Mediating the Black Pete discussion on Facebook: Slacktivism, flaming wars, and deliberation

Authors

  • Karin van Es Department of Media Studies, University of Amsterdam
  • Daniela van Geenen Utrecht Data School, Utrecht University
  • Thomas Boeschoten Utrecht Data School, Utrecht University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v19i12.5570

Abstract

In this paper we counter the idea that Facebook is a unified medium and stress the need to analyze the distinct qualities of its pages. We do so by exploring the Black Pete discussion on Facebook that ignited when United Nations investigator Verene Shepherd held a plea for the Dutch government to abolish the Saint Nicholas tradition, which features a black-face character, Black Pete. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are employed to interrogate how Facebook mediates this discussion in terms of divergent formatted spaces of participation. Reflecting on our findings against the notions of deliberation, slacktivism and flaming wars, we consider the particular features and potentials of different types of mediation.

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Published

2014-11-26

How to Cite

van Es, K., van Geenen, D., & Boeschoten, T. (2014). Mediating the Black Pete discussion on Facebook: Slacktivism, flaming wars, and deliberation. First Monday, 19(12). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v19i12.5570