Struggles

I personally did not expect there to be such a strong focus on qualitative research methods, especially in the methods courses. I did not have any qualitative research experience before starting Media, Digitalisation & Social Impact, which initially was something I struggled with quite a lot. Luckily, peers and teachers were very helpful in working through that and coming out the other end. Now I am way more confident doing qualitative research.

Plans for the future

The more I read about digitalisation and the way it interacts with our societies, sometimes in ways that can be considered destructive or non-progressive, the more I am motivated to write or think about digital policies that are future proof. Then again, I also feel intensely motivated to continue researching this topic, pulling me towards pursuing a PhD. I guess at this point, time will have to tell which direction I head in. 

Technology and the self

What I find most interesting about the master specialisation Media, Digitalisation & Social Impact are the ways in which we explore the possible societal and human implications of interacting with new and unprecedented technologies, such as artificial intelligence. These new technologies pave the way for manipulation of data which can enable new forms of surveillance that threaten our privacy.

In class, we always have very fruitful discussions which can be rooted back in the fact that the students come from different disciplines and therefore adopt a vastly different perspective. Simply by doing the readings before class, every student, regardless of their affinity with digitalisation, surveillance or privacy, can make meaningful contributions to the class discussions.

Our class society

I always like to be situated in an international classroom and Media, Digitalisation & Social Impact adheres to this. The classroom also feels very inclusive which can be explained by the teaching staff being largely international. Our class consists of around 22 students, which could be considered quite small. Nevertheless, it has allowed us to get to know each other through personal class discussions. But we also try to organize meetings outside of class from time to time. While doing this master you will not feel like a student moving anonymously through the crowd. In addition, everyone is very passionate about the topic and this works in contagious ways.

Although topics such as surveillance and privacy appear to be quite a niche, during the master you will discover that everyone adopts his or her angle and has a particular interest. For instance, I am particularly interested in smart home research while another student is greatly involved in policing. Both topics are ultimately related to privacy and surveillance.

Words and numbers

In our program, we must take methods classes, which teach us how to do both qualitative and quantitative research. Currently, most of the teaching staff specializes in qualitative research and therefore this is often the go-to approach. Students that are more familiar with quantitative research might struggle with this, but you will find that there are many other students, as well as the teaching staff of course, that are willing to teach you the qualitative ways of life.

As this master is more about understandings and implications, it is not necessary to have lots of prior knowledge on coding or other technical aspects. In my view, this master is for students who are concerned about the direction our world is moving towards in regard to how data is gathered, stored and manipulated, often without the consent of users.

Imagine a world where technology not only transforms our lives but also raises fundamental questions about privacy, ethics, and society. For Cemre, a graduate of the Master Media, Digitalisation & Social Impact at Erasmus University Rotterdam, this fascinating interaction between humans and technology was the key reason to choose this programme. "This master's gave me the opportunity to not only understand technology but also to critically evaluate it, ensuring we can work more efficiently without losing sight of the privacy of individuals and businesses," he shares.

With a background in Global Law and a passion for pop culture, Cemre knew exactly where his interests lay: the ethical challenges of AI and the role of surveillance in our digital lives. "AI often sparks both excitement and resistance," he explains. The Media, Digitalisation & Social Impact programme aligned perfectly with his interests, offering courses such as “Methods of Media Research” and “Unboxing the Algorithm.” These courses provided him with insights to weigh both the benefits and risks of AI, effectively gather and analyse data, and develop substantiated recommendations and guidelines.

These skills now serve him well in his role as an AI Advisor at the Municipality of Dordrecht, where he advises municipalities and organisations on the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence, with a special focus on Generative AI. In practice, this involves creating guidelines, manuals, and training programmes, as well as organising knowledge-sharing sessions to support colleagues in navigating this technology. The master’s programme prepared him for this challenging and dynamic role: "The knowledge I gained during the master’s helps me translate complex technical topics into accessible and comprehensible information."

Cemre’s advice for future students? "Don’t hesitate to ask your lecturers questions, both during and after class. Write your thesis on a topic that genuinely interests you and start networking while you’re still studying. Consider participating in extracurricular activities like case projects and hackathons – they’re a great way to further develop your skills and broaden your knowledge. This programme provides insights that are invaluable for your career."