An observational netnography study of post-pandemic anti-Asian racism

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Date
2024-08-02
Authors
Shen, Fang
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Abstract

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, anti-Asian racist sentiment has spread on social media (Martin & Yoon, 2021). The present study investigates how social media may play a role in fighting against anti-Asian racism. This qualitative research utilized AsianCrit (Kiang, 2016) as the theoretical framework. Public data were collected from major social media platforms—Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. This research applied netnography analysis (Kozinets, 2015), thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019), and critical discourse analysis (Fairclough, 1995) techniques to collect, interpret, and discuss the data. The findings reveal that the responses on social media platforms were diverse, ranging from heartfelt expressions of support to critical discussions about systemic issues, and that supportive posts outweighed the non-supportive and neutral posts. Social media played a crucial role in amplifying the voices of those advocating against Asian hate, fostering community, and raising awareness about the issue. However, posts on these platforms showcased the challenges of addressing such complex and deeply rooted societal problems. Data analysis confirmed that hatred towards Asians is not just a product of the pandemic; it is in part the result of systemic bias and the influence of White supremacy. The researcher concludes that to address the issue of hatred towards Asians, it is crucial to educate the general public about Asian history, not only at the societal level, but most importantly, early on with students during their K-12 education.

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Keywords
Asian-Hate Racism, Netnography, Critical Discourse Analysis, Critical Race Theory, AsianCrit
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