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Communication, power, and social media: the influence of the network society on contemporary conflict
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614083409248256 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Ingram, Donna |
| author2 | Lambrechts, Derica |
| author_browse | Ingram, Donna Lambrechts, Derica |
| author_facet | Lambrechts, Derica Ingram, Donna |
| author_sort | Ingram, Donna |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131677 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:23.902Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131677 Communication, power, and social media: the influence of the network society on contemporary conflict Ingram, Donna Lambrechts, Derica Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. Computer networks -- 21st century Internet personalities -- 21st century Hybrid warfare -- 21st century Information society -- 21st century UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. Throughout the 21st Century, network technology has emerged as a powerful tool of communication. The right to the freedom of speech has been made readily accessible to those with a cell phone and internet connection. Platforms such as TikTok, X (formally known as Twitter), and Facebook have become instrumental to people’s everyday lives. As such, it is important to study how contemporary uses of social media may influence conflicts. The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine serves as a case study in this regard, as social media has played a critical role spreading real-time updates, and propagating misinformation and disinformation. This study analyses how social media has been utilised in conflict, its potential influence on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and its contribution to the broader dynamics of information warfare. The research utilizes Castells' (1996) network society framework to analyse social media as an online society and its role in conflict. This framework identifies three critical dimensions: the compression and acceleration of time in the digital age, the reconfiguration of spatial relationships, and the decentralization of power dynamics. The key findings of this study suggest that social media has influenced the dynamics of conflict, such as civilians posting real-time updates about attacks, and state-driven bot networks pushing misinformation and disinformation. As the global amplification of narratives becomes possible and the fragmented nature of information consumption shapes public discourse, researching methods to protect epistemic security should continue. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen Afrikaanse opsomming beskikbaar nie. Masters 2025-02-05T09:54:57Z 2025-02-05T09:54:57Z 2024-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131677 en Stellenbosch University 121 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Computer networks -- 21st century Internet personalities -- 21st century Hybrid warfare -- 21st century Information society -- 21st century UCTD Ingram, Donna Communication, power, and social media: the influence of the network society on contemporary conflict |
| title | Communication, power, and social media: the influence of the network society on contemporary conflict |
| title_full | Communication, power, and social media: the influence of the network society on contemporary conflict |
| title_fullStr | Communication, power, and social media: the influence of the network society on contemporary conflict |
| title_full_unstemmed | Communication, power, and social media: the influence of the network society on contemporary conflict |
| title_short | Communication, power, and social media: the influence of the network society on contemporary conflict |
| title_sort | communication power and social media the influence of the network society on contemporary conflict |
| topic | Computer networks -- 21st century Internet personalities -- 21st century Hybrid warfare -- 21st century Information society -- 21st century UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131677 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ingramdonna communicationpowerandsocialmediatheinfluenceofthenetworksocietyoncontemporaryconflict |