Meaning Negotiation in Identity Conflicts on Social Media: A Pragmatic Literature Review

Abstract

Social media has become a primary space for self-expression and social interaction, while simultaneously giving rise to increasingly complex dynamics of identity conflict. This study aims to develop an in-depth understanding of how meaning negotiation unfolds in identity conflicts on social media from a qualitative pragmatic perspective. Employing a qualitative approach with a narrative-based thematic analysis design, the study enables an exploration of participants’ experiences, reflections, and inner dilemmas in conflict-laden online interactions. Data were analyzed thematically to identify recurring patterns of meaning and social experience. The findings reveal four major themes: ambiguity of meaning and interpretive tension, self-positioning and identity labeling, conflict escalation through emotional language and impoliteness, and emotional fatigue leading to self-reflection and withdrawal from participation. These findings demonstrate that identity conflict on social media is a dynamic and non-linear process in which meaning is continuously negotiated and often fails to reach resolution. The study contributes theoretically by enriching pragmatic scholarship through the integration of affective dimensions and participants’ subjective experiences, and practically by offering implications for strengthening digital literacy, informing social media moderation policies, and enhancing understanding of mental health in the context of online interaction