scholarly journals “Let Me Do What I Please With It . . . Don’t Decide My Identity For Me”: LGBTQ+ Youth Experiences of Social Media in Narrative Identity Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Bates ◽  
Trish Hobman ◽  
Beth T. Bell

Social media provides Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Plus (LGBTQ+) youth with daily access to a broader sociocultural dialogue that may shape narrative identity development. Through in-depth narrative interviews, this study sought to understand the lived experiences of 11 LGBTQ+ undergraduates ( age range = 19-23) building narrative identities in the cultural context of social media and the role of social media within this process. Interviews were analyzed using an interpretative, individual analysis of personal stories. These experiences were then compared and contrasted through thematic analysis to identify four shared narrative themes. Narratives of merging safe spaces highlight how LGBTQ+ youth now have regular access to safe environments online/offline which facilitate more secure identity development. Narratives of external identity alignment describe social media as a tool for LGBTQ+ youth to seek out identities that match their preexisting sense of self. Narratives of multiple context-based identities encapsulate how adolescents’ identity markers are multiple and invoked in a context-dependent manner. Finally, narratives of individuality and autonomy characterize how LGBTQ+ youth perceive themselves as highly individualized members of a wider community. These findings highlight the complex role social media plays within LGBTQ+ youth identity development. The implications are discussed within.

Author(s):  
Trevor Boffone

Renegades: Digital Dance Cultures from Dubsmash to TikTok interrogates the roles that Dubsmash, social media, and hip hop music and dance play in youth identity formation in the United States. It explores why Generation Z—so-called Zoomers—use social media dance apps to connect, how they use them to build relationships, how race and other factors of identity play out through these apps, how social media dance shapes a wider cultural context, and how community is formed in the same way that it might be in a club. These Zoomer artists—namely D1 Nayah, Jalaiah Harmon, TisaKorean, Brooklyn Queen, Kayla Nicole Jones, and Dr. Boffone’s high school students—have become key agents in culture creation and dissemination in the age of social media dance and music. These Black artists are some of today’s most influential content creators, even if they lack widespread name recognition. Their artistic contributions have come to define a generation. And yet, up until this point, the majority of influential Dubsmashers have not been recognized for their influence on US popular culture. This book tells their stories.


2021 ◽  
pp. 104345422199231
Author(s):  
Sarah R. Daniels ◽  
Chia-Chen Yang ◽  
Samantha J. Toohey ◽  
Victoria W. Willard

Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer use social media in unique ways throughout treatment. The purpose of this article is to describe the social media experiences of AYAs with cancer as a means of exploring the potential impact of social media on AYA psychosocial development after diagnosis and throughout cancer treatment. Methods: Seven AYAs treated for cancer, aged 15–20 years, completed a semi-structured interview regarding their social media preferences and habits. Each interview was transcribed verbatim and de-identified. Data were coded and themes were identified via latent thematic analysis. Results: Four themes emerged regarding social media experiences for AYAs with cancer: (1) changes in audience and feedback after diagnosis; (2) attitudes about body image and peer support; (3) control over personal, familial, and societal messages about illness; and (4) maintaining normalcy despite hospital stressors. Discussion: Social media appear especially useful for promoting social and identity development as AYAs undergo cancer treatment. Specifically, social media provide spaces to negotiate body image and sense of self, to manage peer relationships, to reclaim control and independence, and to maintain normalcy. Understanding these experiences will prepare healthcare providers and caregivers to assess ongoing psychosocial development and adjustment throughout cancer treatment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 29-44
Author(s):  
John Bynner ◽  
Walter R. Heinz

The chapter examines youth identity from a number of perspectives starting with psychological and sociological conceptualisations of self and identity. From there the discussion moves to the controversy over stages of identity development, identity as a biographical resource and the complexities for occupational identity of digital employment. These observations open up to the more recent issues of identity construction by social networking among young people through which a variety of identities may be expressed. Key themes include self-realisation and its counterpoints in relation to different forms of communication and self-presentation and broader statuses such as digital generational national and European identity. The chapter explores challenges arising from these developments to which the effects of the COVID-19 (corona) virus are an added factor.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Nardini ◽  
Sara Bonati ◽  
Stefano Morelli ◽  
Veronica Pazzi

<p>Very few research studies have been dedicated to understanding the role of social media, diversity and vulnerability during a highly impacting event for a society. Social media are very important nowadays as a way to be in "connection to" and "link between" individuals. Thanks to technological support it is possible to create new virtual and real social relationships and networks and to be always up to date about what happen in the world. The role that virtual space plays "reducing distances", connecting people and places and facilitating the provision of support to people in need, has been receiving increasing interest in disaster studies in last years. In particular, connectivity has assumed an increasing role in relation to the diffusion of means to reach people and places in virtual mode. Furthermore, the use of social media as a means of providing information on disasters and risks could help to reduce exposure in disasters. However, several knowledge gaps are still opened, and in particular which are the potential repercussions of a high connected disaster management process on vulnerability? How can the weight of diversity change into the virtual space? The premise is that not everyone has the same possibility of accessing social media (e.g. to be informed, to know what is happening and to link with rescuers). The difficulty of accessing social media can make people invisible into the disaster management process with the risk that someone could be left behind. Thus, this presentation aims to discuss the challenges that derive from an increasing use of social platform in providing and receiving information during disasters. A second relevant point, that this presentation aims to discuss, is linked to the way citizens perceive communication platforms and how the flow of information significantly impacts on the interpretation and on the management of risk. Conclusions of this work suggest that communication should take into account the risk perception models by the public and therefore the peculiarities of each vulnerable group, to provide "targeted" communications in relation to the cultural context with the aim of reducing vulnerability growing up citizens’ awareness and knowledge. This presentation is the result of the work provided as part of the EU H2020 founded project LINKS (http://links-project.eu).<span> </span></p>


Author(s):  
Marguerite St Leger Dowse ◽  
◽  
Sophie Howell ◽  
Gary R Smerdon ◽  
◽  
...  

Introduction: Divers are recommended to observe a pre-flight surface interval (PFSI) ≥ 24 hours before boarding a plane following a diving vacation. Decompression sickness (DCS) symptoms may occur during or post-flight. This study aimed to examine the adherence of PFSI ≥ 24 in vacationing divers, and if any perceived signs and symptoms of DCS during or after flight were experienced. Methods: An anonymous online survey was publicised through diving exhibitions and social media. Data included diver/diving demographics, PFSI before flight, flight details, and perceived signs and symptoms of DCS during or after flight. Results: Data from 316 divers were examined (31% female) with the age range 1-75 years (median 49). Divers recorded 4,356 dives in the week preceding the flight, range 1-36 (median 14). Overall, 251/316 (79%) respondents reported a PFSI of ≥ 24 hours. PFSIs of < 12 hours were reported by 6 respondents. Diagnosed and treated DCS developing during, and post flight was reported by 4 divers with PFSIs ≥ 24 hours and by 2 divers with PFSIs < 24 hours. Fifteen divers boarded a plane with perceived symptoms of DCS. Conclusions: These data suggest that most divers in this study observed the recommendations of a ≥ 24 hour PFSI with safe outcomes.


2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 805-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. DeAndrea ◽  
Joseph B. Walther

This study investigated how people make sense of self-portrayals in social media that are inconsistent with impressions formed through other interpersonal interactions. The research focused on how inconsistent online information affects interpersonal impressions and how motivation to manage impressions influences the types of attributions that actors and observers make for the misleading online behavior. Results show that the relationship between observer and the target influences evaluations of online/offline inconsistencies: Subjects rated the inconsistencies of acquaintances as more intentionally misleading, more hypocritical, and less trustworthy relative to the inconsistencies of friends. In addition, the types of attributions people made for online behavior depended on the perspective of the person providing the explanation: People explained their own online behavior more favorably than the online behavior of both friends and acquaintances.


2011 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 24-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Nolan ◽  
Kate Raynes-Goldie ◽  
Melanie McBride

In this paper, we argue that censorware is one of the bogeymen that instills fear in parents whose children have access to the Internet. It is a fear that has the potential to restrict children’s autonomy and opportunities for engagement in social media. Fear regarding children’s online activities is one of the issues surrounding children’s Internet safety that does not appear to be situated in any particular social or cultural context. Among the most popular means of monitoring children online, censorware may prove even more harmful to children’s socioemotional wellbeing and development than any other form of monitoring (Boyd & Jenkins, 2006; Cloke & Jones, 2005; Helwig, 2006; Kamii, 1991; Laufer & Wolfe, 1977; Marx & Steeves, 2010; Pettit & Laird, 2002; Rooney, 2010). Inherent in the design and use of censorware are structures that inhibit children’s online and offline social interactions, their ability to develop fully as social actors, and their experience of being empowered to make informed and critical decisions about their lives, including choices relating to privacy. As well, reliance on surveillance-based approach-es to monitoring online activities of chil-dren (aged 5-14) may actually be leading to a greater danger: a decrease in oppor-tunities for children to have experiences that help them develop autonomy and independence. Our inquiry is located within a growing body of research that addresses the social implications of restricting, surveilling and controlling young children’s online activities versus nurturing individual autonomy through parental mentoring and critically reflec-tive software and social technology use.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Dewi Rachmawati ◽  
Lestari Nurhajati

ABSTRACT Scientists who use cohort generation (generation cohorts) to classify subjects by age group, strongly believe in differences in attitudes, behaviors and communication in each generation. Millennials in the age range of 23-39 (born 1980-1995) tend to be depicted as relying heavily on communication based on internet technology. This situation certainly causes significant communication changes, including when these millennials become entrepreneurs, inevitably they will rely on communication via online media. In 2018, several rows of Indonesian millennials entered the ranks of successful Asian entrepreneurs under the age of 30. This phenomenon certainly becomes interesting to study about how the use of online media by young entrepreneurs as a means of their communication with the public. This study aims to find out how the personal branding of millennial entrepreneurs is built with communication via online media. The personal branding study that is often used as a guideline is the Eight Laws of Personal Branding concept, which is a personal branding strategy that emphasizes the side; specialization, leadership, personality, distinctiveness, visibility, unity, persistence, and goodwill. This study uses the content analysis (content analysis) approach to 5 online media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, LinkedIn and Website / blog) owned by 5 millennial entrepreneurs (Dian Pelangi, Fransisca Hadiwidjana, Talita Setyadi, Rorian Pratyaksa, and Stanislaus Tandelilin) within 1 year (1 January 2018 - 31 December 2018). The results of this study indicate that the effort to build personal branding on each of the online media owned, is only attached to the figure of Dian Pelangi, who is very active in using all lines of social media. While the other 4 subjects actually did not all actively utilize the social media / online media they had..Keywords:  online media communication, millennials, personal branding, millennial entrepreneurs, digital era.  ABSTRAK Ilmuwan yang menggunakan cohort generation (generasi kohort) untuk menggolongkan subyek berdasarkan kelompok umur, sangat mempercayai adanya perbedaan sikap, perilaku dan komunikasi pada tiap generasi. Generasi milenial dalam rentang usia 23-39 (lahir 1980-1995) cenderung digambarkan sangat mengandalkan komunikasi berbasis penggunaan teknologi internet. Situasi ini tentu menyebabkan perubahan komunikasi yang signifikan, termasuk ketika para milenial ini menjadi pengusaha, mau tidak mau mereka akan mengandalkan komunikasi via media online. Tahun 2018 lalu beberapa deretan pengusaha milenial Indonesia masuk dalam jajaran pengusaha sukses Asia di bawah usia 30 tahun. Fenomena ini tentu menjadi menarik untuk diteliti tentang bagaimana penggunaan media online para pengusaha muda ini sebagai sarana komunikasi mereka dengan publik. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana personal branding para pengusaha milenial dibangun dengan komunikasi via media online. Kajian personal branding yang sering dijadikan pedoman adalah konsep Eight Laws of Personal Branding, yakni strategi personal branding yang menekankan pada sisi; spesialisasi, kepemimpinan, kepribadian, kekhasan, terlihat, Kesamaan antara yang terlihat dan tak terlihat, kegigihan dan itikad baik. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan penelitian content analysis (analisis isi) atas 5 media online (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, LinkedIn dan Website/blog) yang dimiliki oleh 5 pengusaha milenial (Dian Pelangi, Fransisca Hadiwidjana, Talita Setyadi, Rorian Pratyaksa, dan Stanislaus Tandelilin) dalam kurun waktu 1 tahun (1 januari 2018 - 31 Desember 2018). Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa upaya membangun personal branding pada masing-masing media online yang dimiliki, hanya melekat pada sosok Dian Pelangi, yang sangat aktif menggunakan semua lini media sosialnya. Sementara ke 4 subyek lainnya justru tidak semuanya aktif memanfaatkan media sosial/ media online yang dimilikinya..Kata Kunci: komunikasi media online, milenial, personal branding, pengusaha milenial, era digital.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate C. McLean ◽  
Jennifer Lilgendahl ◽  
Chelsea Fordham ◽  
Elizabeth Alpert ◽  
Kathryn Szymanowski ◽  
...  

Objective: The great majority of research on identity and personality development has focused on individual processes of development, to the relative neglect of the cultural context of development. We employ a recently articulated framework for the examination of identity development in context, centered on the construct of master narratives, or culturally shared stories. Method: Across three studies we asked emerging and mid-life adults (n = 512) to narrate personal experiences of deviations from these master narratives. Results: Across three quantitative studies we show that 1) those who elaborated their deviation experiences were more likely to be in structurally marginalized positions in society (e.g., ethnic or sexual minorities); 2) those who elaborated an empowering alternative to the master narrative were more likely to be engaged in identity processes; and 3) master narratives maintain their rigidity by the frequency of their use. In qualitative analyses, we illustrate the rigidity of master narratives, as well as the degree to which they take shape in social and group experiences. Conclusions: These studies emphasize the importance of cultural context in considering personality and identity development.


10.2196/17196 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. e17196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Stevens ◽  
Stephen Bonett ◽  
Jacqueline Bannon ◽  
Deepti Chittamuru ◽  
Barry Slaff ◽  
...  

Background Adolescents and young adults in the age range of 13-24 years are at the highest risk of developing HIV infections. As social media platforms are extremely popular among youths, researchers can utilize these platforms to curb the HIV epidemic by investigating the associations between the discourses on HIV infections and the epidemiological data of HIV infections. Objective The goal of this study was to examine how Twitter activity among young men is related to the incidence of HIV infection in the population. Methods We used integrated human-computer techniques to characterize the HIV-related tweets by male adolescents and young male adults (age range: 13-24 years). We identified tweets related to HIV risk and prevention by using natural language processing (NLP). Our NLP algorithm identified 89.1% (2243/2517) relevant tweets, which were manually coded by expert coders. We coded 1577 HIV-prevention tweets and 17.5% (940/5372) of general sex-related tweets (including emojis, gifs, and images), and we achieved reliability with intraclass correlation at 0.80 or higher on key constructs. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the spatial patterns in posting HIV-related tweets as well as the relationships between the tweets and local HIV infection rates. Results We analyzed 2517 tweets that were identified as relevant to HIV risk and prevention tags; these tweets were geolocated in 109 counties throughout the United States. After adjusting for region, HIV prevalence, and social disadvantage index, our findings indicated that every 100-tweet increase in HIV-specific tweets per capita from noninstitutional accounts was associated with a multiplicative effect of 0.97 (95% CI [0.94-1.00]; P=.04) on the incidence of HIV infections in the following year in a given county. Conclusions Twitter may serve as a proxy of public behavior related to HIV infections, and the association between the number of HIV-related tweets and HIV infection rates further supports the use of social media for HIV disease prevention.


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