Take back the analysis: Five things you can actually learn about a conflict context from social media

This article outlines five key ways in which social media analysis – both automated and manual – can be a useful tool in understanding a conflict context, including the main narratives and sentiments circulating among social media users, as well as the prevalence and role of mis- and dis-information and hate speech.

The article offers a useful introduction into social media analysis for peacebuilders and mediators. It outlines five key ways in which social media analysis – both automated and manual –  can be a useful tool in understanding a conflict context, specifically: 1) general trends in narratives and sentiments; 2) insights on key topics of conversation; 3) understanding of who is communicating with who; 4) divisions, culture, and power dynamics; 5) the role of coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB) to spread rumors, misinformation, and propaganda.

Reference: El Mawla M., Tabet K. (2021, February 1). Take back the analysis: Five things you can actually learn about a conflict context from social media, ZIF Techpops.

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