Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
individual
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Samantha Garcia, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Samantha Garcia
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Joanne Detore-Nakamura
Abstract
This in-progress independent study thesis examines how exposure to gender-targeted content on social media platforms shapes college-aged users’ perceptions of communication differences between men and women. As platforms such as TikTok and Instagram increasingly rely on algorithmic curation, users are exposed to repetitive and often polarized narratives about gender roles, dating expectations, and interpersonal communication. This study builds on genderlect theory, as introduced by Deborah Tannen, while also incorporating more contemporary perspectives that frame gender as socially constructed and culturally performed rather than biologically determined. The research addresses the question of whether algorithm-driven content reinforces, reshapes, or distorts perceived communication differences between genders among users aged 18–30. Using a quantitative survey distributed online, this study collects data on social media usage patterns, exposure to gender-focused content, and perceptions of communication dynamics. Preliminary expectations suggest that increased exposure to gender-targeted discourse may correlate with stronger perceptions of communication differences, though these perceptions may reflect mediated narratives rather than lived interpersonal experiences. By integrating communication theory, media studies, and cultural analysis, this research contributes to a growing body of scholarship examining how digital environments influence social perception. The findings aim to provide insight into how algorithmic media systems shape contemporary understandings of gendered communication and may inform discussions surrounding media literacy, digital discourse, and interpersonal relationships in a highly mediated society.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Included in
Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Social Media Commons, Social Psychology Commons
The Algorithm of Difference: Gender, Communication, and Perception Online
This in-progress independent study thesis examines how exposure to gender-targeted content on social media platforms shapes college-aged users’ perceptions of communication differences between men and women. As platforms such as TikTok and Instagram increasingly rely on algorithmic curation, users are exposed to repetitive and often polarized narratives about gender roles, dating expectations, and interpersonal communication. This study builds on genderlect theory, as introduced by Deborah Tannen, while also incorporating more contemporary perspectives that frame gender as socially constructed and culturally performed rather than biologically determined. The research addresses the question of whether algorithm-driven content reinforces, reshapes, or distorts perceived communication differences between genders among users aged 18–30. Using a quantitative survey distributed online, this study collects data on social media usage patterns, exposure to gender-focused content, and perceptions of communication dynamics. Preliminary expectations suggest that increased exposure to gender-targeted discourse may correlate with stronger perceptions of communication differences, though these perceptions may reflect mediated narratives rather than lived interpersonal experiences. By integrating communication theory, media studies, and cultural analysis, this research contributes to a growing body of scholarship examining how digital environments influence social perception. The findings aim to provide insight into how algorithmic media systems shape contemporary understandings of gendered communication and may inform discussions surrounding media literacy, digital discourse, and interpersonal relationships in a highly mediated society.