Abstract
In the aftermath of the Ukraine-Russia war, global disruptions in political, economic, and security domains raised pressing questions about their implications for international stability. This study delves into the role of X (formerly Twitter) in spreading information and influencing public opinion during this war, with a specific emphasis on tweets centered around spokespersons from the EU, UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Our analysis of English tweets revealed a pronounced preference for content referencing EU and UK spokespersons, suggesting a unified European perspective in the context of the war. While there were observable correlations between the volume of discussions on X and the war casualties over a period of seven months, these relationships varied in statistical significance slightly, highlighting the nuanced impact of real-world events on digital discourse. A sentiment analysis (using the RoBERTa-base model) brought to light varied emotional patterns. While discussions about the EU spokesperson predominantly echoed negative sentiments, reflecting public apprehensions about the war's repercussions, conversations about Germany were largely positive. These insights offer a window into the global emotional zeitgeist, underlining the profound influence of geopolitical events on public sentiment. Although this study sheds light on the complex nexus between social media, official representations, and public sentiment amid geopolitical turmoil, its focus primarily on English-language tweets and specific spokespersons denotes its limitations. Future research endeavors are encouraged to deepen the multifaceted role of social media in sculpting narratives during global crises.
Author Information
Xiaoxue Liu, Nagoya University, Japan
Tatsuhiro Yamamoto, Nagoya University, Japan
Paper Information
Conference: BAMC2023
Stream: Communication
This paper is part of the BAMC2023 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Liu X., & Yamamoto T. (2023) The Spread of Information and Sentiment About the Ukraine-Russia War on X: An Analysis of Spokesperson ISSN: 2435-9475 – The Barcelona Conference on Arts, Media & Culture 2023: Official Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2435-9475.2023.1
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2435-9475.2023.1
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