The attention economy, social media addiction, & the loneliness epidemic: A content analysis of YouTube video essays
Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This study provides a content analysis of YouTube video essays on the attention economy, social media addiction, and the loneliness epidemic. The study analyzes the rhetoric and language of these essays to explore how the attention economy is being framed, how social media’s effects are discussed, and how essayists utilize social media to discuss social media. The sample is a selection of YouTube video essays purposively gathered by searching YouTube to identify video essays that fit the criteria. The data is then analyzed using inductive coding to explore common themes. The study provides an exploratory overview of YouTube video essay discourse on the topics and provides inspiration for further research into the topics as well as video essays as a form.
DOI: 10.17615/ggwg-5189
Author: Godar, Kathleen
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Language: English
Subfield: Computer Networks and Communications
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7154689433
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