Scrolling the War Feed: Social Media, Affect and the Ukrainian Diaspora’s Responses Towards the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

The emergence of social media has changed how war is experienced, even for those observing it from a distance. Endless war feeds offer unprecedented access to real-time warfare and civilians exposed to violence. By consuming these images, users not only gain first-hand access to the war zones but also actively become part of war narratives and possibly even digital „producers” of war (Hoskins, 2021).

In our presentation, we will explore the role of social media in mediating the Ukrainian diaspora's reactions to the Russian invasion, focusing particularly on the less-explored affective dimensions of digital engagement in the war. Social media has been a useful tool for staying in touch with family, friends, and familiar places in Ukraine, learning about the situation of troops and civilians on the ground, and raising awareness, support, and donations. However, the overwhelming presence of war feeds in the diaspora's daily lives also brings a multitude of negative emotions, including heightened anxiety, feelings of numbness, powerlessness, and a sense of disconnection.

Based on interviews with over 40 Ukrainians living abroad in Poland, Israel, and the USA at the time of the invasion, we explore how people have 'felt' their digital participation in the war effort across time and space. We also examine how they strive to shape, influence, or limit the amount of war-related content integrated into their daily social media use. These emerging findings are part of an ongoing multimodal research project with the Ukrainian diasporas in Poland, Israel, and the USA, titled "Engagement from Afar: A Multi-sited Ethnography of the Ukrainian Diaspora's Responses to War."