Rise of the Twittizen? The role of Twitter as a social-media platform for citizen engagement and political deliberation surrounding net neutrality CM 504 Final Paper Fall 2010 Vivian Luu
Rise of the Twittizen?
Jan 18, 2015
Presentation of research project and findings for Global Internet course at the American University of Paris.
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Rise of the Twittizen?The role of Twitter as a social-media platform for citizen
engagement and political deliberation surrounding net neutrality
CM 504 Final PaperFall 2010
Vivian Luu
Research Questions
• What does conversation about net neutrality look like on Twitter?
• Is Twitter an effective tool for creating a public space for citizen engagement and political deliberation?
Scope
• 19,000 tweets, Aug. 1 - Aug. 12• Focus: Aug. 8 announcement of Google-Verizon net
neutrality proposal• Reviewing RT trends through traffic,tweets and
tweeps
Traffic
• Peaks right before and right after Aug. 8• “Buzz” is short-lived, no clearly sustained discussion
Tweets
• @freepress / I just told Google: Don’t be evil. Support #NetNeutrality. You can too: http://freepr.es/bXFB7
• @freepress / just told Washington to stand for me and Obama for #NetNeutrality. You turn. http://bit.ly/4sigrp
• @MoveOn / Google: Say no to VZN to kill #NetNeutrality. Don’t be evil! http://bit.ly/dgxZd
• @CREDOaction / Tell the FCC: It’s up to you not Google & Verizon to regulate the Internet. http://bit.ly/b6Njhc Pls RT.
Analysis
• Rise of an Information elite: Producers of popular content limited to special-interest groups and public figures
• Action without background: Calls for action don’t come with context
• Coding divide: Set format for optimal retweeting
Implications
• New space for advocacy, but lack of diverse voices
• Perpetuation of already-existing thin democracy and limited, ‘surface’ citizen engagement
• Digital Divide during acculturation process: New, digital "oughts" of individualism and citizenship splitting those who possess requisites for "new" participation and those who don't
What's Next?
• Redefining the citizen in context of "netizenship" and new methods of participation
• Cultivation of diverse voices: Twitter as a potential space for citizen engagement and deliberative democracy
• Roots of influence: Where do
already-existing hubs of influence derive their legitimacy and following?
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