From Brethren to Burden? Threat Narratives and the Construction of Refugees on Egyptian Social Media: A Mixed-Methods Study

This study utilizes a mixed-methods design (survey N = 389; focus groups N = 17) to examine xenophobic hate speech against Syrian and Sudanese refugees among Egyptian social media users. We identify dominant “threat narratives”—specifically economic burden and security risks—amplified primarily through Facebook. Results highlight a complex dynamic where economic precarity drives hostility yet coexists with humanitarian ambivalence. The findings suggest that despite skepticism toward platform accuracy, social media may contribute to scapegoating perceptions within this sample during periods of crisis. The article concludes by recommending structural interventions, including platform accountability and targeted media literacy, to mitigate digital xenophobia in the Global South context.