A study from the University of Liverpool, which analyzed more than 200,000 tweets from 2019 and 2020, found that anti-immigration content spreads faster than pro-immigration messages, with a small number of users responsible for most of the anti-immigration posts in the UK.

Social media platforms are often blamed for intensifying debates around immigration. Factors like growing online polarization, the influence of key figures, and the rapid spread of anti-immigration sentiment are believed to shape the conversation. However, few studies have quantified these effects. To fill this gap, the researchers examined 220,870 immigration-related tweets posted in the UK between December 2019 and April 2020, using advanced language processing and social network analysis to study the dynamics of these discussions.

A clear divide

Their findings revealed a clear divide between pro- and anti-immigration groups. While the pro-immigration community was 1.69 times larger in number, the anti-immigration group was more active and engaged with one another’s content more frequently. Anti-immigration tweets spread 1.66 times faster than pro-immigration ones.

Interestingly, just 1% of anti-immigration users produced about 23% of the content in their group, whereas the top 1% of pro-immigration users were responsible for around 12% of their community’s tweets. Bots accounted for less than 1% of the most active users on either side, suggesting limited impact from automated accounts.

The researchers expressed concern over the potential for online anti-immigration content to lead to real-world harm, including violence. Based on their results, they suggest that tracking highly active anti-immigration users could help reduce the spread of harmful content. They also note that future studies should address limitations, such as whether their sample truly represents the entire UK population.

“A concentrated effort by a few can amplify a message far beyond its origins, shifting the power dynamics of social media,” the authors write. “The speed at which anti-immigration content spreads is not only alarming, it’s dangerous. Recent events in England show how quickly online narratives can fuel real-world violence.”