The Racial Landscape of Social Networking Sites: Forging Identity, Community, and Civic Engagement

Abstract

This study examines how adolescents and emerging adults forge identity, community, and civic engagement in public discussions online.Using forty-eight race-related group sites from Facebook and MySpace, this study outlines the reasons groups formed and the discourse practices in which participants engaged.Thematic analysis revealed that group formation revolved around the expression and exploration of identity, creating racial safe havens, education, advocacy, and general discussions about race and race-related issues.Within a given group site's Brendesha M. Tynes is an assistant professor of educational psychology and African American studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Her research focuses on the role of the Internet in adolescent and emerging adult development with special attention to online victimization, racial identity, intergroup interaction, psychosocial and educational outcomes, and Internet safety.