Online Discussion Research Articles

Exploring corporate reputation and crisis communication

AbstractCorporate reputation, the collective perception of company attractiveness towards stakeholders, impacts business outcomes, while effective communication strategies play a critical role in shaping and maintaining the reputation. The role of communication is highlighted during crises, crisis communication being a strategic approach to managing and mitigating the impact of unexpected or adverse events on the reputation, operations, and stakeholders. These concepts are deeply interrelated with interactive marketing. This study explores the dynamics of corporate reputation and crisis communication during a recent global crisis by combining a literature review, opinion mining, and classification analysis. This is because stakeholders rely on various information sources and engage in online discussions, which can impact the reputation, and pose new challenges. The opinion mining analysis draws from the media communication of selected stock-listed companies during a crisis. The key findings shed light on the dynamics of corporate reputation and crisis communication and the impacts on interactive marketing. Critical components of crisis communication are identified to include monitoring, tactics of responding, and response management. Linkages between these, crisis communication theories, and corporate reputation are synthesised. Indications are provided on how the crisis can affect the corporate reputation and the significance of the speed of preventive communication measures.

Beyond Face Value: Harnessing the Intellect by Looking Past Appearances and Offering Students Multiple Modalities to Participate in Online Discussions

Covid 19 mandatory online teaching brought about insights and paradigm shifts experienced on a global level by educators and learners alike. One example of such a paradigm shift was explored at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco, in the English composition course. It was hypothesized that lower-level English composition freshman students may have had more cognition and confidence in whole-class discussions when offered multiple ways to participate because appearances on camera seemed to impede participation rates, performance and ideation, particularly with female students in the Muslim-majority nation. Subsequent in-class experiments examined the differences between participation rates and performances of students in whole-class discussions whilst online during Covid 19 in three response modes: audio, text and camera, and a follow-up survey collected opinions on using those modes. Findings substantiate the hypothesis that learners experience fewer inhibitions and more accurate English when responding through text compared with audio and camera, especially amongst female participants. Attitudes towards cameras also reveal inhibitions mostly stemming from concerns over appearances. Findings support Krashen’s theory on the affective filter as well as Plato’s theories on the physical senses as an impediment to the acquisition of knowledge. Specific cultural and religious beliefs, namely belief in the evil eye and guarding one’s gaze, may also have played a part in explaining students’ apprehension for using cameras. Recommendations for applications include allowing students multiple modes of participation in a blended learning approach, collecting data using automatic transcription through teleconferencing platforms such as MS Teams for language output analysis, and for educators to use this data to investigate their own implicit biases which may impede instructor performance.

“Giving them the best information I could with whatever I had at hand”. Physicians' online health communication practices in a post-normal science context

This study describes US-based physicians' online public communication practices, particularly on the social media platform Twitter/X, during the COVID-19 pandemic. We draw on 28 semi-structured interviews to examine how they responded to the unique COVID-19 context with respect to each of the four features of post-normal science (PNS): facts uncertain, values in dispute, stakes high, and decisions urgent. Our analysis reveals that the pandemic shifted what, why, and how physicians used the platform, and with whom they aimed to communicate. We discuss the implications of these changes in their online communication habits, discourses, and representations around social media as a reaction to the context of PNS brought about by the pandemic.

“All Eyes on McMinn:” Book Banning Discourse in the Age of Social Media

ABSTRACTThis project explores the intersection of local and online discourse around book bannings using the McMinn County School Board's decision in 2022 to remove Art Spiegelman's graphic memoir, Maus, from their school curriculum as a case study. Through interviews with McMinn County residents and data collected from Twitter, I argue that social media has altered book banning discourse. I interviewed 10 residents and asked them to discuss their experiences when Maus was removed by the school board and to reflect on how the local community responded amidst worldwide scrutiny online. Discourse on Twitter involved collecting over 2000 tweets mentioning the @McMinnCountySch account and tweets discussing Maus to understand online responses to the board's decision. I use Danielle Allen's discourse flow model as the theoretical framework for this project. In my initial findings, discourse began at the local level before traveling online and then back into the local space. Ongoing data analysis has shown that locally, residents were concerned with the board's decision along with the perception of their community once news of the banning spread. This is supported by Twitter discourse, where many tweets cast the McMinn County community in a negative light based on the school board's actions.

EXERCISES FOR DEVELOPING CRITICAL AND DIGITAL THINKING IN TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES

The article explores the interplay between critical thinking and digital literacy in today's technology-driven society. This article explores various exercises designed to enhance critical and digital thinking skills in the context of teaching foreign languages. It emphasizes the integration of language learning with digital literacy, presenting activities for developing critical thinking such as source evaluation, comparative analysis, digital footprint assessment, online discussion evaluation, ethical considerations, digital content analysis, online research and presentation tools to produce their project, reflective blogging, virtual debate. Additionally, it highlights the importance of engaging in digital scavenger hunt, evaluating online language tools, creating digital content, online discussion forums, web-based language projects, analyzing digital media, digital storytelling, online forums for better digital communication and project-based learning for collaboration based on digital thinking.

NONLINEAR LEARNING PATH: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Students benefit from a nonlinear learning path, also known as a nonsequential learning path, because it allows them to control the pace and sequence of their learning. However, the dynamics of a nonlinear learning path, particularly within an open learning environment like MOOCs, remain underexplored. The current study aims to map out various nonlinear learning paths and explore the potential for personalisation within these environments. Guided by the PRISMA 2020 Statement, we conducted a comprehensive review of 3,418 articles from three databases, focusing on 30 that were relevant to nonlinear learning paths in open learning environments. We discovered that a nonlinear learning path in MOOCs involves path selection, cyclical paths, or skipped paths, all influenced by the design of the MOOC learning materials. In classrooms utilizing an open learning environment, a nonlinear learning path is facilitated by activities such as face-to- face or online discussions, self-study materials, student-created content, project mentoring or coaching, peer feedback, and co-learning activities. Additionally, personalisation, tailored by educators or technology, is key to preventing students from becoming disoriented within these open learning environments. Our findings highlight the importance of promoting nonlinear learning paths in both classrooms and MOOCs, developing learning path recommender systems, and creating supportive MOOC learning materials. Future research should explore students’ perceptions of nonlinear learning paths within an open learning environment, particularly focusing on the integration and impact of MOOC learning materials.

Матрица когнитивных фильтров – инструмент анализа лингвокреатем в современном онлайн-дискурсе на английском языке

The article introduces the matrix of cognitive filters as a research method that makes it possible to model the process of inferring the meaning of lingua-createmes in multimodal online discourse. Multimodal linguistic systems are based on a complex interaction of multimodal components. These components combine with basic cognitive mechanisms in decoding various complex phenomena in digital Internet discourse. The research revealed a classification of key cognitive mechanisms that generate the meaning of creative multimodal elements: banner blindness, evaluative categorization, conceptualization, (de)compression of information, profiling, conceptual metaphor, conceptual metaphthonymy, and conceptual integration. The research material involved 18,000 monomodal verbal and multimodal lingua-createmes selected by continuous sampling from English-language Internet resources, as well as visual and verbal corpora. The method proved effective in modelling the general cognitive resonance of lingua-createmes and predicting cognitive resonance / dissonance (positive or negative) in communication. The practical lingua-cognitive experiment involved 335 English-speaking respondents from eleven countries. They were asked to use the matrix of cognitive filters to perform a step-by-step decoding of several creative multimodal elements. The method proved highly effective for detecting cognitive resonance or mental tension, i.e., positive or negative cognitive dissonance. The method demonstrated good prospects for obtaining additional data on reactions to lingua-creative discursive elements.

Decoding Online Narratives and Unraveling Complexities in the Rohingya Refugee Crisis

The Rohingya refugee crisis, a humanitarian tribulation involving the persecution of the Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority group in Myanmar, has led to a massive exodus of refugees, primarily women and children, to neighboring Bangladesh. Analyzing public opinion toward the Rohingya crisis poses a challenge due to the time complexity of manually assessing individual expressions from the vast amount of text on online platforms. This research focuses on identifying hidden patterns in online discussions surrounding the Rohingya refugee crisis, employing topic modeling and a thematic sentiment analysis-based approach. It represents the first comprehensive exploration of public views on internet spaces to support this community. In the experiment, we identified 15 coherent topics from 6,840 unique documents with a high coherence score of about 0.60. The key themes explored encompass familial resilience, the urgency of addressing the refugee crisis, complexities within the Rohingya situation, religious and cultural elements, and geopolitical considerations. Sentiment analysis revealed nuanced emotional tones, with positive sentiments in discussions about refugee support and international aid and mixed or negative sentiments in topics concerning religious dynamics and women’s protection. The implications of this research extend to guiding policymakers, humanitarian organizations, and advocacy groups in developing targeted interventions, communication strategies, and informed policy initiatives. In addition, the findings emphasize the importance of understanding and responding effectively to the multifaceted challenges faced by the Rohingya community.

Experiential Learning of Active Learning Strategies in Mentor Learner Web-based Discussions: A Perceptions Study

Background: Active learning strategies (ALSs) in medical education are valued for their effectiveness but face adoption challenges among educators, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of their implementation and impact. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the perceptions of medical educators regarding the effectiveness and challenges of ALS through mentor–learner (ML) web-based discussions. Settings and Design: The retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data from 32 medical educators enrolled in the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education Research course at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. It utilized a mixed-method approach, gathering both quantitative and qualitative data through ML web discussions. Materials and Methods: The study used a “dual-method” approach, combining traditional online discussions with a “role-reversal” method on an ML web platform, promoting experiential learning. Participant responses on ALS implementation tasks were collected and analyzed within these discussions. Results: Participants shared various ALS for collaborative learning (20), classroom engagement (26), assessing prior knowledge (12), and note-taking during lectures (10). Further, among the 11 ALS examined, the ease of implementation varied significantly among participants (P < 0.0001). Challenges in ALS implementation included inadequate faculty training (91%), motivation (84%), resource constraints (81%), student (75%), and administrative resistance (69%). Four themes emerged as recommendations for effective ALS implementation: empowering educators, engaging students, streamlining support systems, and monitoring impact. Conclusion: The study highlights a mixed perspective of medical educators on ALS. Although ALS was perceived as effective in fostering critical thinking and developing collaborative learning among students, various challenges, such as a lack of skilled faculty and resources, necessitated robust faculty development initiatives.

Creating Communicative Context Through the Use of Emoji and Politeness in Online Academic Written Interactions

Creating Communicative Context Through the Use of Emoji and Politeness in Online Academic Written Interactions. The current study aims to provide a glimpse into the way higher education students and language instructors establish rapports in the academic written communication framework through the use of emoji and online face-work strategies. Contextualisation cues are created in order to regulate transaction based communicative exchanges that result in positive outcomes, subsequently fostering an inclusive culture. Linguistic display of online discourse is fraught with perils that may impede on appropriate written academic interactions occurring between instructors and students. Negotiation of identity becomes a main objective, as there are differences in status, power and various degrees of communicative achievement between interactants. The study shares results obtained from a questionnaire administered to 92 Romanian undergraduate students offering a framework for embedding emoji and face-work in online identity negotiation via written communication. It aims to offer a digital pedagogical competence approach to cater for the emotional needs of learners whose identities as digital natives take additional effort to create in the context of using transversal skills. The main findings of the study suggest that emoji and face work enable foreign language students to better manipulate their self-image when communicating online. Keywords: identity negotiation, online linguistic discourse, emoji, pragmatic politeness, face-work strategies, written communication, context, social and emotional learning.

Every voice counts – Embedding the principles of Universal Design for Learning into higher education online course design

University classrooms are diverse settings. With online courses becoming increasingly more common instructors in post-secondary institutions must create inclusive learning environments that meet the needs of adult learners with exceptionalities. Goldberg et al. (2003) asserted that innovative technological tools can be used to promote student engagement, motivation, and enhance the quality of learning for students with disabilities. One such tool is the Voice Thread which can be thoughtfully and intentionally incorporated into the course design phase. Friedman and Lee (2009) contend that using visual images to present content is a necessary pedagogical strategy and provides an opportunity to reduce visual clutter. Making content visual and auditory rather than exclusively in print is a Universal Design for Learning strategy that makes the information more accessible to all students not just those who struggle with reading. Hampton and Mason (2003) reminded us that many students with learning disabilities require additional time to formulate their thoughts to make meaningful contributions to an online discussion. The features of the program offer a comfortable way for students to share their knowledge and understanding, analytical skills and personal reflections related to a particular concept. Offering a choice in the response format allows students to utilize their strengths and concentrate more fully on demonstrating their learning. Fostering an inclusive learning environment using innovative technologies, such as Voice Thread, offers online instructors a meaningful way to adopt inclusive approaches to curriculum and assessment. Pre-existing structures such as the Community of Practice (Lave & Wenger, 1991) provide inclusive leaders the opportunity to share these innovations with colleagues and ensure that every voice counts.

Analisis Sentimen Naturalisasi Tim Nasional Indonesia U-23 di Era Shin Tae-yong Menggunakan Algoritma Naïve Bayes dan K-Nearest Neighbors

In the Shin Tae-yong era, the naturalization of players has become a controversial topic within the Indonesian U-23 national football team. This research aims to analyze public sentiment related to the naturalization of players in the team using two classification algorithms, namely Naive Bayes and K-Nearest Neighbor. Sentiment data is obtained from news sources, social media, and online discussion forums related to matches and team management decisions. First, data processing is carried out, including text cleaning, tokenization, and word weighting. Next, Naive Bayes and KNN models are trained using the processed dataset. The results of the sentiment analysis will provide valuable insight into the public's perception of the naturalization of players in the Indonesian U-23 national team under the control of Shin Tae-yong, as well as a comparison of the effectiveness between the Naive Bayes and KNN algorithms in sentiment classification. It is hoped that this research will provide a more in-depth view of the dynamics within the Indonesian national football team and its contribution to Indonesian football as a whole

Colonial methodologies: a discourse analysis of medical students’ talk about psychology

The historical tension between the natural and social sciences, and the associated discourses of superiority and inferiority, remains prevalent today in academia and practice. This study analyses the discourses that medical students at a South African university employ in their talk about psychology. The analysis demonstrates the function of these discourses and locates them within historical debates surrounding the social and natural sciences. More importantly, it identifies how psychology is locked into Eurocentric assumptions of rigour and empiricism. We use discursive psychology to examine five online discussion board entries detailing medical students’ understanding of psychology. The findings suggest that definitions of psychology subvert the discipline under the guise of bolstering its value in ways that are comparable to colonial methodologies, thereby reconstituting and reinforcing historical notions of othering in social scientific discourses. This research therefore contributes to debates on the current role and position of psychology in South Africa and helps to destabilise dominant scientific discourses within and against which psychology is enacted in the academy. Through a critical interrogation of such hegemony, this study aims to forge new ways of doing and thinking psychology in South Africa.

Examining the escalation of hostility in social media: a comparative analysis of online incivility in China and the United States regarding the Russia–Ukraine war

Abstract Purpose This study examines and compares online incivility on China’s Weibo and the U.S.’s X (Twitter) amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, aiming to unravel how different cultural and geopolitical contexts influence online incivility and identify factors that may influence the occurrence of online incivility in different national contexts. Design/methodology This study collected and analyzed over 80,000 social media posts concerning the Russia-Ukraine conflict. By employing machine learning methods and moderation tests, this study compares online incivility in different country contexts. Findings Twitter and Weibo show different level of online incivility across eight months in the discussion of Russia-Ukraine war. Conflict frame and negative sentiment both positively predict online incivility on Twitter and Weibo and these two factors both show higher prediction power on Twitter than on Weibo. Practical implication This study highlights the necessity for platforms like X (Twitter) and Weibo to refine their moderation systems to address the predictors of online incivility, particularly negative sentiment and conflict framing. Social implication This study provides evidence that cultural differences significantly impact online communication patterns and norms. It also finds that non-anonymous users might exhibit more uncivil behavior in politically charged discussions, seeking social approval. Originality/value This research is one of the few studies to compare online incivility and its impact factors between China and the United States social media platforms. It shows how cultural differences influence the prevalence and predictors of online incivility and distinguishes the roles of negative sentiment and conflict framing in fostering incivility, with novel findings that challenge conventional beliefs about the impact of user anonymity on online discourse.

Social Media as a Source of Information for the Detection of Adverse Drug Reactions in Post-Marketing Surveillance: A Review

INTRODUCTION. With the development of the Internet and the increasing availability of social networks and fora, patients have received an opportunity to share their medication experiences online. According to the guidelines on Good Pharmacovigilance Practices, social media can be considered an important additional source of patient-derived information in post-marketing surveillance, but the effectiveness of their use in detecting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is still being investigated.AIM. This study aimed to analyse the results of relevant original studies and assess the potential of using social networks and online patient fora as a source of information on ADRs associated with the use of medicinal products.DISCUSSION. Published studies indicate that posts on social networks and patient fora describe both minor and serious ADRs, including new ADRs. The relevance of social media as a source of information about the safety of a medicinal product varies depending on several factors, including the medicinal product class and time on the market, as well as the platform demographics. Young users (18–44 years) are interested in online discussions about medicinal products for mental and reproductive system disorders. Users aged 45–64 years tend to discuss the use of medicinal products for chronic pain (including muscle pain), menopause, and gastritis. Discussions among users over 65 years old predominantly focus on medicinal products for diabetes, heart conditions, and muscle pain. People are much more likely to describe ADRs associated with the use of medicinal products for orphan diseases and cancer on fora for patients than on social networks in general, and vice versa for ADRs associated with the use of medicinal products for mental disorders. In addition, social media may be of interest as a source of information about cases of overdose, misuse and off-label use of medicinal products, and use of medicinal products during pregnancy and lactation.CONCLUSIONS. Social media can be a source of valuable information about the safety of medicinal products and the impact of ADRs on the quality of patients’ lives. Marketing authorisation holders can obtain new information about the safety of medicinal products by extending their safety monitoring strategies to include social media. Nevertheless, since the relevance of a particular social network or patient forum for the detection of ADR cases varies considerably, a preliminary assessment is necessary to ascertain the presence of information on the medicinal product of interest.

Which stakeholders should be addressed to promote Geriatric Medicine among healthcare professionals, educationalists and policy-makers in European countries? – the PROGRAMMING COST 21,122 action experience

BackgroundGeriatric Medicine (GM), concerned with well-being and health of older adults, can play a crucial role in the alignment of healthcare systems to the needs of the aged populations. However, countries have varying GM development backgrounds. The goal of PROGRAMMING- COST 21,122 Action is to propose the content of education and training activities in GM for healthcare professionals across various clinical settings, adapted to local context, needs, and assets. Defining relevant stakeholders and addressing them on both an international as well as a country-specific level is crucial for this purpose. In this paper we are describing the methods used in the PROGRAMMING Action 21,122 to map the different categories of stakeholders to be engaged in the Action.MethodsThrough conceptualizing a model for stakeholders by literature research, and online discussion group meetings, a synthesis for the potential stakeholders was defined as a template, and pilot applications were requested from participant countries.ResultsThere were 24 members from 14 countries (6 males/18 females) of multidisciplinary professions involved in this study. A model for the list of stakeholders to be addressed was developed and, after seven online discussion meetings, a consensus framework was provided. Invited countries completed the templates to pilot such operationalization.ConclusionOur framework of stakeholders will support the research coordination and capacity-building objectives of PROGRAMMING, including the participation into the assessment of educational needs of healthcare professionals. Identified stakeholders will also be mobilized for purposes of dissemination and maximization of the Action’s impact. By defining and mapping multidisciplinary stakeholders involved in older people’s care specific to countries, particularly where GM is still emerging, GM tailored educational activities will be facilitated and optimally targeted.

Uncivil communication and epistemic trustworthiness concerns in public online discussions in response to scientists during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic illustrated important developments in science communication, with direct online interactions between scientists and the public. This study performs a content analysis of tweets (“N” = 6,000) directed at German virologists (“N” = 6) during the pandemic’s first year. It identifies substantial levels of incivility and trustworthiness concerns, which often co-occurred. These findings enhance our understanding of online communication dynamics in crises by showing how incivility and trustworthiness concerns are not only prevalent but also evolve in response to specific events and phases. This analysis provides insight into the complexities of public sentiment toward scientists during the pandemic.

Abstract A164: Rural and religious differences in online news outlet headlines about HPV and HPV vaccines in Utah

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the penetration of online HPV vaccine information in Utah, where HPV vaccination and completion rates are low, and uncover potential disparities by religiosity and rurality in the types of language used by news headlines in the social media ecosystem. Methods: We described the language used in local news outlets' headlines about HPV and HPV vaccines. We included headlines posted on Facebook from 23 news outlets within 6 counties (including high and low vaccination, rurality, and religiosity) from 2011-2023 to represent the public online discourse about HPV vaccination. We searched each news outlet’s Facebook page for eligible posts using 11 key terms (e.g., HPV, HPV vaccination) that were identified through literature review and refined with content experts, resulting in N=851 headlines. After removing duplicates, there were a total of n=531 unique headlines for analysis. Area-level (county) measures of rurality (2013 Rural and Urban Continuum Codes) and religiosity (Public Religion Research Institute 2020 Census) were coded for each post title based on the originating news outlet. We analyzed the language used in each headline. Differences in the valence of online discourse about HPV and HPV vaccination by rurality and religiosity were compared using summary statistics and t-tests. Linguistic analyses were conducted using Linguistic Inquiry Word Count and Stata 18. Results: Overall, urban areas were less religious than rural areas (28% unaffiliated in urban areas vs. 13-26% unaffiliated in rural areas, p<0.001). There were more headlines about HPV and HPV vaccination from news outlets in urban than rural areas (69.7% vs. 30.3%). Nearly 70% of HPV and HPV vaccine headlines came from the least religious areas—counties whose religiously unaffiliated populations ranged from 28%-32%. News outlets differed in how they disseminated information about HPV and HPV vaccines by rurality and religiosity. On average, news outlets in urban areas used more positive language than in rural areas (mean 2.04 vs. 1.28 words, p<0.01). Rural news outlets used more emotion-laden terms than those in urban areas (mean 1.2 vs. 0.6 words, p<0.01) and negative emotion was more prevalent among rural than urban headlines (mean 0.73 vs. 0.42 words, p=0.02). These observations were mirrored for areas with higher religiously unaffiliated populations demonstrating titles with more positive words (mean 2.05 vs. 1.27, p<0.01), less emotional words (mean 0.63 vs. 1.17 words, p<0.01), and less negative language (mean 0.42 vs. 0.73 words, p=0.01) compared to headlines in areas with lower proportions of religiously unaffiliated, respectively. Conclusions: The penetration of HPV and HPV vaccine information in rural and religious areas is less positive, more emotionally charged, and uses more negative emotional language than in urban areas. This may, in part, perpetuate the low HPV vaccine uptake in these regions. Citation Format: Echo L. Warner, Ida Tovar, Kaila Christini, Stephen Gubler, Becca Slagle, Jennifer Smith, Michelle Litchman, Wendy Birmingham, Deanna Kepka. Rural and religious differences in online news outlet headlines about HPV and HPV vaccines in Utah [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A164.

Effect of education based on creative problem-solving and asynchronous online discussions on student creativity in a product design course

Research in education has employed creative problem-solving (CPS) methodologies to enhance students’ learning efficacy. However, the majority of studies have focused on the effect of CPS on individual creativity. Few studies have examined the effects of CPS on teamwork and creativity. This study adopted CPS in a product design course, incorporating teamwork facilitated by an asynchronous online discussion platform. This platform fostered student engagement and iteration in knowledge construction through collaborative discussion. Additionally, experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The study recruited 61 university students divided into two groups. One group underwent CPS-based instruction, which involved knowledge construction, utilization of the asynchronous online discussion platform, and CPS guidance. The second group received conventional instruction, where students were tasked with solving problems set by lecturers. The 14-week experiment revealed that CPS effectively enhanced students’ creativity, fostering increased discussion and reflection. Moreover, CPS encouraged students to engage in deeper thinking processes through teamwork, resulting in the development of more optimal product designs.

Sense or Sensibility? Netizens’ Choice of Social Media Comments in an Authoritarian Regime

Abstract While the Internet in China is subjected to heavy state regulations, Chinese netizens can still access online comments that deviate from official discourse on many issues. To prevent online discussions from getting out of hand, the Chinese government uses soft propaganda such as online comments to channel public opinions. Which type of online comments appeal to Chinese netizens? Using a survey experimental design, we examine the appeal of 4 distinct types of online comments on certain policies. We find that our survey respondents spend significantly more time in consuming emotional comments that deviate from official discourse. When it comes to the effect on attitude, however, we find that deviating-emotional comments are no more persuasive than deviating-informational comments. Our results call into question the effectiveness of China’s state propaganda in channeling online public opinions while highlighting the importance of alternative information in shaping public opinions in an authoritarian context.