Extracting and categorising the reactions to COVID-19 by the South African public -- A social media study

TL;DR

This study analyzes South African social media discussions during COVID-19 to understand public reactions and how they compare to government policies, providing a framework for future disaster communication analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a semi-automated framework for analyzing social media discussions related to government responses during a pandemic in South Africa.

Findings

Identification of common and divergent discussion topics

Insights into public opinion on government measures

Framework for future social media analysis during crises

Abstract

Social Media can be used to extract discussion topics during a disaster. With the COVID-19 pandemic impact on South Africa, we need to understand how the law and regulation promulgated by the government in response to the pandemic contrasts with discussion topics social media users have been engaging in. In this work, we expand on traditional media analysis by using Social Media discussions driven by or directed to South African government officials. We find topics that are similar as well as different in some cases. The findings can inform further study into social media during disaster settings in South Africa and beyond. This paper sets a framework for future analysis in understanding the opinions of the public during a pandemic and how these opinions can be distilled [in a semi-automated approach] to inform government communication in the future.