Paper Short Abstract:

A hybrid research (in situ and online) of protest movements offers unprecedented challenges for an anthropologist. However, becoming part of a virtual community and studying its members also during face to face encounters can add fresh new intakes to issues of great significance for society.

Paper Abstract:

Cyberspace has often been a shelter for various groups menaced by political oppression or just by public shaming. Religious, ethnic, sexual or any other minority group can find on the web a realm of relief but also a battle camp. In the same time, Social Media has become the main resource for information and communication. Both audience and news professionals rely more and more on the insightfulness of the contributive content of Facebook, X, Instagram or You Tube. Studying in situ and online these types of cybersolidarities offers unprecedented challenges for an anthropologist. This paper aims to reveal such challenges met while conducting fieldwork on three social and political protest campaigns in Romania. First one was supporting an environmental cause (Save Rosia Montana), second one decried government corruption (#REZIST) and third one gathered anti-vaccine supporters during COVID-19 pandemic. Field research that involves participating in protest movements comprise certain risks that may hinder or contaminate data collection. Protest crowds are inherently affected by suspicion towards possible "infiltrators" and social researcher can fit the profile. On the other hand, emotional involvement in support for the cause can affect researcher’s objectivity. As can the lack of a good filter against misinformation and manipulation – which can occur on both forms of public manifestation (street protests and online activity).

All-in-all, becoming part of a virtual community and studying its members also during face to face encounters can add fresh new intakes to issues of great significance for society.