This course provides a hands-on exploration of the dynamic interplay between digital culture and digital ethnography through empirical studies of contemporary global online communities. Students will develop practical research skills in studying online social spaces, with a specific emphasis on social media platforms and their role in shaping identity, social support, safe spaces, and marginalized communities. We will center on applied qualitative research methods, particularly digital ethnography, to analyze collaborative practices in real-world social media environments. Key topics include: identity formation and social support in online communities, the design and dynamics of safe spaces, online health communities and their unique challenges, and ethnographic approaches to studying collaborative online behavior.