This study explores the collective identity formation process within Facebook groups as a form of dramaturgical practice, where community members align around shared norms, values, and culture. Identity in this context is linked to users’ contributions – comments that show agreement, resistance, or nuanced reflection. The research applies Netnography, a qualitative methodology tailored for social media studies, to understand interactions (Kozinets, 2020). It particularly focuses on Facebook as a platform that facilitates diverse textual expressions and the use of digital tools, requiring a certain level of skill for self-presentation (Mohamed, 2023; Goffman, 1959). The study raises critical considerations about power dynamics within these groups by examining the presence and impact of silent participants – those who observe but do not visibly contribute to the collective identity formation. The central inquiry questions the nature and formation of collective identities when the majority of participants are not actively engaging (Klandermans, & van Stekelenburg; Mohamed, 2023). By analyzing interaction within three distinct Facebook groups I mentioned the Rivals, The Guardians and the Stakeholders. The findings indicate that the Rivals group encourages polarized debates with a “hard” debate climate where differing opinions are expected and not considered normbreaking, unlike the Stakeholders group. In contrast, the Guardians group focuses on communitybuilding, maintained by specific gatekeepers and group support. The Stakeholders group is distinct in its open character, promoting both community and nuanced discussions, aiming to collaboratively establish a shared opinion for a common interest. The research assesses how these digital environments enable or limit interaction, and in turn, how they influence the emergence of a collective identity among both vocal and silent members (Mohamed, 2023). This study will contribute to understanding the role of silent participators in collective identity formation using netnography and Conversation Analysis to examine silence identity in social media (Kozinets, 2020; Farina, 2020).
QC 20250728