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From Heroes to Scoundrels: Exploring the effects of online campaigns celebrating frontline workers on COVID-19 outcomes

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  • Polyzos, Efstathios
  • Fotiadis, Anestis
  • Huan, Tzung-Cheng

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of online campaigns celebrating frontline workers on COVID-19 outcomes regarding new cases, deaths, and vaccinations, using the United Kingdom as a case study. We implement text and sentiment analysis on Twitter data and feed the result into random regression forests and cointegration analysis. Our combined machine learning and econometric approach shows very weak effects of both the volume and the sentiment of Twitter discussions on new cases, deaths, and vaccinations. On the other hand, established relationships (such as between stringency measures and cases/deaths and between vaccinations and deaths) are confirmed. On the contrary, we find adverse lagged effects from negative sentiment to vaccinations and from new cases to negative sentiment posts. As we assess the knowledge acquired from the COVID-19 crisis, our findings can be used by policy makers, particularly in public health, and prepare for the next pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Polyzos, Efstathios & Fotiadis, Anestis & Huan, Tzung-Cheng, 2023. "From Heroes to Scoundrels: Exploring the effects of online campaigns celebrating frontline workers on COVID-19 outcomes," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:72:y:2023:i:c:s0160791x23000039
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2023.102198
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Frontliner; Twitter; Sentiment analysis; Random regression forests; Cointegration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • H12 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Crisis Management

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