ABSTRACT

This study examined public comments on Twitter in the wake of three mass shootings in the United States during the summer of 2022. A total of 1,500 tweets were assessed (N = 1,500) for sentiment, risks presented, attribution of blame, and outrage. A sample of 500 tweets was taken following the Buffalo, New York, supermarket shooting; a sample of 500 tweets was taken following the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting; and a sample of 500 tweets was taken following the Highland Park, Illinois, Fourth of July parade shooting. Results show that risk, blame, and outrage differed significantly between the three situations in a variety of ways. These differences and possible reasons for them are further discussed. This study provides valuable insight on social media conversations about mass shootings – a timely subject that continues to plague the country and lead to polarizing opinions and divisiveness. The study also serves a practical function, as the findings can be presented to government organizations and social media organizations alike as critical insight into public perceptions, it can assist in identifying problematic speech online, and it can inform the development of social media guidelines in maintaining civil discord.

摘要

这项研究调查了 2022 年夏季美国发生三起大规模枪击事件后 Twitter 上的公众评论。共评估了 1,500 条推文 ( N = 1,500) 表示情绪、风险、责任归因和愤怒。在纽约布法罗超市枪击事件发生后，抽取了 500 条推文作为样本；在得克萨斯州乌瓦尔迪学校枪击事件后，我们抽取了 500 条推文作为样本；并在伊利诺伊州高地公园 7 月 4 日阅兵式枪击事件后采集了 500 条推文样本。结果表明，风险、责备和愤怒在这三种情况下以多种方式存在显着差异。将进一步讨论这些差异及其可能的原因。这项研究为社交媒体关于大规模枪击事件的对话提供了宝贵的见解——一个及时的话题继续困扰着这个国家，并导致两极分化的观点和分歧。书房还有实用功能，