Unlocking Outgroup Access Online: Evidence From Cyprus

In regions with frozen conflicts, where group divisions span not only geographical but also linguistic lines, how does the high cost of accessing the outgroup affect interethnic relations, and how can it be reduced? While online platforms offer a unique opportunity for unmediated cross-group interaction, this potential remains unrealized in linguistically divided contexts. To assess the impact of barriers to outgroup access online, I assigned Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking Cypriots to seek out outgroup content of personal interest over two weeks, aided by translation tools. The experiment showed, on average, significantly improved attitudes and behavioral intentions toward ethnic outgroups. By complementing the experimental data with interviews and analysis of online interactions, I theorize about the mechanisms driving the benefits of online outgroup immersion for individuals with limited offline outgroup exposure and examine how language barriers further constrain potential for online intergroup contact in deeply divided societies.