Elections and Social Media Monitoring Case Study

This case study outlines the social media monitoring program developed by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) in Malaysia during the 2022 General Elections. The program aimed to enhance societal resilience against misinformation and hate speech in a politically volatile environment marked by rapid governmental changes. CIJ collaborated with various universities to monitor narratives across social media platforms, focusing on key issues such as race, religion, and the treatment of marginalized groups. The study details the methodologies employed, including the use of a customizable tool for data collection and categorization of content severity. It also highlights the challenges faced by monitors, primarily university students, in processing large volumes of data while maintaining mental well-being. The findings reveal that political narratives were predominantly propagated by unofficial actors rather than official party accounts. The case study emphasizes the importance of mental health support for monitors and suggests improvements for future social media monitoring initiatives in electoral contexts.