Black College Students Navigating Digital Environments: A Qualitative Analysis of Peer Racial Socialization

This qualitative study examined how Black college students use digital media for peer racial socialization (PRS) within digital environments (e.g., social media, text messaging, and online). Participants were 20 Black undergraduate students between the ages 18 and 25, attending a predominantly White institution. Using the thematic analysis approach, in-depth individual interviews were coded using inductive methods. PRS was revealed to occur in multiple ways, including (a) cultural socialization, (b) cultivating community, (c) processing discrimination, and (d) encouraging resilience. Findings highlight the significance of digital media in supporting social development among Black college students. These results highlight need for continued scholarship examining the processes underlying PRS across multiple domains, and understanding how Black college students are agents supporting their own racial socialization and healthy development with digital media.