CONTROVERSIES, PROBLEMATIC INFORMATION, AND POLARISATION: CASE STUDIES ACROSS SIX COUNTRIES

• DOI: 10.5210/spir.v2024i0.14090
• Publication Date: 2025-02-06T16:34:28Z
• Authors: Axel Bruns; Marco Bastos; Otávio Vinhas; Raquel Recuero; Felipe Soares; Laura Iannelli; Giada Marino; Danilo Serani; Augusto Valeriani; Tariq Choucair; Sebastian Svegaard; Laura Vodden; Daniel Whelan-Shamy; Alia Azmi; Jennifer Stromer-...

Political trends around the world have drawn further scholarly attention to study of polarisation, especially also as it is expressed and potentially deepened by public communication on digital social media platforms. The very concept polarisation itself, however, remains ill-defined in research, where often used a mere buzzword without sufficient definition – even spite wide range conceptual approaches that variously emphasise issue-centric, ideological, affective, interpretive, interactional, or other facets (Marino & Ianelli, 2023; Esau et al., 2023). Issue-centric connect with specific controversies, therefore align well controversy mapping related methodological frameworks. Especially they such controversies contexts, point significant intersections between circulation problematic information deepening partisan actors, asymmetrical nature contestations (where groups one side given are substantially more likely use support their cause than opposing them; Kreiss McGregor, Unfortunately, much recent research this field has continued focus small number key political emphasis US UK. This panel reviews evidence intersection information, through series case studies from six continents: North South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Oceania. In combination, these present comprehensive picture global similarities local differences. Paper 1 explores polarising impact disinformation campaigns favour incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro 2022 Brasilian presidential election. It reveals unusual bottom-up pattern produces reverse influence flow grassroots activists leaders complicates standard distinctions mis- disinformation; creates new challenges for fact-checking efforts. 2 examines dynamics Italian opinion response introduction COVID-19 restrictions early 2020. Drawing longitudinal survey data, identifies perspectives extreme communitarian libertarian, connects patterns legacy use, attitudes towards institutions, levels exposure disinformation. 3 compares divergent debates Indigenous rights Australia Aotearoa New Zealand. campaigning leading up Australia’s 2023 referendum greater recognition representation, highly contest flipped strong 60% No vote within less year. heated debate about Māori Zealand since election new, conservative coalition government, continuing Māori/non-Māori solidarity resistance reduction stemming 1840 Treaty Waitangi. 4 investigates Twitter measures combat sexual violence Indonesia came into effect 2021 2022. extensive content network analysis, shows that, diverging #metoo-style activism against discrimination, harassment, common Western agenda interpreted predominantly lens an underlying secular nationalist Islamist groupings world’s largest Muslim-majority democracy. 5 online abortion before after Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, focussing candidates’ messaging rights. Analysis Democrats’ Republicans’ posts issue, broader Facebook user engagement expected substantial differences parties, timeframes, five papers cover rich selection world. Extended abstracts all included submission.