Digital memory landscapes: the role of social media in contemporary memory politics

Abstract

The proliferation of digital media has fundamentally transformed how historical events and ideological narratives are constructed, contested, and transmitted across societies. This article examines the role of social media platforms in contemporary memory politics, with a particular focus on how state and non-state actors utilize digital communication tools to shape collective memory and historical consciousness. Through analysis of the Russo Ukrainian War since 2014 and its broader implications for European democracy, this study demonstrates how social media has become a critical battleground for memory wars that extend far beyond national borders, and how digital platforms have become key battlegrounds in hybrid warfare. The research acknowledges computational methods as valuable tools for future studies, particularly in examining how algorithmic systems may amplify cer tain historical narratives while suppressing others, potentially altering the traditional landscape of memory politics. The findings suggest that digital platforms have created new forms of “connective memory” that challenge estab lished institutional frameworks for historical transmission, requiring urgent attention from policymakers and scholars concerned with democratic resilience and information integrity