Hijab row verdict in India: A sentimental analysis of user responses on Facebook

Title

Hijab row verdict in India: A sentimental analysis of user responses on Facebook

Creator

Joseph, Nimmy Maria; Raveendran, Ritu

Description

The hijab controversy, a hot topic in India since January 2022, emerged from a clash between students and college authorities in Karnataka, a state in India. The dispute made its way to Karnatakas High Court, which, on 15 March 2022, ruled that the hijab was not mandatory for religious practices. This decision stirred widespread debates, especially on social media platforms like Facebook. This study is focused on user reactions in The Times of India Dailys official Facebook page, employing sentiment analysis to decipher public emotions, attitudes, and opinions. Nearly 200 comments posted on the verdict day were analyzed, utilizing the routine activity theory (RAT), spiral of silence theory, and online disinhibition effect. The research introduced a unique model, RAT+A, to enhance analysis. As a significant platform for public discourse, Facebook played a crucial role in capturing diverse societal sentiments and reactions regarding this social issue. 2025, First Monday. All rights reserved.

Source

First Monday;Volume;30;Issue;2;

Date

01-01-2025

Publisher

First Monday

Coverage

Joseph N.M., Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru, India; Raveendran R., Department of Media Studies, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, India

Rights

All Open Access; Gold Open Access

Relation

ISSN: 13960466;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Article

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v30i2.13371

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85218769165?origin=resultslist