Ukrainian Information Flows in the Crimean Segment of Social Media: Social Network Analysis

Abstract

A critical review of modern domestic and foreign studies, reflecting the characteristics of the formation of information flows by Ukrainian network leaders on the problems of development of the Crimea in the Russian Federation aiming at the disintegration and deconsolidation of the Crimean community was done. On the basis of the carried out theoretical analysis and own research experience, a unique author’s method of analysis of the communication infrastructure of Ukrainian network flows, including social and media Analytics (using the online service for monitoring social media IQBuzz, total accumulated 1 000 000 relevant message), the method of social graphs (using the author’s software “Social graph” carried out the structuring of intra-group and inter-group relations of the most influential Ukrainian online network communities, the strategies of network leaders in the formation of user attitudes about the development of the Russian Crimea), cognitive mapping and discourse analysis of messages of Ukrainian blogs and online network communities (1200 relevant most meaningful messages, established linguistic methods of manipulation of the consciousness of the user audience). The article is devoted to the reporting about social network analysis, highlighting Ukrainian threads about the problems of development of Crimea on the types of generated discourses (Russian aggression, the illegitimacy of the annexation of the Crimea, Sevastopol and Russia, indoctrinate the Russian citizens and the discussion of the development of the Crimean community in the context of a referendum).