The Impact of COVID-19 on Twitter Ego Networks: Structure, Sentiment, and Topics
Journal:
arXiv
Published Date:
Jun 4, 2025
Abstract
Lockdown measures, implemented by governments during the initial phases of
the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce physical contact and limit viral spread,
imposed significant restrictions on in-person social interactions.
Consequently, individuals turned to online social platforms to maintain
connections. Ego networks, which model the organization of personal
relationships according to human cognitive constraints on managing meaningful
interactions, provide a framework for analyzing such dynamics. The disruption
of physical contact and the predominant shift of social life online potentially
altered the allocation of cognitive resources dedicated to managing these
digital relationships. This research aims to investigate the impact of lockdown
measures on the characteristics of online ego networks, presumably resulting
from this reallocation of cognitive resources. To this end, a large dataset of
Twitter users was examined, covering a seven-year period of activity. Analyzing
a seven-year Twitter dataset -- including five years pre-pandemic and two years
post -- we observe clear, though temporary, changes. During lockdown, ego
networks expanded, social circles became more structured, and relationships
intensified. Simultaneously, negative interactions increased, and users engaged
with a broader range of topics, indicating greater thematic diversity. Once
restrictions were lifted, these structural, emotional, and thematic shifts
largely reverted to pre-pandemic norms -- suggesting a temporary adaptation to
an extraordinary social context.
