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Polarization and Networked Framing on Social Media

New WJDS paper out: “Polarization and Networked Framing. The Syrian and Ukrainian Refugee Crises on X/Twitter”, by Sercan Kiyak, Stefan Mertens, David De Coninck, and Leen d'Haenens (all KU Leuven).

In their study, the authors examine the dynamics of political communication on Twitter/X during the refugee crises of 2015 and 2022, focusing on polarization, interactions, influential users, and the dynamic networked framing of the crises.

Among other findings, the analysis highlights that the online anti-refugee community exhibited greater dynamism despite being smaller in size than the pro-refugee community in both cases, as well as a decline in the influence of “elite media.” In conclusion, the authors emphasize the need to reduce destructive polarization on social media.

You can read the full article here.