Mediating the “other,” Google Maps version: a critical discourse analysis of online reviews
Shirley Druker Shitrit
Abstract
Purpose This study aims to investigate whether and how modes of digital mediation pertaining to Rahat – the sole Arab Bedouin city in Israel – convey ideological meanings that reflect underlying power structures and sociocultural hierarchies. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative research design, this study uses critical discourse analysis to examine user-generated content on Google Maps Reviews. Specifically, it analyzes 2,216 reviews written in Hebrew by Jewish-Israeli visitors across 14 popular tourist sites in Rahat. Findings The analysis reveals a dual tendency in the discourse: on one hand, reviewers express fascination and appreciation for the local Bedouin culture. On the other hand, their evaluations often imply preferences for Western or “progressive” standards, suggesting a desire to reshape the local experience through an external cultural lens. The study concludes that while Rahat is portrayed as a site of unique hospitality and desert charm, the digital mediation simultaneously reproduces Orientalist assumptions and implicit biases toward Bedouin society. Originality/value This research offers a novel perspective on digital mediation as a bottom-up communicative practice that uncovers latent power relations and sociocultural hierarchies. It contributes to the discourse by highlighting the role of user-generated content in shaping perceptions of marginalized communities – particularly Arab Bedouins – within the digital sphere.
Evidence weight
Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40
| F · citation impact | 0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20 |
| M · momentum | 0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07 |
| V · venue signal | 0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03 |
| R · text relevance † | 0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20 |
† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.