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#Globalcitizen: An Explorative Twitter Analysis of Global Identity and Sustainability Communication

Author

Listed:
  • Marie Merle

    (Department of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany)

  • Gerhard Reese

    (Department of Psychology, Environmental Psychology Research Unit, University of Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany)

  • Stefan Drews

    (Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

(1) Background: global citizenship is often associated with pro-social and pro-environmental attitudes, beliefs and behaviors. Much of this research relies on questionnaire studies, whereas studies drawing on naturally occurring daily communications are under-used. In this paper, we analyse the content that users publish on Twitter related to the issue of global identity and citizenship. (2) Methods: we assessed word frequencies and associated hashtags of 35,237 tweets marked with the hashtag #globalcitizen. A sentiment analysis was conducted to investigate the moods and emotions of the tweets. (3) Results: in line with expectations derived from social identity theory, we found that associated words and hashtags were more often linked to themes of common good/disadvantaged groups than they were to the topic of nature and environment. Providing evidence for an empowerment function of global citizenship, the sentiment analysis suggests that global citizenship is related to rather positive emotions. (4) Conclusion: these findings reveal how identity constructions in social media predict associated contents and possibly pathways to social change.

Suggested Citation

  • Marie Merle & Gerhard Reese & Stefan Drews, 2019. "#Globalcitizen: An Explorative Twitter Analysis of Global Identity and Sustainability Communication," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-10, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:12:p:3472-:d:242605
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gerhard Reese, 2016. "Common human identity and the path to global climate justice," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 134(4), pages 521-531, February.
    2. Gerhard Reese & Eva A. Junge, 2017. "Keep on Rockin’ in a (Plastic-)Free World: Collective Efficacy and Pro-Environmental Intentions as a Function of Task Difficulty," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Gerhard Reese, 2016. "Common human identity and the path to global climate justice," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 134(4), pages 521-531, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Francesca Loia & Paola Adinolfi, 2021. "Teleworking as an Eco-Innovation for Sustainable Development: Assessing Collective Perceptions during COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, April.
    2. Lucie Kvasničková Stanislavská & Ladislav Pilař & Klára Margarisová & Roman Kvasnička, 2020. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Media: Comparison between Developing and Developed Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-19, June.
    3. Luis J. Camacho & Cristian Salazar-Concha & Patricio Ramírez-Correa, 2020. "The Influence of Xenocentrism on Purchase Intentions of the Consumer: The Mediating Role of Product Attitudes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-12, February.

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