Threads of connection and contention: Social media linking Australian Indigenous and Jewish communities

Abstract

The global rise of social media over the past decade has meant that individuals are increasingly forming connections with others outside of their immediate social, geographical, or cultural contexts. Although there has been growing scholarly interest in how different cultural and religious communities operate on social media, very little is known about how these groups use these online spaces to engage with other communities. This article explores how social media is used as a mechanism for connection and contention between Australian Indigenous and Jewish communities. I argue that while these online spaces offer a unique opportunity for fostering meaningful connections between the two communities, these interactions are also shaped by inherent barriers that influence how these communities engage with each other online. As such, this article contributes to the growing body of scholarship exploring relationalities between minority communities in Australia.