Search Terms and Virality
Mihika G -
Internet search trends and social media hashtag usage can be great indicators of public opinion, particularly through the lens of what the public is largely attracted to and consuming in the media. As such, I have looked into such patterns as a means to establish the context and significance of my project.
Google Searches
As Kamala Harris announced her candidacy, daily Google searches immediately spiked. Concurrently, it was found that one of the top rising search terms concurrently from these same users was “b*tch,” increasing by 1,050% as compared to before her statement of candidacy. A similar incidence was seen in 2016 when Hillary Clinton declared her intent to run for President. Beyond the word being an inherently female-based insult, there was no corresponding male-based critical searches surrounding Donald Trump in any of the three election cycles he campaigned in.
Social Media Hashtags
Similarly, viral posts with mentions of the term “b*tch” increased by 2,000% over this same time period across social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X, with viewership of these posts increasing by 3,000%.
Implications
This doesn’t necessarily have concrete implications in terms of my actual body of research, nor does this have a clear link to election outcomes. However, this establishes the basis for my project, in the sense that women and men who run for office aren’t subject to varying quantities of attacks; the difference lies in the nature of the criticism, with women experiencing more gender-based backlash.
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