Social Media, Communities, & Networks Conference 2026: Semester 1 & SP1

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One response to “JORDEY PETERSEN From Participation to Inequality”

1. 

   liammclean

   04/05/2026

   Hi Jordey, nice presentation! My questions for you are:

   1. You mention how queer youth form communities on social media through participation and through affective publics. In the context of the relatively recent social media ban for under 16 youth (SMMA), how do you see the ban factoring into how younger users form communities? In particular, what difference would you argue these age limitations make on their sense of belonging, and do you think this absence of digital community is culturally fulfilled by real-world offline interaction?

   2. You identify that acceptance and identity validation play a significant role in community development among queer social media users, also discussing inequalities in the context of exclusion and harassment. How do you think that the harassment some queer users may experience affects community formation? For example, do you think that harassment mitigates the formation of community online, or rather necessitates stronger community and brings people together?

   3. Toward the end of your presentation, you discuss how power can influence visibility and lead to dynamics where not all users can have their voices heard, mostly in the context of platforms and corporations having more control. What might you have to say about in-group power imbalance and disagreement between members of the same community? For example, how different members of online queer communities might have more influence and may alienate or drive negativity within the community. How could this reshape communities and connections?

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