With the emergence of discussion platforms like Twitter, the hopes rose that computer mediated public sphere would become more even in access to discussion than mass-mediatized public sphere of the late 20th century. Scholars have argued that it will eventually form an 'opinion crossroads' where conflicts would be discussed by all the parties involved. But today, existing research provides mixed evidence on whether ordinary users, rather than mainstream media and institutional actors, can become influencers in discussions on current issues, e.g. relations between host and migrant communities. We focus on the Twitter discussion about an inter-ethnic conflict in Moscow's Biryuliovo district in 2013, as well as the comparative 'calm' period in March 2014, and look at who were real influencers by reconstructing the discussion's web graph, as well as analyzing and juxtaposing its metrics to figures indicating user activity. Our results show that ad hoc discussion differs dramatically from an issue based one in terms of the influencer nature and composition; the role of active tweeting is questioned. We also show that nationalist accounts play a much bigger role than expected in both periods.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSGEM 2016, BK 1: PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY, SOCIOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS, VOL II
PublisherSTEF92 Technology Ltd.
Pages73-80
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)978-619-7105-71-1
StatePublished - 2016
Event3rd International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conference on Social Sciences and Arts, SGEM 2016 - Flamingo Grand Congress Center, Albena Resort, Albena, Bulgaria
Duration: 24 Aug 201630 Aug 2016
Conference number: 3
https://www.dvfu.ru/science/conference/3rd_international_multidisciplinary_scientific_conferences_on_social_sciences_and_arts_sgem_2016/
https://www.sgemsocial.org/

Publication series

NameInternational Multidisciplinary Scientific Conferences on Social Sciences and Arts
PublisherSTEF92 TECHNOLOGY LTD
ISSN (Print)2367-5659

Conference

Conference3rd International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conference on Social Sciences and Arts, SGEM 2016
Abbreviated titleSGEM 2016
Country/TerritoryBulgaria
CityAlbena
Period24/08/1630/08/16
Internet address

    Research areas

  • influencer, migrants, Twitter, Russia, social network analysis

ID: 87322713