Finland's Shift on NATO: How a War Changed Minds

Finland's stance on NATO was once a hot topic that divided people based on their political views. However, Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2022 changed everything. Suddenly, many Finns who were against joining NATO started to see things differently. Before the invasion, there were three main groups on Finnish Twitter: those who supported NATO, those who opposed it for political reasons, and a smaller group that spread conspiracy theories against NATO. After Russia invaded Ukraine, something interesting happened. The political group that was against NATO started to connect more with the pro-NATO group. They began to agree on one thing: Russia's actions were wrong. But the group that believed in conspiracy theories? They stayed in their own bubble. They didn't change their minds, even after the invasion. This shows that while a big event like a war can bring people together on certain issues, some groups might still hold onto their beliefs, no matter what. So, what does this tell us? It shows that when people face a common threat, they can put their differences aside. But it also shows that misinformation and conspiracy theories can be hard to shake off. It's a reminder that while change is possible, it's not always easy.