Refugees and the Internet

Is the Internet radicalising the discourse on refugees in Europe? How are the social media steering public opinion on migrants? Are smartphones a catalyst for mass migration? In cooperation with »re:publica, the conference on internet and society in Berlin. We want to show how the refugee crisis is being portrayed on the web. Every two weeks we will be publishing a review of the debate on the topic, with voices from print and online media.

 Solidarity for a fraction of a second

No other picture from the refugee crisis has burned itself into the collective memory like that of the drowned refugee boy Alan Kurdi. But has the photo, which has been shared thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter, had any political impact?

 First comes the hatred, then the violence

In the refugee crisis people's inhibitions about making racist comments online have fallen away, commentators in Europe observe with alarm. How can this hatred be countered?

 Lies as a tool of power

Conspiracies and false reports about refugees are all the rage on the Internet these days. Pinpointing who initiated them is often a difficult task. Finding out who benefits is easier.

 A piece of home in their hands

For those fleeing war smartphones are playing a vital role – not just for their physical survival but also for their mental wellbeing. Smartphones are helping refugees to find their way and keep their hope alive.

  The Newcomers' Stories

In newspaper articles and on the social media, refugees are telling their stories, describing how they fled their country, their new life, the bureaucratic hurdles and the culture shocks. They also explain how chocolate bars and crochet help them feel a little bit more at home.