Reproduction of Anti-Immigrant Discourse Through Cartoons in the New Media: The Case of Platform X

OpenAlex İngilizce

Social media, built upon contemporary Web 2.0 technologies, has assumed many functions of traditional media and enables users to produce content at a professional level. Platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook embody core characteristics of new media — hypertextuality, dissemination, virtuality, and interactivity — generating significant societal influence. These platforms also facilitate the expression of hate speech through text, images, videos, poems, and cartoons, contributing to its normalization and spread. Cartoons, combining visual and verbal elements with satire, can reach wide audiences while delivering critical commentary. However, they may reproduce discriminatory, racist, sexist, or exclusionary narratives. The rapid circulation of such content amplifies hate speech, reinforcing social prejudices and marginalizing targeted groups under the guise of humor. Anti-immigrant discourse, in particular, is reproduced through various strategies on digital platforms. This study analyzes anti-immigrant hate speech in cartoons shared on X between January 1, 2015, and April 1, 2025, using keywords such as “immigrant,” “cartoon,” “Turkey,” and “Syria.” The cartoons were examined using Roland Barthes’s semiotic framework to explore how visual and linguistic codes construct anti-immigrant narratives.According to the findings that humor is frequently employed to legitimize othering, criminalization, and cultural discrimination. And also hate speech targeting migrants is concentrated around several dominant themes. Notably, narratives portraying migrants as an economic burden, a cultural threat, or a security risk frequently appear in the analyzed caricatures. These themes are often conveyed through humor, which facilitates the broader public’s acceptance and normalization of such content. The study emphasizes the need for enhanced media literacy and robust monitoring mechanisms on social media, aiming to contribute to both academic scholarship and societal awareness while addressing the boundaries between digital media ethics and freedom of expression.