Redes sociales: Un Escenario Propicio para la Propagación de la Xenofobia

Abstract

Xenophobia in Colombia has increased with the massive arrival of Venezuelan migrants. As of October 2022, the country hosts around 2.9 million Venezuelans—more than the population of Medellín. In fact, Colombia is the country that has received the most Venezuelan migrants in the world. This phenomenon has led to prejudice, especially on social media, where there is an abundance of messages linking migration to crime. According to the Xenophobia Barometer, the rate of rejection toward Venezuelans rose from 9% to 12% in one year, and 55% of the content about migration on social networks revolves around crime. In this context, communication plays a key role in spreading hate speech. All of this is part of the research line of the Faculty of Social Communication: “Communication and peace – narratives, representations, and media technologies.” That is why we have decided to start this research process, which aims to contribute to and expand this field of study. Academia, like other sectors such as markets and commerce, is a space that receives migrants and, due to the nature of the academic environment, allows for the qualification and improvement of communication.