Social Media and the Functioning of Historical Knowledge in Poland: A Research Report

This study presents the results of a nationwide survey on how social media shape historical awareness among Polish Internet users. Based on responses from over 2,200 participants, the authors analyze the role of Facebook and YouTube as environments where historical narratives are produced, consumed, and emotionally negotiated.

The research integrates classical theories of historical consciousness (Pomorski, Szacka) with insights from media studies and digital culture (Manovich, Burgess & Green, MacLuhan). It reveals that while social media users value content for accessibility and form, many still differentiate between scholarly and anecdotal knowledge. The study also identifies tensions between entertainment, education, and ideology in the online representation of the past.

By combining quantitative and interpretive approaches, the paper contributes to the development of computational and digital historiography in Central Europe.