The Trust Dilemma: Whom Shall I Believe? Navigating the Narrative Maze of the Israel-Palestine Conflict through Social Media of Mainstream News Networks
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51698/tripodos.2025.58.02Keywords:
Israel-Palestine conflict, social media, X handles, social network analysis, information distribution, news imbalanceAbstract
This study examines how news related to the Israel-Palestine conflict is reported on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) by renowned mainstream television news networks like Fox News, Al Jazeera English, BBC News World, CNNnews18, and CGTN. Using social network analysis (SNA) in conjunction with thematic analysis, it tries to determine biases and inequalities in news coverage and presentation. SNA reveals significant differences in disseminating information by these mainstream news networks, with Al Jazeera English’s X handle identified as a key influencer on the social web. In contrast, other accounts show fewer connections, indicating uneven content visibility in the social media landscape. The thematic analysis highlights that Al Jazeera English’s X handle provides broader, more detailed coverage, while other outlets offer more selective or contradictory perspectives. The findings of this study suggest that social media reportage on international conflict-based issues lacks uniformity, and potentially shapes public perceptions according to the content they consume. Further, this study emphasizes the need for critical digital media literacy, particularly on social media, where news can become fragmented and fragile.
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Este estudio examina cómo las noticias relacionadas con el conflicto entre Israel y Palestina se difunden en la plataforma de redes sociales X (anteriormente conocida como Twitter) por reconocidas redes de noticias de televisión como Fox News, Al Jazeera English, BBC News World, CNN-News18 y China Global Television Network (CGTN). Utilizando el análisis de redes sociales (ARS) junto con el análisis temático cuantitativo, el estudio intenta determinar los sesgos y las variaciones en la exhaustividad de los temas en la cobertura de noticias. SNA revela diferencias significativas en la difusión de información, con la cuenta en X de Al Jazeera English emergiendo como un actor clave debido a su enfoque regional y prioridades editoriales. Por el contrario, otras cuentas muestran menos conexiones, lo que indica variaciones de visibilidad y enfoque temático. El análisis temático cuantitativo destaca que la cuenta en X de Al Jazeera English proporciona una cobertura más amplia y detallada del conflicto entre Israel y Palestina, incluidos los acontecimientos en la Corte Internacional de Justicia (CIJ) y la Corte Penal Internacional (CPI). Esto refleja su posición como red con sede en Oriente Medio. El estudio también confirma la naturaleza politizada de los medios de comunicación, que adaptan el contenido para satisfacer las expectativas de su público objetivo. Las cuentas en X en inglés de países no angloparlantes, como CGTN, reflejan estrategias editoriales únicas dirigidas a audiencias globales. Estos hallazgos subrayan la necesidad de seguir investigando cómo las plataformas de redes sociales dan forma al marco y la visibilidad de los conflictos internacionales.
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