Social Media and the Collective Memory of History in Algeria: The Dialectic Between Civic Reappropriation and Fragmentation of Narratives
Abstract
Our research provides an in-depth examination of the role of digital social networks, particularly Twitter/X, in shaping and fragmenting collective memory in Algeria. In our case, we focus on a highly symbolic date in Algeria, namely the commemoration of 1 November 1954, which marks the outbreak of the National Liberation War. Algeria, having gained independence after 132 years of colonial domination and more than seven years of intense armed struggle (1954–1962), remains deeply engaged in processes of memorial construction (Karim Salhi, 2024, p. 83). For this purpose, the research mobilizes two central concepts: collective memory and digital social networks. While Algerian collective memory has long been mediated through traditional communication channels, the rise of digital platforms Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram and others has reconfigured these practices by creating new spaces for expression, circulation and civic reappropriation of historical narratives. These interactive environments foster a multiplicity of discourses that do not necessarily converge toward a unified memory, thereby producing forms of discursive fragmentation. The study focuses on how social networks, particularly Twitter/X, contribute to the construction and continual reactivation of collective memory related to Algeria’s national history. The analysis centres on the hashtag #1erNovembre1954, associated with the commemoration of the outbreak of the War of Liberation. Methodologically, a thematic and statistical content analysis was conducted on a corpus of 400 tweets extracted from this hashtag using the online TAGS application, covering the commemorative period from 31 October to 2 November for the years 2023 and 2024 (see Appendix 1). Data cleaning procedures (removal of duplicates, automated retweets, and non-textual tweets) were performed using the same tool. After this processing phase, a final sample of 40 tweets was obtained, classified and coded according to several thematic categories: patriotic exaltation, homage to martyrs, historical references and hybrid memorial configurations linking the Algerian Revolution to other struggles.
Results show a predominant presence of commemorative and patriotic registers structured around references to martyrs, the Revolution, and the foundational values of independence. The analysis highlights a stable lexical core with a strong symbolic density, as well as various forms of memorial hybridization particularly the recurrent association between the Algerian Revolution and the Palestinian cause. Overall, the findings reveal a plurality of institutional, civic, and activist narratives, illustrating a diversified and fragmented digital memorial landscape.
Keywords: Social media, Collective memory, Algeria, #1erNovembre1954
