Social Work

Affective agenda dynamics on social media: interactions of emotional content posted by the public, government, and media during the COVID-19 pandemic

S. Zhou, X. Yang, et al.

This study reveals how emotions on Sina Weibo were shaped during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, showing a significant interplay between public, government, and media sentiments. Conducted by Shuhuan Zhou, Xiaokun Yang, Yi Wang, Xia Zheng, and Zhian Zhang, the research highlights the power of government and media to influence public emotions in times of crisis.

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Abstract

This study examines the emotions expressed on Sina Weibo by the public, government, and media during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Using data from 67,689 public posts, 36,740 government posts, and 126,988 media posts, the researchers employed a vector autoregression model and Granger causality analysis. Results show predominantly positive emotions across all three groups, with government emotions significantly influencing media emotions, which then impact public emotions. The study extends agenda-setting theory by incorporating emotional contagion and highlights the potential for government and media to shape public sentiment during crises.

Publisher

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS

Published On

Nov 08, 2023

Authors

Shuhuan Zhou, Xiaokun Yang, Yi Wang, Xia Zheng, Zhian Zhang

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