To Investigate Unofficial Public Accounts on Weibo as the Third Space for University Students

Abstract

This research particularly sheds light on the online space of social media and focuses on the unofficial public accounts of Guangdong Peizheng College initiated and run by students. By looking at the account performance like the students' engagement, media posts, and social networks, this research examines the commonalities and differences between these accounts. It aims at interpreting the online performance by thematic analysis, to understand the how students construct the third space by self-owned public accounts and engagement and expressions on social media, implying the prominent themes from the everyday online experience of college students. It can examine the virtual engagement of students in the form of third places and spaces in addition to the students physical campus life, and common and university-led virtual community. 60 posts of three related student-run accounts would be chosen to be the targets in thematic analysis. The outcomes of the research are expected to be beneficial to understanding college students, educational to the universities and social media research.