A symbolic interactionist model of White adolescents' digital critical racial literacy and digital anti-racist action

Abstract

Symbolic interactionism is useful for examining how various socialization contexts (e.g., family and media) inform adolescents' identity construction and role making. Some research supports the theory's application in understanding White adolescents' racial socialization and identity development. The theory has yet to be applied to understanding the critical components that are essential for understanding how individuals interact with a digital society where racial inequality is pervasive. We propose a model of White adolescents' racial identity in response to racial socialization, and how that relationship manifests in social media contexts. We discuss how racial and social media literacies interact with family socialization and identity-related experiences to promote White adolescents' critical race consciousness and introduce a novel application of digital critical racial literacy and digital anti-racist action. The model advances symbolic interactionism by incorporating a critical lens, and can inform interventions aimed to educate parents, White youth, and social-media developers on anti-racist development.