ABSTRACT
This paper explores a fascinating digital space: the closed Facebook group titled “Yes, I’m a Second Generation Holocaust survivor”, which numbers 9,750 members. Based on interviews with the group’s admins, a survey among the members regarding their uses and gratifications, and a qualitative analysis of 315 posts and discussion, the paper presents six functions of social media for the Second Generation: The Referential-Educational Function as a classroom for the realm of memory; The Conative-Motivational Function to encourage participants to join Holocaust remembrance-related activity; The Emotive Function for sharing experiences and emotions; The Poetic Function as a safe space for sharing and reacting to artwork; The Metalingual-Deliberative Function as space to discuss definitions and identity; The Phatic-Performance Function for opening a channel of communication and developing a sense of belonging.
