Digital Memory Practices and Platform Narratives

How TikTok Remembers the Srebrenica Genocide

Abstract

This thesis investigates how historical narratives of the Srebrenica genocide are portrayed and remembered on TikTok. As the worst massacre in Europe since the Holocaust, and with its 30th anniversary in 2025, Srebrenica remains a crucial site of memory. Using Kuckartz’s qualitative content analysis, 20 TikTok videos and captions were studied. The sample was built through a serial analysis: 80 videos were first gathered by keyword searches, then reduced to 20 by selecting one per defined thematic container. Four key themes emerged: dominant narratives, counter narratives, platformisation of digital memory, and memory gaps. Common motives include the roles of women, the graveyard and Srebrenica flower, and slogans such as “Never forget Srebrenica”. Survivor testimonials and emotional and aesthetical portrayals amplify victim narratives, while genocide denial in the sample is marginal. The findings highlight how digital spaces shape and negotiate collective memory of Srebrenica.