Work

Network Analysis of Water Contamination Discourse on Social Media Platforms

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This study examines water contamination issues using social media data (n = 420.7 k) to unveil the roles and patterns from the top 10 most influential users in their respective networks determined by their reply, retweet, and mention networks. Findings from RQ1 show diverse entities within this group, encompassing political figures, organizations, cause-related actors (e.g., EPA), educational institutions, and high-activity accounts all contribute to the discourse on water contamination. While RQ2 sought to examine the evolution of discourse regarding water contamination and its related dynamics, instead, communication “shocks”, or deviations from typical discourse that returned to the original state, were identified, rather than revolutionary moments on social media that triggered long-term changes.

Source: Water

DOI: 10.3390/w16233406

Authors: Rebecca Katherine Ivic-Britt, Courtney D. Boman, Amy Ritchart, Brian Christopher Britt, Matthew S. VanDyke

Institution: University of Alabama

Language: English

Topic: Public Relations and Crisis Communication

Subfield: Communication

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,955