How Social Media Reveals What First Generation University Students Are Experiencing

Abstract

Social media such as Instagram is an integral part of today's society especially where technology is such a driving force within today's youth. This study is meant to highlight the bridge between Instagram and the connection between first generation students and their off-campus communities. The analysis of viral Instagram tags and the pages that post to those tags show the trending communities within the student community. Social media is an important tool when it comes to making connections between peers and the building of community. Instagram reveals what these students post to these pages and how they feel, the views of these of these posts and pages reveal themes in these students' experiences.