Abstract

This article presents a critical account of one teen’s sense of audience as she enacted literacies on social media platforms and provides strategies that can inform the teaching of audience and purpose in ways responsive to teens’ digital literacies. Informed by case-study research and insights gained from interviewing, observing, and collecting digital artifacts, I discuss how Samirah X, a self-described teen actress and social justice advocate, engaged in writing practices on social media for three different main perceived audiences: cultural and racial community audience, socially conscious audience, and parental audience. Other sub-audiences from Samirah X’s case narrative are presented: audience as Black people, culture, and identity; audience as Black women and girls; and audience as Blacks who experience injustice and acts of violence. At the conclusion of this article, I provide implications for teaching English Language Arts focused on how social media work can fulfill state standards.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
2025-04-01
DOI
10.1177/07410883241303918
Open Access
Closed
Topics

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  1. Written Communication
  2. Research in the Teaching of English
  3. Research in the Teaching of English
  4. Computers and Composition
  5. Research in the Teaching of English
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  1. Written Communication
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