A comparative study of English lexical variations based on gender on social networks: from 2015 Twitter to 2025 Twitter (x)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study explores and compares lexical variations on Twitter and X (formerly Twitter) as social networks, based on gender and gender homophily. Data were collected at ten-year intervals from the same platform. The first dataset was collected in 2015, with 400 tweets (200 female, 200 male) randomly selected using Wamp Server. Gender classification was confirmed manually and via test data. Tweets were analysed through categories adapted from Bamman (2014), including named entities, taboo and swear words, numbers, emotional terms, emoticons, kinship terms, abbreviations, hashtags, and pronounceable/non-pronounceable words, along with emerging categories such as political and romantic words. Frequencies were examined, and clusters were formed based on lexical similarity to analyse language independent of gender stereotypes. Gender homophily was investigated by examining the gender composition of twenty networks using binomial distribution. In 2025, data were recollected; due to restricted access, 200 tweets were manually compiled. Findings suggest that language use may be gendered within the dataset; however, digital language differs from real-life use. Female authors tended to use more political, emotional, and interactional language, while male authors used more romantic expressions. Female tweets also included more swear and taboo words, as well as more hashtags. Male networks exhibited gender homophily, whereas female networks did not. When 2015 and 2025 data were compared, several patterns reversed, particularly in hashtags and romantic words, with increased use by male and female authors respectively. Political words showed a more balanced distribution. Gender homophily patterns also shifted, with no clear evidence of homophily in 2025. / Keywords: Twitter, X, gender, lexical variations, gender, homophily, digital/virtual environment, sociolinguistics
Authors: Kamile Hamiloğlu, Buket Demirbüken
Institution: Marmara University
Topic: Gender Studies in Language
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Gender equality
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7154625532
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