Bridging the Intergenerational Digital Communication Divide: A Conceptual Framework for Digital Humor Interpretation and Online Social Capital

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23491854

Shruti Singh and Arun Kumar (Department of Psychology, Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar, Uttarakhand)

In today’s digital era, using various social media platforms is very common, regardless of age. However, conversations and communication styles vary significantly in online and offline contexts. On digital platforms, the use of humor in the form of memes, GIFs, and stickers is the norm in conversations and communication. It serves both as a tool for social bonding and for miscommunication and exclusion, depending on how it is used and interpreted. At a time when younger and older generations are on social media and using digital humor in communication, it is essential to explore the factors influencing digital humor interpretation, as it varies significantly across generations. The present conceptual literature review synthesizes existing research on digital humor, its interpretation, intergenerational communication, and online social capital to identify psychological, and communicative factors that influence the understanding and interpretation of digital humor. Based on themes identified in the literature, the study proposes a conceptual framework integrating psychological, communicative, and intergenerational factors that influence digital humor interpretation, thereby fostering effective communication and building online social capital and bonding across generations. Limitations of the study include a lack of empirical data and its theoretical nature, with a future research recommendation to test the proposed framework empirically with present and emerging digital-native generations.