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Analyzing Key Network Structures of 2022 Malaysian General Elections from the Lens of Instagram

Authors:
Sayantan Bhattacharya
Nitin Agarwal

Keywords: Social Network Analysis; Malaysia General Election; CFSA

Abstract:
This study explores social media’s role in shaping political discourse during the 2022 Malaysian general election, focusing on Instagram as a key platform. Using an approach that combines Contextual Focal Structure Analysis (CFSA) and topic modeling, we analyze 53,116 Instagram posts from the election period. Our research aims to identify influential actors, map information flow patterns, and uncover dominant themes in online political conversations. The CFSA method reveals intricate networks of journalists, media houses, politicians, and political parties, highlighting the complex interplay between media and politics in the digital sphere. Our findings demonstrate social media’s significant impact on Malaysia’s political landscape, showing how digital platforms facilitate the convergence of traditional media, political actors, and public opinion. We observe distinct patterns of information flow and influence, with certain focal structures dominating the discourse. The study also uncovers key topics that resonated with the Malaysian electorate during the election. This research contributes to understanding digital democracy in Malaysia and offers insights into the evolving nature of political communication in the social media age. Our methodology provides an approach for analyzing complex digital interactions in political contexts, with potential applications beyond the Malaysian case study.

Pages: 11 to 16

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2024

Publication date: September 29, 2024

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2326-9294

ISBN: 978-1-68558-198-5

Location: Venice, Italy

Dates: from September 29, 2024 to October 3, 2024