Digital White Racial Socialization: Social Media and the Case of Whiteness. (5th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Frey, William R.; Ward, L. Monique; Weiss, Amanda; Cogburn, Courtney D.
• Other Names: Spanierman Lisa B. guestEditor.; Halgunseth Linda C. guestEditor.; Witherspoon Dawn P. guestEditor.; Wray‐Lakes Laura guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of research on adolescence. Volume 32:Number 3(2022)
• Page Start: 919
• Page End: 937
• Publication Date: 2022-06-05
• Subjects: white racial socialization -- whiteness -- racial–ethnic socialization -- social media -- developmental psychology; Adolescence -- Periodicals; 155.5
• DOI: 10.1111/jora.12775
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-8392

Abstract

Abstract : The Internet has become a ubiquitous central element in the lives of adolescents. In this conceptual paper, we focus on digital white racial socialization (D‐WRS), arguing: (1) for an expanded conceptualization of WRS as doings, and (2) that social media may be changing processes of WRS through an extension of traditional settings and through the creation of unique social contexts. We highlight the uniqueness of social media contexts due to the designed normalization of whiteness, weak‐tie racism, social media affordances, and racialized pedagogical zones allowing adolescents to practice doing race. We introduce a conceptual framework for D‐WRS and end with an expressed need for conceptually guided research on the multidimensional relationship between social media and WRS processes.