Social media, deliberative communication and conflict management: Reflections based on the example case of Freiburg Im Breisgau (Germany)

Recreation in forests may be conceived of as a common pool resource. This resource degrades if a too large number of recreationists or recreationists with too different activities populate the forest. In such cases conflicts due to resource degradation might occur. Deliberative communication is a respectful form of communication, which enables individuals to develop a mutual understanding and realize accepted solutions. Deliberative communication might take various forms, also being mediated by social media. These media, however, contain specific challenges. By taking the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) Framework by Ostrom (2010) as a conceptual base, the commentary looks at the conflict between cyclists and other forest visitors in Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany) to discuss whether and how social media posts could live up to the principles of deliberative communication and thus contribute to the mitigation of recreational conflicts in forests. Results show that social media posts host a great opportunity for deliberative communication, enhancing interactivity, rationality, constructiveness, empathy and a common-good reference. However, there are shortcomings of social media as well, which relate to the communication's solution-orientation and the inclusion of silent voices. Moderation of communication on social media appears to be a complex undertaking. • Deliberative formats can help to defuse conflicts between cyclists and other recreationists in the forest. • Deliberative formats were applied in the form of communicative experiments on social media. • Deliberative communication in the context of social media requires good moderation.