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When Facebook Is the Internet: The Role of Social Media in Ethnic Conflict

Author

Listed:
  • Tuuli Tähtinen
Abstract
This paper investigates whether social media affects the intensity of ethnic conflict. To distinguish the potential effects of social media from those of the broader internet, I focus on the ongoing Myanmar conflict because in such context internetis mainly accessed via Facebook. To identify the causal effect of social media on conflict, I take advantage of a shock in Facebook availability and use local variation in cell phone coverage as an exogenous determinant of social media use. Results indicate that on average social media availability reduced the occurrence of conflict. The analysis, however, reveals important regional differences suggesting that inflammatory content on social media may escalate conflict in areas where ethnic tensions are particularly high.

Suggested Citation

  • Tuuli Tähtinen, 2021. "When Facebook Is the Internet: The Role of Social Media in Ethnic Conflict," Economics Working Papers EUI ECO 2021/01, European University Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:eui:euiwps:eco2021/01
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    internet; social media; conflict; propaganda; Myanmar; Rohingya;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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