Personal Emotions, Experiences and Attacks: Immigration Debate in Scandinavian Comment Sections

A battle for truth: Islam-related counterpublic discourse on Scandinavian news media Facebook pages

“…Previous studies have found that the Danish press tends to be harsher and more negative in its coverage than the Norwegian and, especially, the Swedish press (Hovden and Mjelde, 2019; Lundby et al, 2018). Researchers have also observed these differences in social media discourse (Andersen, 2019; Moe, 2019a, 2019b) and political and public discourses (Brochmann and Hagelund, 2012; Lövheim et al, 2018b). In light of previous research, the results presented in this study may indicate that a fundamental driver of online counterpublics’ popularity is that dominant public spheres do not satisfactorily represent their interests and needs.…”

“…The Scandinavian countries share central traits, such as long histories of cultural homogeneity and Lutheran state churches, as well as similar civil society development, welfare systems and media systems (Esping- Andersen, 1990;Gripsrud, 2019;Syvertsen et al, 2014), yet scholars who have carried out comparative analyses of Scandinavian media discourse on Islam and non-Western immigration have found that the Danish press tends be harsher and more negative in its coverage than the Norwegian and, especially, the Swedish press (Hovden and Mjelde, 2019;Lundby et al, 2018). Researchers have also observed these differences in social media discourse (Andersen, 2019;Moe, 2019aMoe, , 2019b and political and public discourses (Brochmann and Hagelund, 2012;Lövheim et al, 2018b). Brochmann (2018), however, described a convergence during the last few years, with Sweden becoming more similar to its neighbours, as Islam-and immigrant-critical viewpoints and actors, previously considered deviant, have become more legitimate.…”

Social Media Natives’ Invisible Online Spaces: Proposing the Concept of Digital Gemeinschaft 2.0

“…As research has emphasized the increasingly prominent role of social media for political communication and public issue contestation (e.g., Andersen, 2019; Skogerbø & Karlsen, 2021, p. 102), this article sheds light on the contingent nature of such participation. Specifically, it emphasizes perceptions of constraints and possibilities online shaped by Gesellschaft mechanisms.…”