Digitizing Identity: Digital Media Practices and Ethnic Identity among
Lingnan Ethnic Minorities
A Survey-Based Study of Yao University Students
LIU Xiuyan
(1. Guangxi Science & Technology Normal University, Laibin, Guangxi 546100;
2. Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau 999078)
Abstract: Although academic interest in how digital media influence adolescents has grown inrecent years, few studies have investigated whether and how ethnic minority university studentsuse digital media to explore and commit to their ethnic identity and development. This study employs a questionnaire survey to investigate, analyze, and describe the comprehensive ethnicidentity level, online ethnic identity level, and digital practices of ethnic identity among Yaouniversity students. On this basis, a path model is constructed to illustrate the interrelationshipsamong comprehensive ethnic identity, online ethnic identity, and digital practices of ethnicidentity among ethnic minority university students. Through data analysis, we find that the onlinemedia, as a significant space for the emergence and development of identity, can support Yaoaniversity students in exploring their ethnic identity through digital practices and maintainingtheir identity commitment. Whether actively engaging in digital practices of ethnic identity orpassively using digital media to reinforce ethnic identity as a resistance against assimilation,online media are increasingly enabling young ethnic minority groups to digitize their nativeethnic culture and identity, thereby transferring and further developing ethnic identity fromphysical space to cyberspace.
Key words: digitization of identity; digital media practices; Yao university students; ethnicidentity
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