Tweeting Grenfell: Discourse and networks in critical constructions of British Muslim social boundaries on social media

Downing, Joseph and Dron, Richard ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1464-4232 (2020) Tweeting Grenfell: Discourse and networks in critical constructions of British Muslim social boundaries on social media. New Media and Society, 22 (3). pp. 449-469. ISSN 1461-4448

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Abstract

The Grenfell fire has yet to be analysed to understand the event’s implications in relation to construction of social boundaries for British Muslims. In this current research, two methodological approaches are applied to gain understandings of social boundary construction on twitter: thematic analysis of the content of tweets and social network analysis (SNA) of how messages are diffused and contested. Twitter is shown to be an important platform in spreading positive narratives about Muslims during the fire, enabling individuals to spontaneously contest fake news and hate narratives. Social media acts counter to established knowledge, demonstrating that it is not, per se, a conduit for fake news and hate speech. Furthermore, it demonstrates how twitter offers Muslims an international space to voice and articulate themselves where they can be influential in debates that effect Muslim diasporas in other national contexts.