Work

The determinants and dynamics of Twitter-based interactions among candidates

Year: 2015

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: The case of the May 2014 Belgian elections offers a unique opportunity to investigatecampaign behaviors. We explore interactions between candidates on Twitter in the run up tothe elections of three different legislative bodies: the federal, regional and Europeanassemblies. We define interactions based on the flow of retweets and conversations (@)initiated by candidates. In so doing we capture dynamic interactions or networks, as opposedto a more static definition based on followers. These multilayer elections enable us to map thepositions of candidates, explore whether Twitter based networks go beyond the languagedivide (French/Flemish) and if ideological boundaries characterize candidates ‘interactions.Interactions are analysed using Ucinet. Finally, we explore the extent to which visibilitywithin the network of candidates is fully explained by candidates’ offline profiles.

Source: Dépôt institutionnel de l'Université libre de Bruxelles (Université Libre de Bruxelles)

Authors: Michaël Boireau, Matteo Gagliolo, Émilie Van Haute, Maria Laura Sudulich

Language: English

Topic: Social Media and Politics

Subfield: Communication

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W1549915910

FWCI: 1.917

Cites: 41

Cited by: 4

Related to: 10