Hilla Back Presented Research at HICSS-59 in Hawaii
On January 7th, 2026, Hilla Back, a researcher in WP4, presented her co-authored study at the 59th Hawaii International Conference on Systems Sciences (HICSS-59) in Hawaii, USA. HICSS is a leading international conference in the field of information systems and digital technologies.
The paper, titled “If You Move to Our Country, Learn the Language! A Netnography Approach to Studying Language Ideologies in Finland,” was co-authored by Hilla Back, Iaroslav Kriuchkov, and Philipp Back.
About the Study
The study explores how increasing migration influences language ideologies in Finland. Migration is often perceived both as a societal necessity and as a potential challenge to national values and norms. These contrasting views are reflected in public debates about language.
In non-Anglophone countries such as Finland, migration has coincided with an increased use of English as a common language. This development can contribute to polarized and sometimes nationalistic language ideologies , shared beliefs and attitudes about language within specific social groups.
A Netnographic Approach to Online Discussions
Using a netnographic approach, the researchers immersed themselves in several online communities to examine how these language ideologies are expressed and shaped in digital environments. The study draws on data from:
- Comment sections of Helsingin Sanomat, Finland’s largest broadsheet newspaper
- Discord communities
- Facebook discussions
The findings highlight how the affordances of digital technologies can evoke and intensify language-based groupings, contributing to the polarization of public discourse. By focusing on online platforms, the study extends research on language ideologies and sheds light on the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in socio-cultural polarization.
Hilla’s presentation at HICSS-59 represents one of her recent academic activities and contributes to ongoing international discussions on migration, language, and digital polarization.