Social Media Discourse Analysis
Summary
Social Media Discourse Analysis examines the ways in which individuals and groups communicate, construct meaning and negotiate social identities across digital platforms. It combines methods from linguistics, sociology, communication studies and data science to explore patterns of language use, power relations and emergent norms in online conversations. Researchers employ text mining and sentiment analysis to trace emotional valence, social network analysis to map clusters of influence and netnography to delve into the cultural practices of virtual communities. By analysing hashtags, memes and multimodal content, the field reveals how discourse shapes public opinion, mobilises activism and influences policy debates. Practical applications span from monitoring health misinformation and crisis communication to informing marketing strategies and promoting digital literacy.
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Social Media Discourse Analysis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in social media discourse analysis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Discourse analysis: Systematic examination of language use and communication patterns within social contexts.
Netnography: Ethnographic method tailored to studying online cultures through virtual observation and interaction.
Hashtag: Metadata tag formed by a hash symbol used to categorise and track thematic content on social platforms.
Social network analysis: Analytical framework for mapping and measuring relationships and flows between actors in social media.
References
- Building bridges or digging the trench? International organizations, social media, and polarized fragmentation. The Review of International Organizations (2023).
- The influence of Twitter hashtags in building supportive online communities for parents of children with special needs. Journal of Technology and Science Education (2024).
- Research using hashtags: A meta-synthesis. Frontiers in Sociology (2022).
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