Date of Award

2025

Degree Name

Communication Studies

College

College of Liberal Arts

Type of Degree

M.A.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Dr. Richard G. Jones, Jr.

Second Advisor

Dr. Julie Snyder-Yuly

Third Advisor

Dr. Clinton Brown

Abstract

Minority groups, including people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, various ethnicities or races, gender non-conforming individuals, and others who are not part of the societal majority, face daily challenges due to unequal access to digital technology. From elementary school through college, the gap between students with better access to digital tools and those without becomes evident in how these technologies are used in classrooms. International students, who may be a majority group in their home country, become part of a minority in their host country as they seek better educational opportunities. These technologies, such as social networking sites, often reflect the dominant culture and lifestyle of the host country, with algorithms constantly influenced by GPRS data. Such situations require international students to adapt. This study aims to explore how international students negotiate their online identities, balance values from their home and host countries on social networking sites, and how these platforms facilitate acculturation. The research will shed light on access to digital technology among minority groups and how international students strategically use social networking sites for identity negotiation. By reviewing literature on three key themes—digital ethnicity, inclusive technology design, and acculturation—the work seeks to examine the role of digital technology in international students' cultural adaptation in the United States. Using qualitative respondent interviews, the study reveals how technology influences the acculturation process and how students navigate different cultural ideals between their home countries and the United States. I believe this will highlight the importance of equal access to technology for everyone, especially minority groups like international students who often rely on these tools for social, emotional, and academic support.

Subject(s)

Students, Foreign.

Students, Foreign -- Communication.

Social networks.

Telecommunication.

Identity (Philosophical concept)

Digital divide.

Acculturation.

Minorities.

Marshall University.

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