Network Analysis of the 2016 Presidential Campaign Tweets

TL;DR

This study used complex network analysis on approximately 27,000 tweets from 2016 US presidential candidates to uncover campaign stages, key topics, and leader-follower dynamics, highlighting Hillary Clinton's subordinate Twitter influence compared to Donald Trump.

Contribution

It is the first to analyze the 2016 US presidential campaign tweets using network analysis to reveal campaign phases, topics, and influence relationships.

Findings

Hillary Clinton's Twitter influence was subordinate to Donald Trump's.

Identified key recurring topics during the campaign.

Mapped leader-follower relationships among candidates.

Abstract

We applied complex network analysis to ~27,000 tweets posted by the 2016 presidential election's principal participants in the USA. We identified the stages of the election campaigns and the recurring topics addressed by the candidates. Finally, we revealed the leader-follower relationships between the candidates. We conclude that Secretary Hillary Clinton's Twitter performance was subordinate to that of Donald Trump, which may have been one factor that led to her electoral defeat.