Mediated identities in the cyber world: Palestinian students doing higher education abroad

This study is about the self-representation of Palestinian students doing higher education abroad (in the diaspora). It investigates how technology can be used to create an online identity in a way that cannot be done through other more traditional means of representation such as through text or face-to-face. The study relates these issues of self-representation to narratives of students from inside and outside Palestine. Using grounded theory, the study is based on around 20 interviews, which combined with long-term observation, through the medium being observed – social media, generated some interesting findings. The study found that Palestinians pursuing higher education in their media content, involve three elements: (i) a sense of longing and belonging; (ii) constraints and restrictions on their movement in and out of Palestine (referred to in this study as being locked in and locked out) and (iii) the complex virtuality/reality of their self-representation as Palestinians engaged in higher education. Among the stories and communications given close attention in the study, each of these themes is illustrated with great frequency and intensity.