In progress paper: ‘We’re not talking anymore: A longitudinal study of political conversation on Facebook through four UK General Elections’ (2025)
Abstract
Over four UK General Elections (2015, 2017, 2019, 2024) the empirical research project which underpins this research note has tracked political talk on Facebook in the same four parliamentary constituencies, comparing, observing and analysing how individual voters engaged with each other and with election candidates.
Over the decade, the study identified a diminishing civility and a diminishing willingness to engage in political conversation, complementing global research in this field.
This paper applies retrospective analysis to field notes and data collected in real time, looking for key themes that emerged at each election and the diachronic changes observed.
Initially presented in 2018, this paper updates findings from the continuation of the research over two further elections and charts the evolving methodology of the study as new questions emerged. It adds a historical perspective to current research on the political toxicity of social media.
Read PDF of draft paper:
Sue Greenwood 