Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

6-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Program

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Amy Adamczyk

Committee Members

Joshua Freilich

Jeremy Porter

Matthew Williams

Subject Categories

Criminology

Keywords

Social media, user-generated data, major criminal incidents, gun violence

Abstract

User-generated online data has, in recent years, become an important basis for sociological research, and the ubiquity of social media presages the importance of an increased understanding of its inner workings in the spheres of criminology and sociology. This dissertation examines the dynamics of user-generated information on social media and social news in the wake of 53 criminal incidents which generated higher-than-average interest online. Using multiple platforms and analytical techniques, I investigate the dynamics of within- and between-platform information uptake, examine potential avenues and drawbacks of the actionable information available online during a crisis, and describe patterns and focal topics relating to xenophobic and othering language, gun rights and gun control, misinformation, and risk amplification.

Included in

Criminology Commons

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