Pashtun Tahafuz Movement: An Analysis of Twitter Usage During a Protest Movement

Abstract

This study aims to examine how the ethnic-based Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) uses collective action frames on Twitter to define problems, assign blame, convey a plan of action, and inspire participation. Social movement framing theory was the guiding theory of the study. The study employed quantitative content analysis. The analysis of tweets revealed that Pashtun Tahafuz Movement was clear about the issues of the Pashtun community and who was responsible for those issues. However, they have few solutions and remedies to offer that could mitigate those problems. As for motivational framing, the study found Twitter to be a campaigning and information-sharing platform for PTM’s public demonstrations. This study contributes to the social movement literature by highlighting how social media, specifically Twitter, can empower and improve the visibility of the previously excluded community disregarded by the established institutes i.e., legacy media and social institutions.