Uprisings and Social Media : an Analysis of Twitter Use in Lebanon During Mass Protests

Kurzfassung/Abstract

The use of various social networking platforms as tools to connect and to organize during protests constitutes one of their popular utilities. In this regard, this research investigates the use of social networking platform Twitter (currently known as ‘X)’ in Lebanon – a Middle Eastern country suffering from deep polarization and sectarianism, and having a history rife with protest movements. We analyze Twitter use in Lebanon six months before and after the explosion at the Beirut port (on August 04, 2020). Our investigation revealed that, during the study period, the platform was actively used to voice dissent against the country’s ruling elite, to express anger and frustration at the country’s state of affairs, and to make calls to mobilize and protest. Our research adds to scholarship pertaining to social media use during protests, specifically from the context of a conflict-troubled country; the results can be combined with insights from other networking platforms to attain more comprehensive insights.