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Description
Social media and internet usage are engrained within Generation Z communication, trends and norms. This study seeks to understand the specific niche African American Generation Z women exist in and the content and spaces catered to them. With this knowledge, social norms and expectations perceived from internet posts by Generation Z African American women can be better understood. The study utilizes qualitative data from a sample of 35 Generation Z African American college students who provided insights about their social media usage and the types of content they see. The findings demonstrated that students felt that intentionally created spaces for Generation Z African American women were limited. Most of the catered content found by users, was created by Generation Z African American women. Most internet content is understood by users to be unrealistic, and they are aware of this, making conscious efforts keep their self-esteem unaffected. These niche spaces tend to be difficult to find, leaving women searching keywords like “black girl” to gain access. Despite being hard to find, Generation Z African American women are the origin of many trends on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. While a limited amount of spaces cater to them, Generation Z African American women have created some of their own, which is evident from content being created by and for them. By expanding these online spaces and facilitating users access, they would become less limited and more diverse in the content they provide.
Publication Date
4-1-2025
Keywords
Generation Z, African American women, social media, internet culture, digital spaces, online identity, content creation, TikTok, Instagram, self-esteem, digital trends, niche communities, representation, online visibility, qualitative research, Black girl digital spaces, digital communication, social norms, cultural expression, digital inclusion
Recommended Citation
Monroe, Ja’nia and Smith, Kalynda C. Ph.D., "Social media spaces catered to Generation Z African American women" (2025). 2025 Honors College Research Symposium. 21.
https://digital.library.ncat.edu/honorscollegesymposium25/21