BA, MA (York)
Dissertation: "When I'm Looking at the World...I Take a Photo": An Exploration of the Affectual and Social Complexities of Sharing and Seeing Images in Youth Digital Culture
Examining Committee:
Michael Epp (Supervisor), Joshua Synenko, Karleen Pendleton-Jiménez
External Examiner: Shauna Pomerantz (Brock)
Internal Examiner: Christine Goodwin-De Faria
Chair: Scott Henderson
Abstract
This dissertation focuses on the intersectionality between images posted on social media and social rules in the lives of young people. The findings are based on thirty-four qualitative interviews with young social media users where photo-based methodologies were employed. From these interviews, three key themes emerged: 1) Posting and sharing images are connected to identity exploration and formation, 2) Social rules around embodied emotions affect how youth present their emotions in online photographic material, and 3) The conflation of private and public spaces in the digital sphere complicates how social media users interact with images. While the findings presented are clear, this dissertation aims to take a holistic approach to understanding youth digital culture and avoids coming to conclusions that view social media as “good” or “bad” for youth. This tactic allows the findings to acknowledge the complexities of communicative digital spaces and understand the intricacies of social media in the daily lives of young people (boyd, 2014; Tilleczek & Campbell, 2019). This dissertation discusses both challenges youth face on social media when posting and viewing images, as well as how images can be used to defy social norms.