Exploring the Role of Social Media in the Postsecondary Transition Readiness of Black Youth in Detroit

• In Event: 66.042 - Recentering the Margin(alized): Students of Color as Change Agents

Abstract

Online interactions that help foster college aspirations and persistence towards post-secondary enrollment could have a transformative impact on college access patterns given the widespread use of social media among adolescents. ). In this study, we focus on the college-related social media usage of low income Black youth in Detroit to understand how social media participation may influence their aspirations and information seeking about college. Applying Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) framework we identify the forms of CCW that are fostered through online and offline interactions. Students described experiences that fostered social, linguistic, navigational, aspirational, and resistant capital. We propose an expanded CCW perspective that intentionally incorporates (and investigates) the role of online interactions for promoting college transition readiness.

Authors

• Michael Brown, University of Michigan

• Nicole Ellison, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor