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Figure 8 – Source: Total Original #BlackLivesMatter and #BlueLivesMatter Posts (Logged) - Wirtschafter, V. (2021, June 17) How George Floyd changed the online conversation around BLM | Brookings.
Furthermore, many far-right individuals even migrated to alternative media
platforms, such as Telegram, where content was less censored than mainstream
ones. This shift provided them with the freedom to spread more extreme content
and information and established an environment in which echo chambers could
thrive. Social media platforms essentially became recruiting grounds as
individuals sought out communities that aligned with their anti-BLM theories and
broader far-right ideologies. Far-right groups would then mobilise their followers
and coordinate counter-protests, allowing them to be strategically positioned
against BLM activists and escalate tensions.
Similar to the backlash against COVID-19 health measures, white
supremacists and far-right groups were able to leverage filter bubbles, echo
chambers, and media biases to gain traction and engage with like-minded
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