Soliya reflection – Marwan madkour

The Soliya Connect Program is an online dialogue space that brings together students from different countries and backgrounds to talk about global issues in a more personal and open way. In one of the crucial assignments in the program, I took part in interviews with participants to explore their views on how social media plays a role in shaping identity. The aim was to understand how people see themselves in relation to social media, whether it influences their opinions or self-image, and how algorithms and online communities might shape their perspectives. Through these interviews, I gathered insights on how individuals engage with social media in their everyday lives.

During the interviews, I conducted on the role of social media in shaping identity. I discovered that both participants believed that deeper elements, such as culture, family values, education, and life events, had a greater impact on their identities than social media. In their comments, both interviewees were thoughtful, unbiased, and fair. They acknowledged that although social media sites such as Instagram and TikTok expose them to new viewpoints, fashions, and cultures, these platforms do not really define who they are. Both participants stated that social media can increase awareness of other people’s cultures, lifestyles, and views, which can have a good impact on how individuals perceive the world. However, one concern is that algorithms often amplify or reinforce existing views by creating what they call “echo chambers.” Overall, the interviews showed that social media does not directly determine personal beliefs or self-image, but rather plays an additional function in defining identity through shifting awareness and viewpoint.

Transitioning into the process of question creation itself, I mostly focused on developing neutral, open-ended questions that would let participants freely express their opinions without feeling pressured or influenced while interacting with various viewpoints on how social media shapes identity. These questions include, but are not limited to: How would you describe your identity, and do you think social media influences it?, Have platforms like Instagram or TikTok changed how you see yourself?, Do you think social media helps you understand people with different perspectives?. During the interview process itself, both respondents answered with ease and honesty and were not hesitant in sharing their opinions, which is why I believed this method was highly helpful. Rather than guiding the conversation in a certain direction, one of the most crucial aspects of my role was serving as a facilitator who established a safe and open environment for analysis. 

I gained a variety of important skills during my Connect Program experience, especially enhanced communication and collaboration between cultures. Additionally, I felt more at ease participating in international conversations and understanding the perspectives of individuals from other backgrounds. I found war, adulthood, and climate change to be some of the most fascinating subjects because they seemed so applicable to our future. I particularly remember the breakout room meeting when we were introducing ourselves. Meeting people from diverse backgrounds and the openness of the conversation made it stand out. In the main group, we discussed the future of the globe and whether or not we are excited to be adults in the discussions. Since adulthood involves greater responsibilities and potentially fewer steady employment options in the future, I personally stated that I was definitely not excited. I also expressed my belief that people should utilize their votes to speak out for change and that war must end. I also talked about how the world is already being impacted by climate change, particularly with regard to rising pollution and sea levels. I was both an active participant and a listener during the program, which enabled me to consider other people’s viewpoints more thoroughly. I noticed changes in myself in how I communicate, how I think about global issues, and how open I am to different viewpoints. Overall, the experience was meaningful in helping me grow personally and socially, even without major challenges.

Regarding the comparison between Soliya and Tahrir, I found that both the Soliya program and Tahrir Campus had significant effects on my communication abilities, though in very different ways. The experience was significantly more direct and hands-on at Tahrir Campus, where we had face-to-face conversations without the assistance of a facilitator. We were discussing and learning about each other’s cultures in a relaxed atmosphere, and the conversations felt more casual and natural. We also joked around more, and the overall atmosphere was lighter and more social, especially with the added experience of being outside in nature, which made the conversations feel even more real. The Soliya program, on the other hand, was more structured and took place via Zoom. The facilitators led the conversation by asking questions, after which we were free to answer, think, and discuss together. Despite these differences, both experiences were extremely beneficial since they both promoted open communication and cultural understanding in their own special ways and helped me develop my communication skills in many contexts: English in Soliya and Arabic in Tahrir Campus.