Brainstorm Week 7 - Nick Roberts

Through the use of the internet and social media, many traditionally oppressed or underrepresented groups are able to garner a greater sense of community where before they had difficulty. Despite this, this age of digital communication, while allowing larger groups of people to meet, can also make the relationships created through the internet less meaningful than if they were made in person. This idea is explored in the series Undocumented and Awkward where through comedy and skits the creator, Julio Salgado, shows how awkward it can initially be to begin to foster these communities of people who are in a similar situation. Through these videos posted online, Salgado is able to explore the difficulties of growing a movement and show others that may be trying to do the same that it is not uncommon for there to be uncomfortable moments when trying to create your own community.

The undocuqueer movement has also adopted this strategy of using social media to allow more people to see their message and allow their community to grow when it would normally be very difficult for a person to find that community of other people like them. Through the internet, a greater sense of community can be created, but nothing can fully replace the human contact and sense of togetherness being in person achieves.