Mon Sep 09 14:48:45 UTC 2024: ## Ancient History Used to Justify Extreme Political Views on Social Media
A new study, published in PLOS ONE by researchers from UCL and the University of Edinburgh, has found that references to ancient history on social media are often used to promote extreme and hostile political views.
The study, which analyzed nearly 1.5 million Facebook posts related to Brexit, found that users invoking the Iron Age, Roman, or medieval periods in Britain were more likely to hold extreme positions and express negative sentiments.
Researchers used AI and manual analysis to determine the emotional tone of posts referencing ancient history. Their analysis revealed a clear correlation between historical references and the expression of hostile and polarized views.
Lead author Dr. Chiara Bonacchi stated, “The ancient past is often used to express political identities. Our research shows that various periods of pre-modern British history are most commonly invoked to advocate and justify negative and extreme positions.”
This research highlights a concerning trend of using history to fuel online political divides. It emphasizes the need for critical analysis of online discourse and the potential dangers of misusing history to justify extreme ideologies.
The study calls for greater awareness of the role of history in online political debates and encourages users to be cautious about accepting claims based on historical narratives, especially those promoting extreme viewpoints.
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