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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A studio headshot of a young man with warm skin tone, dark brown eyes, and a gentle smile. He has a full head of dark, curly, slightly messy hair, a faint mustache, and wears small silver stud earrings in both ears. He is dressed in a black collared zip-up top, set against a soft, light gray background.

Logan Boutros

Concussions in Hockey: Do the Rules Really Protect Players?
A professional portrait of a woman with long, dark, center-parted hair, brown eyes, and a light pink lip gloss. She wears a dark gray knit sweater and has a gentle smile, against a softly blurred background.

Akasha Alam

The Infinite Scroll: Trend Culture, AI, and the Loss of Brand Authenticity in Digital Communication
A 'No Image Available' placeholder image with a bold, black serif capital 'S' centrally located. The background is an off-white, overlaid with three blurred abstract shapes: a light blue rectangle in the top center, a yellow circle in the bottom left, and a burgundy triangle in the bottom right. The text 'No Image Available' is displayed in black sans-serif font at the bottom of the image, all enclosed within a thin black border.

Soraya Ellis

Gendered Branding in the Energy Drink Industry: A Comparative Analysis of Red Bull and Alani Nu
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