Key facts

UNE unit code: LLM566

*You are viewing the 2027 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start
  • Not offered in 2027
24/7 online support
  • Yes
Intensive schools
  • No
Supervised exam
  • Yes
Credit points
  • 6

Unit information

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With most people now having at least one social media account to connect with family and friends, it’s now a large part of our daily lives.

While it’s fun to share stories, achievements and broadcast the adventures we go on, inevitably the growth in popularity of social media has led to discussions about how our laws apply to this rapidly changing technology.

The most obvious example of this relates to social media and defamation. Other areas where social media law is increasingly getting attention include privacy, copyright, litigation, and criminal law.

This practical and innovative unit will equip you with the skills and confidence to critique and enhance your individual digital footprint.

In addition, you will gain a firm grounding in a range of legal issues relevant to the worldwide prevalence of social media use.

Intensive schools

There are no intensive schools required for this unit.

Enrolment rules

Pre-requisites
candidature in LLM
Restrictions
LAW366
Combined units

Notes

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

Anne Fitzgerald

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. understand and apply current laws which are relevant to the use of social media;
  2. apply high level research skills and specialist knowledge in laws relating to social media;
  3. communicate clear, coherent and independent solutions to complex legal questions about social media;
  4. critically review and evaluate the use of social media in a professional context; and
  5. develop advanced cognitive and creative skills to evaluate individual approaches to managing a digital footprint in the modern world.

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

TitleMust CompleteWeightOfferingsAssessment Notes
Oral Presentation on research - Assurance TaskYes35%All offerings

The presentation will be offered face-to-face or online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. 

To pass this unit, you must achieve at least 50% across the Presentation on Research Proposal AND Presentation on Research assessments tasks, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit.

Presentation on research proposal - Assurance TaskYes15%All offerings

The presentation will be offered face-to-face or online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. 

To pass this unit, you must achieve at least 50% across the presentation on Research Proposal AND presentation on Research assessments task, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit.

Research PaperYes40%All offerings

No. words: 5000

Research ProposalYes10%All offerings

No. Words: 1500

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.

Social Media and the Law

ISBN: 9780409355611

George, P., Allen, M., Benson, S., Collins, J., Mattson, J. B., Munsie, J. and Whiley, J., Lexis Nexis 4th ed. 2022

Note: If this unit has an online supervised exam (go to Online Supervised Exams for more information) you will be permitted to refer to the e-text during the online supervised exam, only if they are on the desktop/laptop computer upon which you are sitting your exam.

Text refers to: All offerings

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