"I stand up for us". Muslims’ feelings of stigmatization in response to terrorism on social media
- Author(s)
- Ruta Kaskeleviciute, Helena Knupfer, Jörg Matthes
- Abstract
Terrorism has the potential to divide societies. It is particularly relevant to investigate how Islamist terrorism on social media is associated with Muslim minorities’ attitudes and behaviors. This study examined how seeing terrorism on social media relates to Muslim minority individuals’ perceived stigmatization. We further investigated how perceived stigmatization translates to social media behaviors, namely, terror-related online self-disclosure and correction of false information about religion. A survey among German Muslims (N = 432) showed that social media use for information about terrorism was positively associated with perceived stigmatization. This relationship was moderated by individuals’ national identity, but not religious identity. Perceived stigmatization, in turn, positively predicted terror-related online self-disclosure and correction of false information about religion. The findings accentuate the role of social media use for minorities to cope and stand up for their in-group in the face of terror.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Communication
- Journal
- New Media & Society
- ISSN
- 1461-4448
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448241236712
- Publication date
- 02-2024
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 508007 Communication science
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Communication, Sociology and Political Science
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- Portal url
- https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/i-stand-up-for-us-muslims-feelings-of-stigmatization-in-response-to-terrorism-on-social-media(b1dd8418-ab12-4196-8774-29cb9ac6db81).html