Ms Maria Margarita Ochoa Diaz1
1Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
Biography:
M. Margarita Ochoa-Diaz is a PhD Candidate at the Digital Media Research Centre in QUT (Queensland University of Technology) and is affiliated with the School of Teacher Education and Leadership. Margarita has an academic background in social science and cultural education, as well as youth-led digital peacebuilding. In her research, Margarita uses computational and qualitative methods to study youth’s use of social media like TikTok and Instagram for political participation and peacebuilding. Her current research studies young political influencers’ peacebuilding practices in post-peace accord Colombia.
Abstract:
This paper explores the dilemmas and challenges encountered by researching the role of young digital peacebuilders in Colombia’s post-peace accord context. Focused on their engagement with social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, the study examines how these young influencers use their digital presence to foster political dialogue and contribute to peacebuilding.
Drawing on discourse analysis and multimodal thematic analysis methods, the research incorporates data collected from social media posts and in-depth interviews with participants aged 18–30. Participant selection highlights ethical and methodological complexities, including navigating the contested definitions of youth and the influence of political ideologies. This paper also reflects on the evolving nature of snowball sampling, as new participants emerged post-data collection.
Challenges extended to social media analysis, where initial plans for systematic selection of posts shifted to a more iterative approach of constant familiarisation, enhancing the depth of insights. Interviews further revealed logistical obstacles, such as scheduling with busy influencers and the need to adapt ethical protocols for rapport-building, raising questions about researcher positionality and the dynamics of trust and authenticity in fieldwork.
By critically engaging with these dilemmas, this paper discusses the complexities inherent in conducting research on youth-led digital peacebuilding. It highlights the opportunities presented by methodological flexibility, researcher reflexivity, and context-driven adaptations, offering valuable lessons for scholars undertaking research in conflict and peacebuilding contexts.