Preserving Holocaust Testimonies in the Digital Era: Social Media Strategies for Engaging College Students with Oral History

Isabella Garcia Corrales

Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation

College: College of Liberal Arts

Major: BA.COMM/PUB/REL

Faculty Research Mentor: Adara Goldberg

Abstract:

Holocaust testimonies are undervalued and unknown by many people, particularly younger audiences, including college students. Previous studies have shown that certain media posts fail to convey multiple stories to specific audiences. This study examines the Holocaust Resource Center’s oral history testimony collection to develop a project plan that uses effective tools to communicate the HRC’s collections to students and researchers through platforms like Instagram.

Approximately 760 Instagram follower patterns were examined using a quantitative method through their social media activities, such as “likes” and comments on weekly testimony posts. The analysis measured the quantity of “likes” and views on reels posted on related Instagram accounts. The posts’ format, audience, follower engagement, and the length of information from the account holder in the comments section were evaluated.

The results indicate a significantly low engagement in correlation with the amount of Instagram followers and people who “liked” the media format. These findings suggest implementing engaging quotes accompanied by a portrait of the oral history participant, maintaining a consistent color palette, and releasing posts weekly to maintain consistency. If the proposal was ineffective, it was advised to resort to another solution, such as using other social media platforms to reach a broader audience. This research highlights the importance of Holocaust survivor testimonies and emphasizes the need to preserve and share these narratives among college students. It also recommends the use of the proposed social media strategies to ensure that these stories continue to reach younger generations.

Keywords:Social Media Engagement, College Students, Holocaust Testimonies.