Social Media’s Role in Constructing and Transmitting Collective Cultural Memory

Abstract: This study investigates how social media platforms contribute to constructing, transforming, and transmitting collective cultural memory. It explores how these digital spaces preserve and alter cultural narratives surrounding historical events, social movements, and national identities. The article examines the mechanisms through which social media fosters memory sharing, amplifies specific cultural stories, and explores the selective nature of digital memory. By analyzing case studies across diverse regions and periods, the research will highlight how social media both consolidates and challenges traditional notions of cultural memory, particularly relating to modern digital archiving, citizen journalism, and the rise of usergenerated content. The study will also address issues of memory fragmentation and the implications of social media’s role in constructing and shaping collective identities in the digital age.

Keywords: Social Media, Cultural Memory, Collective Identity, Digital Archiving, Citizen Journalism, User-Generated Content, Memory Fragmentation.