JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

When the first COVID-19 cases were noticed in China, many racist comments on Chinese individuals spread. As there is a huge need to better comprehend why all these targeted comments and opinions developed specifically then, this paper emerged to carefully examine racism and advocacy efforts on Twitter in the first trimester of 2020 (from January 15th to March 3rd, 2020).

Objective:

The first question aimed to understand which type of racism was displayed on Twitter during the first semester of 2020. The second question was to inquire about Twitter users' positive and negative responses regarding racism towards Chinese individuals.

Methods:

Content analysis was utilized. Using the NCapture browser link and the NVivo software, Tweets in English and Spanish from the Twitter data stream were pulled from January 15th to March 3rd, 2020. A total of 19,150 Tweets were captured using the advanced Twitter search engine with the keywords and hashtags #nosoyunvirus, #imNotAVirus, #ChineseDon’tComeToJapan, #racism, “No soy un virus” and,” Racismo Coronavirus.” After cleaning data, a total of 402 Tweets were codified and analyzed by the research team.

Results:

Data confirms racism against Chinese individuals during the first trimester of 2020. Tweets displayed individual, cultural, and institutional racism. Individual racism was the most reported form of racism—specifically, physical and verbal aggression. As a form of resistance, Twitter users created spaces for advocacy and activism. The hashtag “I am not a virus” helped to break stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination on Twitter. Advocacy efforts were enormous inside and outside the Chinese community; an allyship sentiment was fostered by some White members and an identification with the oppression experienced by Chinese in the Black and Muslim worldwide community. Activism through social media manifested through art, food sharing, and community support.

Conclusions:

Tweets displayed individual, cultural, and institutional racism against Chinese individuals. Individual racism was the most reported form of racism—specifically, physical and verbal aggression. As a form of resistance against racism, Twitter users created spaces for advocacy and activism. The hashtag “I am not a virus” helped break stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination on Twitter. White, Black, and Muslim allyship relationships were also present to support Chinese individuals. Activism through social media manifested through art, food sharing, and community support.