Narrative Co-Evolution in Hybrid Social Networks: A Longitudinal Computational Analysis of Confucius Institutes
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigates the complex dynamics of public discourse surrounding Confucius Institutes (CIs) across the hybrid social networks of mainstream news and social platforms from 2010 to 2023. Employing a longitudinal, multi-platform design, we analyzed news articles and tweets using a computational framework combining topic modeling and sentiment analysis. Our results reveal a shared cross-platform narrative evolution from a "culture-first" to a "politics-central" orientation. However, the trajectory differed significantly: mainstream media underwent a gradual, policy-oriented shift, while social media exhibited an abrupt, nonlinear transition. Crucially, we identify an asymmetric interdependence: Twitter sentiment reliably Granger-causes mainstream media sentiment, establishing its role as a leading indicator, and systematic asymmetries in thematic framing reflect the divergent logics of each platform. The study demonstrates that public discourse on contested, state-linked institutions operates as a complex adaptive system, where bottom-up affective reactions and top-down editorial processes continuously interact in a dynamic equilibrium, ultimately co-constructing a fragmented public understanding.
Source: Entropy
DOI: 10.3390/e27121240
Authors: Ming Huang, Jun-Ling Wang, Zi-Ke Zhang
Institutions: Zhejiang University, Beihang University
Language: English
Subfield: General Social Sciences
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
Award: G4511606580
OpenAlex ID: W4417106964