Dissertation: “In the intersection of television and Twitter: Social television as a tool for interaction and participation in a media event”

Abstract

This dissertation presents the phenomenon of social television by focusing on the interplay between the traditional broadcast media and the newer social media in the context of the FIFA World Cup. The aim of the study is to shed light on interactional practices that are generated in the intersection of television and Twitter. Through the lens of digital discourse and conversation analysis the study examines how the participation in a media event is constructed in live tweeting practices. The dissertation shows that social media have offered new ways of participating and enjoying television content but have not replaced the role of traditional television as a central medium for experiencing massive media events such as the FIFA World Cup.