Identity

Maanya Kohli

Performing Belonging: How Gen Z Uses Instagram to Communicate Social Connection

A close-up headshot of a young woman with warm brown skin, dark hair pulled back, and a soft, friendly smile. She wears round, brown-rimmed glasses, gold hoop earrings, and a delicate gold chain necklace with a small heart pendant over a black halter top. Her lips are glossy with a reddish tint, and the background is softly blurred.

Hi, I’m Maanya, a Professional Communications student at TMU who’s fascinated by how social media shapes the way we connect, express ourselves, and make meaning out of everyday life. I’m into all things creative including music, film, pop culture and I spend a lot of time being (very intentionally) chronically online. I’m also a huge foodie, so if I’m not consuming media, I’m probably cooking, baking, or thinking about my next meal.

This project looks at how Gen Z uses Instagram to show and shape belonging. Instead of focusing on how people present themselves, it explores how connection, friendship, and shared experiences are communicated through posts. By analysing images, captions, and everyday content like photo dumps, the research shows how belonging is not just experienced, but actively constructed. It reveals how social media plays a powerful role in shaping what belonging looks like and how we understand connection in everyday life.

Lightning Talk

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More Projects

A close-up headshot of a young Black woman with warm brown skin and bright eyes, smiling widely with glossy lips. She has long black box braids, wears silver chunky hoop earrings, and a silver necklace with an oval blue sapphire pendant. Her attire is a black top, and the background is a softly blurred modern building.

Maia Purcell

"Sell-Care": The commercialization of self-care in influencer marketing
A head-and-shoulders portrait of a young Black man with short, dark curly hair, a subtle mustache, and light stubble. He is smiling gently, revealing his teeth, and wears a gold nose ring in his left nostril and silver hoop earrings. He is dressed in an open grey collared shirt over a white t-shirt, set against a softly blurred, neutral background.

Emmanuel Orim

Designed Exposure: How the Student Commute Shapes Daily Energy, Mood, and Stress
A close-up headshot of a young woman with fair skin, reddish-brown hair, and light blue eyes. Her hair is parted on the side and styled with soft waves framing her face. She has a gentle smile, wearing glossy coral lipstick and a silver-toned, rounded earring on her right ear. She is dressed in a dark, open-knit cardigan over a light gray top, against a soft, light-colored background.

Anna Carter

The Model is Dead, Long Live the Celebrity: How Fame Replaced the Fashion Model
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