Envisioning Transbordered Algorithmic Identities across African and Asian Immigrants’ Digital Narratives

We examined how African and Asian immigrants (re)present the interplay of identities and experiences across digital narratives composed and shared on TikTok. We found content creator’s digital narratives to be illustrative of their transbordered algorithmic identities. We draw on and extend BlackCrit and AsianCrit, and African and Asian onto-axio epistemologies Ubuntu and 정(Jeong) to contextualize and define transbordered algorithmic identities as leveraging social media to build community with those who share experiences across identities and geographies; complicating static notions of home, place, rootedness, and memories of being, with, and among; and navigating discursive and geographic borders while negotiating presentations of individuals shaped by online interactions and encounters with digital algorithms that curate content, suggest connections, and analyze online practices. We conclude with implications for research and teaching.

Data can be found in the “Algorithmic Identities data and analysis” file.