Kintsugi-Inspired Design: Communicatively Reconstructing Identities Online After Trauma

Trauma can disrupt one's sense of self and mental well-being, leading survivors to reconstruct their identities in online communities. Drawing from 30 in-depth interviews, we present a sociotechnical process model that illustrates the mechanisms of online identity reconstruction and the pathways to integration. We introduce the concept of fractured identities, reflecting the enduring impact of trauma on one's self-concept. We also conceptualize grief bubbles—algorithmic recommendations that concentrate on the traumatic aspects of users' identities, hindering identity integration. Our findings challenge the assumptions of Goffman's dramaturgy framework and extend Hecht's communication theory of identity, demonstrating how personal-enacted identity gaps manifest within online spaces. We also discuss how trauma-informed online communities can reflect the principles of Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, symbolizing a renewed sense of self, before concluding with design recommendations. *Trigger warnings: Intimate partner violence, addiction, mental illness, sexual abuse, psychological maltreatment, violence, and incarceration.