Date of Award
Spring 2026
Degree Type
Honors College Thesis
Academic Program
Sociology BA
Department
Anthropology and Sociology
First Advisor
Dr. Michelle McLeese
Advisor Department
Anthropology and Sociology
Abstract
How do rural origins shape Generation Z’s digital identity practices beyond questions of access? Based on semi-structured interviews with ten college students from rural Mississippi, this study examined digital self-presentation strategies and audience management in the context of geographic displacement from conservative hometowns.
Data revealed that participants practice “context segregation,” distributing different identity facets across platforms to maintain audience separation (Facebook for family, Instagram for peers, TikTok for consumption). They viewed curation as editorial work that revealed their authentic selves rather than obscuring them. In addition, growing up under intense social visibility in small towns created lasting “small-town panopticon” effects that shaped sophisticated privacy management strategies. For LGBTQ+ participants (six of ten), the internet functioned as an essential refuge for queer identity development, impossible in their conservative hometowns. These findings revealed how geographic origin and class position fundamentally shape digital practices, demonstrating the need for place-conscious digital sociology that moves beyond urban, middle-class samples.
Copyright
Copyright for this thesis is owned by the author. It may be freely accessed by all users. However, any reuse or reproduction not covered by the exceptions of the Fair Use or Educational Use clauses of U.S. Copyright Law or without permission of the copyright holder may be a violation of federal law. Contact the administrator if you have additional questions.
Recommended Citation
Lama, Subhikshya, "Small-Town Panopticon: Digital Identity, Deep South & Rural College Students" (2026). Honors Theses. 1113.
https://aquila.usm.edu/honors_theses/1113
Comments
Blanket Permission for Future Readers: Uncertain, please contact me with future requests at the following NON-USM email address: suvitamang@gmail.com