Eighth International Conference on Communication & Media Studies

Abstract

Social media platforms allow for individuals to express their identities and/or how they wish to be perceived. These platforms also allow individuals to receive both negative and positive appraisals from countless others. So, while social media has the potential to promote connections between users and affirmation of one’s sense of self, it simultaneously can promote conflict and disagreement. Using sociological and social psychological approaches, I assess the how and why people use social media platforms to construct and maintain their sense of self, and how and why it can be so challenging to do so. Specifically, I focus on the factors that contribute to common online hostilities and seemingly growing polarization between groups. Similarly, I assess how online negativity has implications for the users’ sense of selves (identity).