Natuur 2.0 : Het natuurdebat op social media

Summary

Social media are playing an increasingly important role in public debate. The aim of this analysis is to get a clear picture of how the subject of nature is represented on social media and how this affects the public debate on nature in the Netherlands. A range of software was used to collect social media posts about nature. These posts were then analysed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods at different levels (macro, meso, micro). The results show that nature is a live issue online and that it generally has positive connotations. At the same time, the confluence of different ideas about what nature really is can sometimes lead to heated discussions and a polarised debate. For a long time now the influence of this digital debate has extended beyond the online domain into the world of practical conservation management and nature policy.