GHP-TNL Two Quantitative Case Studies of Social Media in Conflict Situations

Wing Chan, Luke Matthews, Omair Khan, James Ryseff

The goal of this project is to conduct two detailed quantitative case studies of how misinformation originates and spreads and how collective narratives form on social media. Developing a collective narrative is important to sustaining a social movement. Collective narrative can also serve a resource as it promotes collective identity and a sense of community (Rappaport, 1995). To understand these dynamics, we propose two specific cases: the ongoing pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, and the 2019 air strikes and skirmishes in Balakot, Pakistan.