From the comments section: Analyzing online public discourse on the first 2020 presidential debate

Abstract

This study explores the analysis of public reactions to presidential debates using a largely untapped social media data source—YouTube comments. My findings reveal a striking consistency in topics across YouTube channels, pointing to a shared perspective among viewers that goes beyond ideological differences. These results question the assumption that online behavior mirrors traditional media preferences, suggesting that viewers may not apply ideological biases in their selection of YouTube content, instead influenced by accessibility or algorithmic recommendations. My findings also highlight the potential of leveraging social media for identifying significant voter issues and concerns. Lastly, I highlight the distinctive nature of YouTube data and the potential of researchers to utilize it, especially in light of the limited availability of Twitter data.