Social media analysis reveals how international solidarity shifts during prolonged conflict
Some of the best research questions begin in the classroom. A new publication by political scientist A. Burcu Bayram and psychologist Vivian P. Ta-Johnson (UT San Antonio) in the journal Political Psychology is an example of how class discussions with engaged and insightful students can inspire innovative research.
A new study published in the journal Political Psychology explores how international solidarity evolves during extended geopolitical conflicts. Researchers A. Burcu Bayram and Vivian P. Ta-Johnson analyzed over 1.2 million English-language tweets posted on social media during the first ten months of the Russia-Ukraine war. The findings reveal that while public attention initially surged, engagement gradually declined as the war persisted.
Posts became shorter, retweeting decreased, and emotional and cognitive expression became less complex. Interestingly, psychological distance—the perceived separation between oneself and the conflict—also diminished over time. These changes suggest that as the conflict became more embedded in the global digital landscape, people expressed themselves in more personally meaningful ways rather than simply losing interest.
The research challenges the notion that reduced engagement indicates disinterest, instead highlighting a shift towards more grounded forms of involvement. The findings emphasize the need for communication strategies and policy frameworks that account for the evolving psychological engagement across the lifespan of a sustained crisis.
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