milad abdollahi; sobhan yahyaie
Abstract
Today, media has become an inseparable part of people's lives, and users spend a significant portion of their time throughout the day on social media, constantly exposed to various ...
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Today, media has become an inseparable part of people's lives, and users spend a significant portion of their time throughout the day on social media, constantly exposed to various data and information. Unlike traditional media such as television and radio, in modern and social media, it has become easier to create a media wave around various topics on social platforms. Social media, by bringing about fundamental changes in communication and social interaction, has transformed the collective space of the past into the modern individualistic space. In terms of media interaction, the convergence that once prevailed has now turned into divergence, leading to a sense of passivity among users, especially adolescent users (Farahani & Saeed, 2012). However, social networks differ from social media and are considered a subset of social media. By joining social networks, individuals can access other users, become familiar with their interests, share their own text, audio, visual content, etc., and also form groups based on common interests (Afrasiabi, 2014). Today, with technological advancements and the onset of the digital era, social networks have become an important tool for users to shape and represent their individual and social identities. One such social network is Twitter, now renamed X, where users can freely and publicly share their opinions, perspectives, and worldviews on various issues. One of these issues is "sexual identity," which has received considerable representation on this platform and has led to discussions on Twitter. Content related to sexual identity is published in various forms on this network, generating interactions and responses that connect different users through algorithms and create user networks around this issue.
On the social network Twitter, now renamed X, the ease of use and the option to remain anonymous have led users to exhibit a certain level of openness in their content production and behavior on the platform. The term "openness in behavior" refers to being unreserved, outspoken, or freely expressing one’s views and opinions in social interactions. For Twitter users, this term refers to posts or comments that are direct, unfiltered, and candid, with little regard for social concerns or constraints. This openness in user behavior on Twitter has enhanced their self-expression, making the "self" they present clearer and more transparent. This self-expression means that users freely and openly share their feelings, views, and personal experiences on Twitter without paying much attention to social restrictions or assumptions. Through openness in behavior and self-expression on Twitter, users have the best opportunity to express and present their personal identity.
In general, and based on what has been discussed, it can be stated that individual and social identities are always influenced by various factors such as political, social, cultural, and others. Regarding sexual identity, it can also be said that in different societies, especially in those facing political and social constraints, social networks like Twitter can become a space for self-expression and representation. Due to the lack of political and social restrictions and the existence of an open space for self-expression, Twitter allows various identity groups to discuss and publicly share their identities without the limitations of the real world.
As the ability to produce content related to sexual identity increases on the Twitter social network, questions about the formation of user networks, the process of disseminating sexual identity-related content, and the mechanisms for content dissemination on Twitter, as well as its role in the acceptance of different identity groups, also become more prominent. Despite the increase in the publication of sexual identity-related content on Twitter, few studies have systematically analyzed such content. In this research, we aim to use big data analysis to explore how communication networks surrounding sexual identity are formed, how sexual identity-related content is published and reshared on the Twitter platform, and what media waves related to sexual identity have been formed during a specified time period in Persian Twitter, leading to discussions about sexual identity.
This research was designed and conducted with the aim of identifying communication networks formed in relation to sexual identity and the process of disseminating content related to sexual identity on the social network Twitter, within the period from March 21, 2023, to August 10, 2024. To achieve the research objectives, two methods were used: big data analysis using the Gephi visualization software and trend research. The results of these two methods identified 78 clusters and show that the data contain 9,361 nodes, 11,454 edges, with a modularity value of 0.858. Additionally, in the trend research method, 9 media waves were identified within the specified time frame. The theory used to analyze the findings was Manuel Castells’ Network Society Theory. According to Castells, it can be said that the Twitter social network creates a new space for the representation of sexual minority groups. By using this platform, sexual minorities have created small, like-minded communities to share and disseminate their experiences. This process allows them to distance themselves from the center and, through establishing communication in the digital space, connect with other users, forming networks based on their interests and beliefs. This leads them to move away from the dominant norms in society and to represent themselves in a space with greater security.
