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 studio portrait of a young woman with a clear complexion and long, straight black hair parted centrally. She has dark eyes, full lips, and a subtle natural blush on her cheeks. Her neutral expression is directed at the viewer, and she wears a black collared shirt against a soft, light grey backdrop.

Yiling Shi

Authenticity in Communication: How Fashion Influencers Use Textual and Visual Strategies to Build Trust on Instagram
A headshot of a young woman with a warm, broad smile, featuring long dark brown hair parted down the middle. She has brown eyes, full eyelashes, well-groomed dark eyebrows, and a small silver stud piercing on her right nostril. She is wearing a black top and a delicate gold necklace with a single white pearl pendant. The background is a soft, light gray.

Lauren Kluthe

OHL: A Media Pipeline to the Big Leagues (NHL)
A front-facing headshot of a young adult male with short dark brown hair, blue eyes, and a stubble mustache leading to a goatee. He wears a light blue button-up shirt and a blue tie with a white diamond grid pattern, against a plain light gray background.

Marcos Timmons

Evaluating the Effectiveness of ESL Programs in Supporting Newcomers in Toronto Schools
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