The Reinforcement of Social Hierarchies through Social Media.
Document Type
Panel Presentation
Keywords
social media, social hierarchy, oppression
Biography
Ashlea Krasňanský is a first-generation college student majoring in mathematics and minoring in communication studies and digital humanities. She is a laboratory assistant for the Physics Department at Marshall University. Krasňanský also serves as a Student Director for the First2 Network, an organization dedicated to supporting first-generation and underrepresented STEM students in higher education. She is actively involved in and has led many projects to promote equity and inclusion in the state of West Virginia through this network. Krasňanský plans to continue her work in social equity within the academic field as she progresses through her professional journey.
Major
Mathematics; minoring in Communication Studies and Digital Humanities,
Advisor for this project
Dr. Stephen Underhill
Abstract
Social hierarchies can be traced back to almost seven millennium ago, yet social media has yet to reach 30 years old. As with the introduction of previous mass communication advancements, a question of utmost importance arises: how might social media influence global society? Although the direct answer to this question varies on argument and belief, this article discusses the reinforcement of social hierarchies through social media usage by examining two of its characteristics: interconnectivity and dominance. Underlying the characteristics, the principal theme of the article revolves around the January 6th insurrection on the United States capital. When discussing interconnectivity, the article will focus on the convenience and speed of information spread by chiefly investigating the role and dynamics of virtual groups; semiotics through the analyzation of the role of memes as well as Kathryn Sorrells’ concept of the Power of Text; semantics by the breakdown of common textual strategies of oppression; and fear acquisition in terms of virtual, non-lived experiences and blind ignorance. The conditioning of social media users to conform, accept, believe, or act towards defending an idea will highlight the dominance section of the article as well as the oppressive structuralism and mechanics present online. This section pivots around the theory of colonization in the twenty-first century. Lastly, the article features a section dedicated to the potential struggles that arise from proactive measurements in ensuring a more safe, equitable digital space and calls attention to the importance of responsible global citizenship practices.
The Reinforcement of Social Hierarchies through Social Media.
Social hierarchies can be traced back to almost seven millennium ago, yet social media has yet to reach 30 years old. As with the introduction of previous mass communication advancements, a question of utmost importance arises: how might social media influence global society? Although the direct answer to this question varies on argument and belief, this article discusses the reinforcement of social hierarchies through social media usage by examining two of its characteristics: interconnectivity and dominance. Underlying the characteristics, the principal theme of the article revolves around the January 6th insurrection on the United States capital. When discussing interconnectivity, the article will focus on the convenience and speed of information spread by chiefly investigating the role and dynamics of virtual groups; semiotics through the analyzation of the role of memes as well as Kathryn Sorrells’ concept of the Power of Text; semantics by the breakdown of common textual strategies of oppression; and fear acquisition in terms of virtual, non-lived experiences and blind ignorance. The conditioning of social media users to conform, accept, believe, or act towards defending an idea will highlight the dominance section of the article as well as the oppressive structuralism and mechanics present online. This section pivots around the theory of colonization in the twenty-first century. Lastly, the article features a section dedicated to the potential struggles that arise from proactive measurements in ensuring a more safe, equitable digital space and calls attention to the importance of responsible global citizenship practices.
