Identifying Domain-specific Opinion Leaders in Twitter (X): An Optimized Approach

Authors : Nurullah Karaca, Onur Ayas

Pages : 65-81

Doi:10.33709/ictimaiyat.1404626

View : 28 | Download : 40

Publication Date : 2024-05-31

Article Type : Research

Abstract :The role of opinion leaders on Twitter to analyze and understand the diffusion of information cannot be overlooked. The coming of the information age and the advent of social networking platforms have not eliminated opinion leadership but rather led to the emergence of its new forms. In this line, this paper deals with organically identifying opinion leaders on Twitter, based on the list feature. The method relies on the meta-data of Twitter lists, containing semantic cues to infer the topical expertise of its members. Based on the studies that have already shown the effectiveness of this method, this paper further illustrates in detail how the method can be employed flexibly to identify highly influential Twitter users in any specific domain. In this regard, the method can be adapted to different research questions, allowing researchers to apply it to suit their specific objectives and data. This paper also presents a novel approach as to how influential Twitter users identified through Twitter lists can be ranked. The ranking index proposed is attentive to both vertical (public perception and engagement) and horizontal (peer perception) dimensions of information diffusion.
Keywords : X/Twitter, Kanaat önderleri, Bilginin yayılımı, Sosyal ağlar