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

Close-up portrait of a young East Asian man with short, black hair styled with bangs, looking directly at the viewer with a subtle, friendly smile. He has dark eyes, clear skin, and visible stubble forming a light mustache and chin beard. He is wearing a vibrant royal blue crew-neck t-shirt, all set against a soft, uniform light grey background.

Tristan Wong

The Dangers of Violent Media Exposure In Youths
A close-up headshot of a light-skinned young man with light brown, wavy hair swept back, blue eyes, and a faint smile. He wears a black blazer over a dark collared shirt with buttons and small silver hoop earrings, against a plain light grey background.

Aden Worton

Constructing Meaning in Live Music Events: Audience Experience and Communication Environments
A detailed portrait of a young Black woman with clear dark skin, looking directly at the camera with a gentle smile and glossy pink lips. She has long, dark box braids, a black scoop-neck top, and two silver necklaces. The background is a smooth, light grey.

Sienna Scott Barrow

Entrepreneurship and Intersectionality: Instagram's Role in Promoting Magazines Owned by Women of Colour
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