This chapter reflects on how the interplayb etween national media frames and discourses,s ocial media, and user-generated content works out in practice in civic settings. It argues thatw hile social media in theory break national elites' representational monopoly, in practice successfulc hallenges (which would shift massmedia framesand overall public opinion) are rare; rather,v oicing of alternative views mostlyr esults in the formationo fn etworked counter-publics, with potential to challengem

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... ainstream views but also to increase polarization. These dangers mayb ee xacerbatedb ya ni ncreasingly uneven spatial distribution of both religious diversity and anti-immigrant sentiment,s hown in levels of religious participation by ethnicity and voting patterns by region. The challenges posed for local governance by this situation are outlined, and possible solutions brieflyc onsidered, drawing on evidence from the literaturesonsuperdiversity,contact theory,and political participation.