THE EXPERIENCES OF DEAF PEOPLE IN USING SOCIAL MEDIA

Abstract

Social media is widely used, but in-depth exploration is still needed regarding accessibility for deaf people. Previous research has indicated that some platforms lack accurate accessibility features. Nevertheless, deaf people continue to use social media to obtain information and communicate. This study aims to describe the experiences of deaf people in using social media to express their identity and feeling. There were five participants who are deaf individuals as members of deaf community in East Jawa which actively used social media, and were aged above 17 years old. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s reflective thematic analysis. The findings revealed five major themes: (1) social media as a more accessible visual world, (2) feeling connected and socially present, (3) self-expression and identity negotiation in digital space, (4) vulnerability and the need for safety in online interactions, and (5) meaningful adaptation through resilience and agency. Participants used platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp to communicate with both local and international deaf communities, obtain information, and express personal and professional identities. Nevertheless, they experienced challenges related to written language limitations, misunderstandings in text-based interaction, lack of captions, and account restrictions due to platform norms. Participants responded by using multimodal communication strategies (text, video calls, sign language videos), seeking social support, and setting interaction boundaries. These findings highlight that social media serves as both an empowering and contested space for deaf individuals, emphasizing the need for inclusive platform design and digital literacy support.