Theme Sub-theme | N | EA | EM | LM | Example Quote | |
Connection | ||||||
| General connection with others | 19 | 14 | 2 | 3 | “I am using social media more to connect with others and have a sense of community rather than ‘show off’ or post about myself.” |
| Maintain connection and communication with family and friends | 20 | 16 | 3 | 1 | “Being connected with friends and family while in quarantine and social distancing.” |
| Reconnect | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | “I have reconnected with a small group of old friends. It is nice to feel like we are truly all in this together.” |
| Check-in on loved ones | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | “Let’s me see how my family and friends are doing.” |
Pandemic relief | ||||||
| Distract oneself | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | “A distraction to the hard times occurring now.” |
| Entertainment, relieve boredom or pass the time | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | “Something to kill time with…” |
| Helps to normalize experiences | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | “Technology and social media helped normalize the pandemic to some extent.” |
Information | ||||||
| Media to stay informed | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | “It helps keep me informed.” |
| Source for news and current events | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | “…it has allowed me to keep up with the news and update me regarding the virus. Social media sites like instagram and twitter have provided important information about the virus...” |
| Source for others’ perspectives | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | “Gaining insights into other perspectives than my own.” |
| Share information | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | “Passing on helpful resources and messages to a cohort who might otherwise miss them.” |
| Source for positive information or comic relief | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | “I can see heart warming and funny posts in these dark days.” |
| Exposure to others’ creativity | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | “Seeing people embrace their creativity.” |
No change in routine | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
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