Morality and Political Identity Formation in Online Counterpublics
Morality and Political Identity Formation in Online Counterpublics
Name of applicant
Mads Skovgaard
Title
PhD
Institution
Scuola Normale Superiore and Malmö University
Amount
DKK 2,594,317
Year
2026
Type of grant
Internationalisation Fellowships
What?
This project is an interdisciplinary study of political influencers in Denmark, focusing on video content on platforms like TikTok, Twitch, and YouTube. The project will bridge perspectives from anthropology, media studies, and social movement research to understand how these actors shape political identities among Danish youth.
Why?
Most young Danes consume online video content daily, exposing them to political influencers across the political spectrum who blend politics with news, lifestyle, and humor. These actors are increasingly powerful in shaping how young people interpret and evaluate politics, making a better understanding of their role in Danish democracy urgent.
How?
The project employs systematic digital ethnography to map Danish political influencer networks and their content, combined with qualitative interviews with young Danes aged 18-24, examining how daily exposure to alternative political narratives shapes their moral orientations and political identities.