Digital Marginality and Social Media: Negotiating Inclusion and Exclusion in the Digital Age

Abstract

In the age of digital communication, social media has emerged as a powerful platform for information exchange, identity formation, activism, and representation. It has become so basic that its necessity is found in all sectors, and in personal and professional space. Moreover, today’s artificial enhanced social media brings out a host of benefits for its users making them dependent on it. However, access to and participation in digital spaces is not equitable. This paper explores the concept of digital marginality—the condition of being socially or culturally excluded from dominant online narratives—and how social media both reinforces and challenges these marginalities. Drawing on case studies, scholarly literature, and theoretical frameworks from digital sociology and media studies, this paper examines how digital marginality manifests through issues of access, algorithmic bias, digital literacy, and online harassment. It also highlights how marginalized groups use social media for community building, resistance, and reclaiming narratives. The paper concludes by suggesting pathways to mitigate digital marginality through inclusive digital policies, equitable infrastructure, and critical digital education.