The Impact of Social Media on Language Use and Discourse Patterns

This study explores digital discourse on Twitter, focusing on sentiment, topic modeling, and identity construction in online communication. Analysis of a large dataset reveals that the majority of tweets are either positive or neutral, with political and social justice topics being the most prevalent. These findings align with global trends in digital activism and public engagement. The study also highlights the dynamic and performative nature of identity on social media, consistent with Goffman’s dramaturgical theory. Emojis and hashtags are widely used to enhance emotional and visual expression, playing a key role in audience engagement. Demographic factors such as age and gender significantly influence both topic preference and sentiment expression. Younger users tend to express more positive sentiment, while females show greater engagement with social and health-related topics. The integration of quantitative and qualitative methods provides a comprehensive understanding of how users shape online discourse. This approach not only identifies trends but also adds contextual depth through user interviews. Despite its contributions, the study has limitations, including its focus on a single platform and language. Future research should expand to multiple platforms and languages to improve generalizability. Overall, this research contributes to the growing field of digital communication and offers practical insights for platform design and content moderation. The findings underscore the central role of social media in shaping public opinion and self-expression in the digital age.

کلیدواژه ها:

Digital communication ، Social media discourse ، Sentiment analysis ، Identity construction ، Topic modeling ، Online engagement