| Keywords [eng] |
kolektyvinė tapatybė, kompiuterinės komunikacijos, internetinis diskursas, X, Reddit, feminizmas, socialiniai tinklai collective identity, computer-mediated communication, online discourse, X, Reddit, feminism, social networking |
| Abstract [eng] |
In today's digital environment, which is characterized by a large increase in Internet usage and the proliferation of digital platforms, communication between individuals takes place mainly in a virtual environment. Given this context, the topic of feminism was chosen because of its long-term relevance to gender, social and economic inequality. Therefore, this study aims to provide insights into the discourse surrounding feminism online and how individuals respond to criticism in digital spaces. The aim of this thesis "A Comparative Analysis of Online Collective Discourse Identities in Digital Media Platforms: Discussions of Feminism on X and Reddit" is to conduct a comparative analysis of the online collective discourse identities on two social platforms Reddit and X. To achieve the goal, three objectives were set: to review the scientific literature on online discourse, computer-mediated communication (CMC) and collective identity, secondly, to classify the collected data according to the linguistic and computer-mediated communication (CMC) characteristics characteristic of online discourses, and finally to compare the two selected digital media platforms identities of online collective discourse. The literature review builds on previous research on social and collective identities, integrating theories of discourse studies and collective identity formation. In addition, the study incorporates insights from scholars such as David Crystal, Janis Androutsopoulos, Anthony Longo, and Michele Zapavigna to explore the nuances of language use and collective identity construction in online contexts. The methodological part revealed three main categories that were analyzed and classified accordingly: linguistic components (slang, abbreviation, linguistic expressions), visual components (emoticons, GIFs, short videos, and photos) and mixed components (various linguistic and visual components, one are used in the same comment). A total of 999 samples were collected. During the analysis in the empirical part, both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used. A comparative analysis of findings from feminist discussions on Reddit and X revealed identities of online collective discourse by comparing linguistic, visual, and mixed components to the sentiment evaluation of the collected samples. The online collective discourse identities Reddit and X encompass the most linguistic components of Reddit. While X highlights and surpasses Reddit in its use of visual and hybrid components with creative, short and visually rich comments. In terms of non-verbal elements, emoticons with a predominance of heart and funny emoticons are X's main non-verbal function. Both platforms are active in discussions about feminism, with Reddit tending to allow for more complex discussions, while X encourages direct communication. Therefore, the general mood of the discussions on both platforms is mostly negative, often vulgar and violent, confirming the initial hypothesis of the thesis that Reddit and X will have a negative connotation that will be transmitted through the language and computer-mediated communication (CMC) features of the online environment. Furthermore, the anonymity of Internet participants facilitates the formatting of these obscene comments, which include bullying, inappropriate jokes, the use of slang, and foul language expressions. |
