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Publication Detailed Description
Centralized hashtags, embedded discourse: Two structural logics of youth climate activism on social media
Journal Title
European Journal of Communication
Year (definitive publication)
2026
Language
English
Country
United Kingdom
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Abstract
Youth-led climate action increasingly unfolds on digital platforms, where hashtags structurally connect issues, actors, and publics. Using hashtag co-occurrence data (2022–2024) from prominent youth climate activists on X and Portuguese youth climate activists on Instagram, this study applies link community analysis, which captures overlapping multi-membership structures that node-based clustering obscures. Two contrasting structural logics emerge. The international network exhibits a centralized configuration in which core climate hashtags such as #FridaysForFuture and #Peoplenotprofit occupy bridging positions across issue communities, so that visibility and structural centrality closely align. The Portuguese network displays a more horizontal configuration in which climate-related hashtags co-occur with feminism, education, domestic politics, and art-based activism, embedding climate discourse within everyday publics. Digital climate publics take shape as relational structures produced through patterns of hashtag overlap and cross-issue connectivity.
Acknowledgements
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Keywords
climate change,hashtag,link community analysis,social network,young activism
Fields of Science and Technology Classification
- Media and Communications - Social Sciences
Funding Records
| Funding Reference | Funding Entity |
|---|---|
| 2025.01230.BD | FCT |
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