Constructing Hashtags into Weapons: Iran and Israel in the Arena of Cyber Diplomacy
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Abstract
The June 2025 cyber clash between Iran and Israel represents a turning point in digital diplomacy, where social media became a battleground for competing national narratives. Using a constructivist lens, this article explores how identity, norms, and symbolism are expressed through hashtags like #IranUnderAttack and #DefendingIsrael. Drawing on discourse analysis and data from DFRLab and DataReportal, the study finds that states increasingly utilize AI tools and culturally embedded messaging to influence legitimacy in real time. Hashtag campaigns function as digital proxies for deeper struggles over sovereignty and law. The role of AI systems—such as Grok—in shaping visibility and public sentiment is critically examined, revealing the algorithmic dynamics behind narrative dominance. Diaspora communities are shown to amplify state narratives, enhancing reach and resonance. This case highlights the evolving nature of cyber diplomacy, where digital virality, identity politics, and platform algorithms now define how states project influence and contest norms in the global arena
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