Studygrammers: Learning influencers

Abstract

Today's learning ecologies stand out due to their variety, dynamism and mutability, demanding an observation that matches them. This paper focuses on emerging youth informal learning cultures, with the main objective of recognizing and characterizing a new figure in online social media: the studygrammer. Using questionnaires (N=256), discussion groups organized using Philips 66 (N=56) and Atlas. ti (thematic analysis), as well as participant observation, we analyzed: practices of academic use of social networks by Communication students outside the institutional environment, the opinion about the #Studygram community, and the analysis of profiles. The main results are centered on a proposed definition of the studygrammer: namely the student who works as a mentor and peer leader in Instagram's academic field. This profile not only shares notes (which stand out for their neatness and detailed aesthetics), but also conveys advice, support and experiences. In fact, studygrammers keep influencer genetics by prioritizing aesthetics and monetization in their publications. The conclusion is that the academic purpose adds exclusive characteristics to the community, where the visual code functions as a lingua franca between fields of study. In fact, studygrammers have followers from various academic backgrounds who seek "know-how" (management and planning of their own learning) as well as a fundamentally rational adherence.