The Effects Of Social Media On The Indigenous Identity

Passing Knowledge Through Social media’s active engagement and information sharing, it allows Indigenous people to take part in platforms such as Facebook and Youtube. These platforms enable people to participate in spreading stories, opposing and standing up to labels that they are categorized under. ____ stated, “ Social media is seen to allow for the contribution, expansion, and transformation of various ‘traditions’, from traditional language to traditional activism.” It can allow “inter-generational knowledge” to be forwarded and spread to the newer generation and those who are unaware. One example of a social media account is the Twitter account under the username of @IndegenousX where every week different people take control of the

It was established after a series of examinations conducted to prove his hypothesis about “how influence works”. The theory is based on the concept that social impact depends on three characteristics which are, “strength, number, and immediacy”. Even though this theory was created before social media it can be easily applied to social media. For example, if we look at social media in relation to the Indigenous identity, social influence can work in both ways, good and bad. This can be proven using the three characteristics that he brought forward. First, strength, which means assessing the importance of the influencing group to the influence. Social media provides strength in the form of friends and family, as they are the ones whose opinions matter to you online. This can relate to the Indigenous identity, as your friends and family can impact your views and opinions on Indigenous identity and the culture that comes as part of their identity which can be either be positive, negative or both. Second, “immediacy”, which is assessing the closeness in time, the influencing group is to the target of the influence (Latané, B., 1996). Social media provides immediacy through people you are connected online, by allowing you to be parts of movements such as the #IDLENoMore Indigenous movement, in Canada (Moscato, 2015). However, it can also lead to racism and bullying online, considering that the people online can shape your opinion on Indigenous people negatively, leading you to be insensitive, racist, and a bully. Third, “number”, the number of individuals there is in the “influencing” group? The greater number of people there is supporting one side can influence your decision on who to stand with, social pressure plays a big influence. In connection, the