Race and the internet : ǂb an exploratory study into the effect social media, Black lives matter, and the 2016 Presidential election have had on racial discourse

The purpose of this project is to explore how undergraduate students engage in conversations about race on campus and in the classroom. While these patterns are increasingly explained within academic discourse, this study hopes to expand the understanding of how race is discussed on campus in light of current events (Black Lives Matter movement, 2016 presidential election, and the rise of social media) and posits that the Internet has shaped current racial discourse. Eleven undergraduate students participated in focus groups exploring racial discourse on campus and online. Students reported that social media has increased racial discourse at large, both positively and negatively, and that demographic diversity in spaces on campus and online play a significant role in the quality, frequency, and depth of racial discourse. The ubiquity of the Internet, particularly for current undergraduate students, requires further study into lasting impacts social media and online interactions have on racial discourse