Digital contention in a divided society: Social media, parades and protests in Northern Ireland

How are platforms such as Facebook and Twitter (now X) used by citizens to frame contentious parades and protests in ‘post-conflict’ Northern Ireland? What do these contentious episodes tell us about the potential of information and communication technologies to promote positive intergroup contact in the deeply divided society?

These issues are addressed in what is the first in-depth qualitative exploration of how social media channels were used during the union flag protests (December 2012...