Affective polarization and cyberviolence in the digital discourse of Brazilian politicians-influencers

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24137/raeic.12.23.8

Keywords:

Political influencer, digital discourse analysis, affective polarization

Abstract

In this study, we seek to analyze, based on the context of polarization (Iyengar et al., 2019; Ortellado et al., 2022; Zafrilla, 2022), how the strategies of cyberviolence (Paveau, 2021) and digital influencers are activated in the discourses of politicians-influencers. We carried out an analysis of digital discourse (Paveau, 2021), considering characteristics of the politician-influencer (Gandini, Ceron and Lodetti, 2022; Karhawi, 2023) that characterize the technodiscourses of parliamentarians André Janones and Nikolas Ferreira. We identified a predominance of cyberviolence through flamebait (Paveau, 2021) as a strategy and a constant presence in the community category (Gandini, Ceron and Lodetti, 2022; Karhawi, 2023) that can appear in a positive or negative way. The context of affective polarization favors and is favored by the politician-influencer who uses cyberviolence as a strategy for visibility on platforms.

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Author Biographies

  • Gabriela Pereira Melo, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM)

    PhD student in the Postgraduate Program in Communication at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), CAPES scholarship holder. Master in Communication and Society from the Federal University of Tocantins (UFT). Specialist in Teaching Communication/Journalism: Contemporary Themes (UFT). Bachelor in Social Communication, with a specialization in Journalism (UFT). Member of the Research Group Media, Discourse and Public Communication (CNPq/UFSM), of the Research Project "The New Public Communication: Humor and Emotion as a Discursive Strategy" (CNPq/UFSM) and the Research Group Studies on Disinformation in the Media Ecosystem (UFSM/CNPq).

  • Rejane de Oliveira Pozobon, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM)

    Full Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences at the Federal University of Santa Maria. Professor in the Postgraduate Program in Communication at the Federal University of Santa Maria. PhD in Communication Sciences from the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (2007), Master in Education from the Federal University of Santa Maria (2002), Bachelor in Journalism from the Federal University of Santa Maria (2000) and Bachelor in Public Relations from the Federal University of Santa Maria (1998). Areas of interest: Public Communication; Politics; Media; Political Discourse; Journalistic Discourse; Media Discourse; Government Discourse. Leader of the Research Group "Media, Discourse and Public Communication" (UFSM/CNPq).

References

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Published

2025-04-07

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 23 (2025): Comunicación política y participación digital

Section

Thematic issue

How to Cite

Affective polarization and cyberviolence in the digital discourse of Brazilian politicians-influencers. (2025). Revista De La Asociación Española De Investigación De La Comunicación, 12(23), raeic122308. https://doi.org/10.24137/raeic.12.23.8