IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v11y2024i1d10.1057_s41599-024-02957-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Earthquake conspiracy discussion on Twitter

Author

Listed:
  • Dmitry Erokhin

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)

  • Nadejda Komendantova

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)

Abstract

Natural disasters like earthquakes, and global crises like pandemics have historically captured the public’s imagination and prompted people to seek explanations. However, in times of limited information, these explanations can take the form of conspiracy theories, particularly regarding the origins or causes of such events. With the advent of social media conspiracy theories can spread quickly and easily, leaving little room for critical thinking. The focus of this study is the analysis of the so-called High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) conspiracy, which explains earthquakes through the employment of secret weather control weapons. This study aims to answer the research question of how the discourse on the HAARP conspiracy theory changes over time, and what are the potential catalysts for heightened attention to this conspiracy theory. This study uses the Twitter API to collect tweet frequencies about this conspiracy from January 2022 through March 2023. The empirical data include over one million tweets on HAARP. The sentiment analysis of the HAARP conspiracy theory is applied to the tweets before, during, and after the 6th of February 2023 earthquake in Syria and Turkey. In addition, this study investigates possible triggers of the development of the HAARP tweet frequency. This study finds that the frequency of HAARP discussion increases following a high-impact earthquake. There is also a positive correlation between average tweet sentiment and the number of tweets, which could indicate that the discussion of HAARP reinforces people’s beliefs. This study makes a significant contribution to the field of social psychology and communication by providing insights into the dynamics of belief reinforcement within online communities amidst heightened attention to conspiracy theories triggered by significant events. This knowledge has broader implications for understanding the impact of social media on public perception during crises.

Suggested Citation

  • Dmitry Erokhin & Nadejda Komendantova, 2024. "Earthquake conspiracy discussion on Twitter," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-02957-y
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-02957-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-024-02957-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-024-02957-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. repec:eme:aaaj00:aaaj-08-2020-4884 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Osama Harfoushi & Dana Hasan & Ruba Obiedat, 2018. "Sentiment Analysis Algorithms through Azure Machine Learning: Analysis and Comparison," Modern Applied Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(7), pages 1-49, July.
    3. Jonghun Kam & Jihun Park & Wanyun Shao & Junho Song & Jinhee Kim & Fabrizio Terenzio Gizzi & Donatella Porrini & Young-Joo Suh, 2021. "Data-driven modeling reveals the Western dominance of global public interest in earthquakes," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Nadejda Komendantova & Dmitry Erokhin & Teresa Albano, 2023. "Misinformation and Its Impact on Contested Policy Issues: The Example of Migration Discourses," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, July.
    5. La Daana K. Kanhai & Delezia Singh & Bruce Lauckner & Kristie L. Ebi & Dave D. Chadee, 2016. "Knowledge, attitude and practices of coastal communities in Trinidad and Tobago about tsunamis," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 81(2), pages 1349-1372, March.
    6. Dariusz B. Baranowski & Maria K. Flatau & Piotr J. Flatau & Dwikorita Karnawati & Katarzyna Barabasz & Michal Labuz & Beata Latos & Jerome M. Schmidt & Jaka A. I. Paski & Marzuki, 2020. "Social-media and newspaper reports reveal large-scale meteorological drivers of floods on Sumatra," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    7. La Kanhai & Delezia Singh & Bruce Lauckner & Kristie Ebi & Dave Chadee, 2016. "Knowledge, attitude and practices of coastal communities in Trinidad and Tobago about tsunamis," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 81(2), pages 1349-1372, March.
    8. Stefano Landi & Antonio Costantini & Marco Fasan & Michele Bonazzi, 2021. "Public engagement and dialogic accounting through social media during COVID-19 crisis: a missed opportunity?," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 35(1), pages 35-47, March.
    9. Fabrizio Terenzio Gizzi & Jonghun Kam & Donatella Porrini, 2020. "Time windows of opportunities to fight earthquake under-insurance: evidence from Google Trends," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Miguel Esteban & Jeremy Bricker & Ricardo San Carlos Arce & Hiroshi Takagi & NamYi Yun & Warathida Chaiyapa & Alexander Sjoegren & Tomoya Shibayama, 2018. "Tsunami awareness: a comparative assessment between Japan and the USA," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 93(3), pages 1507-1528, September.
    2. Parastoo Salah & Jun Sasaki, 2021. "Knowledge, Awareness, and Attitudes toward Tsunamis: A Local Survey in the Southern Coast of Iran," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Michael K. Lindell & Meen Chel Jung & Carla S. Prater & Donald H. House, 2022. "Improving Cascadia subduction zone residents’ tsunami preparedness: quasi-experimental evaluation of an evacuation brochure," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 114(1), pages 849-881, October.
    4. Naphat Mahittikul & Nawat Wancham & Wanit Treeranurat & Kumpol Saengtabtim & Ampan Laosunthara & Jing Tang & Natt Leelawat, 2024. "Examining the Factors Influencing Tsunami Evacuation Action Selection in Thailand: A Comprehensive Study Involving Local Residents, Non-Local Workers, and Travelers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-17, February.
    5. Shi Shen & Ke Shi & Junwang Huang & Changxiu Cheng & Min Zhao, 2023. "Global online social response to a natural disaster and its influencing factors: a case study of Typhoon Haiyan," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Jeet Bahadur Sapkota & Kyosuke Kurita & Pramila Neupane, 2021. "Progress after the 2015 Nepal Earthquake: Evidence from Two Household Surveys in One of the Hardest-Hit Mountain Villages," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, October.
    7. Fabrizio Terenzio Gizzi & Donatella Porrini & Francesco De Masi, 2021. "Building a Natural Hazard Insurance System (NHIS): The Long-lasting Italian Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-22, November.
    8. Shasha Li & Xinyu Peng & Ruiqiu Pang & Li Li & Zixuan Song & Hongying Ye, 2021. "Information Preference and Information Supply Efficiency Evaluation before, during, and after an Earthquake: Evidence from Songyuan, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-28, December.
    9. Jonghun Kam & Jihun Park & Wanyun Shao & Junho Song & Jinhee Kim & Fabrizio Terenzio Gizzi & Donatella Porrini & Young-Joo Suh, 2021. "Data-driven modeling reveals the Western dominance of global public interest in earthquakes," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
    10. Fu-Wei Huang & Panpan Lin & Jyh-Horng Lin & Ching-Hui Chang, 2023. "The impact of war on insurer safety: a contingent claim model analysis," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-6, December.
    11. Francesco Masi & Donatella Porrini, 2021. "Cultural Heritage and natural disasters: the insurance choice of the Italian Cathedrals," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 45(3), pages 409-433, September.
    12. Donatella Porrini & Francesco Masi, 2021. "Managing climate change risk: the case of the Italian Churches," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 105(3), pages 2619-2637, February.
    13. Fatma Lestari & Yasuhito Jibiki & Daisuke Sasaki & Dicky Pelupessy & Agustino Zulys & Fumihiko Imamura, 2021. "People’s Response to Potential Natural Hazard-Triggered Technological Threats after a Sudden-Onset Earthquake in Indonesia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-17, March.
    14. Beata Latos & Philippe Peyrillé & Thierry Lefort & Dariusz B. Baranowski & Maria K. Flatau & Piotr J. Flatau & Nelly Florida Riama & Donaldi S. Permana & Adam V. Rydbeck & Adrian J. Matthews, 2023. "The role of tropical waves in the genesis of Tropical Cyclone Seroja in the Maritime Continent," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    15. Schwab Bakombo & Paulette Ewalefo & Anne T. M. Konkle, 2023. "The Influence of Social Media on the Perception of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Content Analysis of Public Discourse on YouTube Videos," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-15, February.
    16. Misato Uehara & Makoto Fujii & Kazuki Kobayashi & Keita Shiba, 2022. "Narrative-Based Disaster Learning Programmes Simultaneously Improve People’s Disaster Awareness Scores, Willingness to Pay and Settlement Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, May.
    17. Kingston, Kylie L. & Luke, Belinda & Furneaux, Craig & Alderman, Lyn, 2023. "Examining the re-territorialisation of beneficiary accountability: Digitising nonprofit services in response to COVID-19," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(5).
    18. Fengwan Zhang & Xueling Bao & Xin Deng & Wei Wang & Jiahao Song & Dingde Xu, 2022. "Does Trust Help to Improve Residents’ Perceptions of the Efficacy of Disaster Preparedness? Evidence from Wenchuan and Lushan Earthquakes in Sichuan Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-15, April.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-02957-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.