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Human rights activists increasingly use social media to address war crimes denial by raising awareness, mobilizing support, and fostering community conversations. War crimes denial harms survivors, obstructs reconciliation between ethnic groups, and escalates the risk of further violence. While social media visibility is often seen positively, its unintended consequences on inhibiting acknowledgment of ingroup responsibility are often overlooked. This study examines social media’s role in facilitating acknowledgment of ingroup war crimes and its implications. Social media positions individuals globally, shaping perceptions of national identity and influencing discussions on war legacies. Individuals may feel pressured to defend their country’s reputation on social media, impacting how they discuss war legacies compared to face-to-face interactions. The study focuses on the #sedamhiljada initiative in Serbia, analyzing differences between online and offline discussions about the Srebrenica genocide. Face-to-face interactions are more conducive to acknowledging ingroup responsibility compared to social media, where fears of reinforcing negative stereotypes inhibit acknowledgment. These findings highlight how social media visibility may deter acknowledgment of war crimes. Mechanisms explaining this include stereotype threat theory and cultural intimacy concepts. The study discusses the empirical findings and identifies three dominant manifestations of stereotype threat in post-conflict contexts from both social media and focus group data.
The reluctance to acknowledge war crimes on social media can be attributed to stereotype threat, particularly when acts are public. Stereotyping involves categorizing experiences and emphasizing differences between groups, which can influence individuals’ perceptions and behaviors. This can lead to a fear of being negatively stereotyped based on one’s group identity, known as stereotype threat, which may result in individuals avoiding activities that could trigger stereotypes. In post-conflict contexts, this fear may prevent acknowledgment of ingroup responsibility for war crimes to avoid reinforcing negative perceptions.
Two subtypes of stereotype threat, own-reputation threat and group-reputation threat, may arise in public interactions like those on social media. These threats involve concerns about personal or group judgment based on stereotypes, impacting individuals’ behavior and willingness to acknowledge wrongdoing. Studies suggest that individuals may prioritize maintaining self-esteem and social status, both personally and nationally, contributing to the avoidance of acknowledging war crimes.
Furthermore, the symbolic implications of stereotype threat extend to concerns about reputation on a global scale, affecting economic development and livelihoods. Additionally, individuals may desire acceptance within international communities, influencing their willingness to acknowledge wartime atrocities publicly. Overall, understanding the role of stereotype threat and its impact on acknowledgment of war crimes requires considering both psychological and symbolic factors, as well as the influence of societal perceptions and global contexts.
Cultural intimacy, a concept distinguishing public and private behaviors, sheds light on disparities in addressing war crimes on social media versus face-to-face encounters. Public acts are guided by one’s public image, while private behavior stems from personal attitudes. Cultural intimacy involves recognizing aspects of cultural identity privately acknowledged despite external embarrassment. This concept extends to national identity, where individuals defend their nation’s image akin to protecting family honor. Studies suggest social media fosters bonding for marginalized groups and aids national identity construction through self-mockery and hashtag alignments. However, there’s a distinction between intimacy and familiarity; intimacy involves secrecy from outsiders. Nation-states similarly present differently internationally versus privately, influenced by external audiences. Greater social media visibility may influence acknowledgment of ingroup responsibility for war crimes, as seen in Serbia’s contradictory private and public stances toward the International Criminal Tribunal. Individuals may privately condemn atrocities but fear public condemnation or stereotype threats on social media. While social media visibility can raise awareness, it also exposes individuals to criticism and stereotype threats, especially in contexts with limited media freedoms. The impact of social media affordances like visibility varies contextually, challenging assumptions of digital universalism. In post-conflict contexts, increased visibility may invite unwanted scrutiny, affecting international recognition and social standing. Therefore, this paper aims to explore how social media visibility shapes discussions of war legacies and facilitates acknowledgment of ingroup war crimes, particularly focusing on intra-ethnic interactions in Serbia.
Scholarly interest in online memory activism has surged, noting its positive impact on disseminating alternative war legacies while highlighting drawbacks like limited dialogue. Yet, little attention has been paid to how social media visibility affects acknowledging in-group human rights violations, crucial for reconciliation. Nations often conceal war legacies due to reputational damage fears. Research delves into unintended symbolic effects of mediated visibility, focusing on Serbia’s #sedamhiljada initiative. Fear of negative stereotypes, especially on social media, impedes acknowledgment, aligning with Herzfeld’s concept of cultural intimacy. Individuals may feel tied to their nation’s image, defending it despite private criticisms. Social media’s role in discourse shift regarding war legacies is limited due to increased visibility, unveiling negative consequences in post-conflict settings. Other responses to stereotype threat, like hiding or redefining identity, are possible. Identity threat can stem from fear of being perceived as a ‘bad ambassador.’ Hostile online environments discourage dialogue, supplementing existing knowledge on social media’s role in acknowledgment facilitation. Future research could explore participants’ perspectives on social media usage and media’s influence on public perceptions of stereotype avoidance. Understanding these dynamics is vital for civil society and human rights activists leveraging social media for post-conflict justice and reconciliation in constrained public spaces.
Source:
Sanja Vico (2024) Social Media, Stereotypes, and the Acknowledgement of War Crimes, Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, DOI: 10.1080/17502977.2024.2316747