Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Despite the significant role social media played in mobilizing Black Lives Matter supporters, political science research on this topic focuses on the years before the massive mobilizations in 2020. This paper draws on a novel dataset of BLM chapters’ tweets during the George Floyd protests to examine the language activists used to facilitate protests during the movement’s peak public support. Despite having more experience mobilizing followers, older chapters were less likely to encourage followers to pursue change through conventional electoral politics even in the midst of a presidential election year. Instead, older chapters were more likely to share educational resources or media that cultivated a collective identity among supporters and followers.
Author: Arica Schuett
Institution: University of Notre Dame
Language: English
Topic: Social Media and Politics
Subfield: Communication
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,550
Funder: University of California, Irvine
OpenAlex ID: W7215116366