Instagram’s Affordances and the Visual Construction of Solidarity after a Mass Shooting

Abstract

Solidarity is a common response after a mass shooting. Social media and social media affordances, such as hashtags, are valuable technological tools after such events. How does social media facilitate the response to mass shootings? In particular, how do platform affordances shape solidarity practices? To this end, I analyzed Instagram images tagged #LafayetteStrong 2 years after a mass shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana. I observed several solidarity-inspired themes including material objects, community events and landmarks, references to support and reflection, and photographs as advertisements. I argue that Instagram affords a mediated form of solidarity, visually documenting ritualized community practices, while also facilitating individualized and subjective interpretations of solidarity. Users exploited Instagram’s affordances for advertisement purposes, capitalizing on a community-centered hashtag. These findings contribute to the sociological literature on mass shootings, the visual construction of solidarity, and the influence of technology.

‘#hellobrother needs to trend’: methodological reflections on the digital and emotional afterlife of mediated violence

“…Typically expressed by artistic illustrations, memes, and hashtags, solidarity symbols utilise the affordances and fluidity of digital spaces. They serve as tools of mourning (Mielczarek, 2018), bonding icons (Harju, 2019), and visual expressions of solidarity used to mobilise collective support (Pearce, 2020). Not restricted to violent death, solidarity symbols also emerge in the context of other tragedies where death is unexpected.…”

#TripleNegativeBreastCancer on Instagram

“…Instagram also affords users the opportunity to connect with other users around the globe using features, such as likes, comments, direct messages, and hashtags. Hashtags, in particular, have demonstrated utility in creating solidarity and collectivity during the aftermath of mass shootings (Pearce, 2020). For example, prior research indicated that Instagram users utilized the #LafayetteStrong hashtag after a mass shooting at the Grand Theater in Lafayette, Louisiana as a way to confirm and reinforce a community's local solidarity (Pearce, 2020).…”

“…Hashtags, in particular, have demonstrated utility in creating solidarity and collectivity during the aftermath of mass shootings (Pearce, 2020). For example, prior research indicated that Instagram users utilized the #LafayetteStrong hashtag after a mass shooting at the Grand Theater in Lafayette, Louisiana as a way to confirm and reinforce a community's local solidarity (Pearce, 2020). These hashtag communities may also play a role in the discourse and the connections that are made between Instagram users who may be diagnosed with chronic illnesses, such as triple negative breast cancer.…”