Civility in Social Spaces

Abstract

This chapter focuses on creating a course at the undergraduate level that gives students the opportunity to explore the origin of social media platforms, understand intention in their creation, compare engagement across platforms and brands, and explore the dark side of social spaces, all within a framework of communication ethics. While the course is directed at students, the chapter speaks to the need to cultivate civility both within and outside of the classroom. The philosophical framework of civility is grounded in the work of Janie Harden Fritz and Ronald C. Arnett. The hope of this chapter is to offer a praxis approach that gives students and professionals the tools to become thoughtful contributors to spaces that are unpredictable as well as potentially (and often) problematic. The chapter encourages social media users to contemplate how to situate difference, how to connect through stories, and how to have more nuanced conversations when conflict emerges.