the new tools from Indiana University to visualize information on Twitter via @sejournal and @Juxtacognition
Three new Twitter tools have been released by Indiana University’s Observatory on Social Media. They allow users to look at information on social media apps more closely.
People who want to see how information is moving through Twitter and what topics are most popular now have the tools they need.
Visualizing information spread on Twitter
The Observatory on Social Media, OSoMe, Indiana University, created the collection. It includes three tools that allow you to comprehensively analyze the messages, conversations, and polarization of online discussions about tweets and hashtags.
- Networks Tools – Creates 3D maps to visualize information networks, including mentions, retweets and relations between hashtags.
- Trends tool – Tracks the volume of tweets within a particular hashtag, URL, keyword, or keyword over time in order to identify trending subjects, viral content, specific topics, brands, products, or stock topics.
- BotAmp tool – Use this tool to identify and measure bot activity in relation to a keyword or hashtag, and then compare it across topics.
You often hear that something is viral. But how do you know? You can see what is happening in the conversation, who are the participants, and what viral messages are being sent. You can also visualize polarization. It allows for the exploration of topics and their interdependence,” stated Filippo Menczer, director of OSoMe and Luddy Distinguished professor of Computer Science and Informatics at the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering.
These tools gather approximately 10% of all tweets (or 50 million per day), which is then indexed, analyzed, and then shared with the public. This data is kept for three years. Users can then examine historical trends and analyze the data to create a complete picture of topics and trends over time.
These social media tools can be used along with APIs and data on OSoMe.
An In-depth Look at Online Communication and Inauthentic Behavior
OSoMe is a collaboration between the Network Science Institute, Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research at Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering and Indiana University’s Media School, which specializes in studying information, misinformation, and vulnerability that have arisen with social media.
Although this may seem like a platform-specific issue, researchers discovered that many of these tactics can have real consequences offline.
One example of such projects is the manipulation of Twitter via deletions.
Researchers examined more than a million deletions from over 11 million accounts and found that only a few bad actors strategically delete large quantities of content in order to circumvent Twitter volume limits.
They also discovered networks of accounts that coordinated to delete content similar and different. This technique artificially increases the popularity of certain content while avoiding detection.
These topics were then embraced by brands, users, and media, expanding their reach beyond the platform.
A new generation of tools and analysis for brands and publishers
The OSoMe tools are valuable for journalists, researchers, users, and others.
Companies, marketers, and non-profits will need to look at the data they have.
For example, personas were once based upon basic demographic information.
Marketers can now understand social networks through deep dives
- Language patterns
- Pain points
- Customer education opportunities
- Branding and content gaps
- Keyword usage and intent
- Segments and target markets
- Marketing and advertising gaps
- Profitable partnerships
This is only the beginning. Marketers can greatly expand their data insights and research through analysis of information networks, keyword usage, and hashtags on Twitter.
One caveat is that as tools offer a deeper look into the systems used by the digital world, marketers, journalists, and other stakeholders will need to be careful about how they interpret and make assumptions about data.
Featured Image: Andrii Yalanskyi/Shutterstock
