Telegram groups have risen in popularity across many countries. Telegram’s distinctive affordances—including encrypted messaging, anonymity, and the absence of algorithmic moderation—make it particularly attractive to users seeking secure and private environments for information exchange, compared to other messaging platforms. For some users, joining Telegram groups provides a space to connect, be entertained, and discuss issues that matter to them and their communities. In the small city-state of Singapore, Telegram gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, with hundreds of users joining anti-vaccination groups to read and exchange information and opinions about vaccines and related topics. For some, these groups may serve the function of a public sphere, which Jürgen Habermas conceptualized as a space where individuals come together to discuss community issues and propose solutions. A public sphere allows for free participation and the exchange of diverse perspectives through rational discourse. While originally envisioned as a physical space, the public sphere can also take the form of digital spaces, such as messaging app groups like those on Telegram. To what extent did Telegram groups in Singapore function as a public sphere? This study addresses this question through a computational analysis of more than 800,000 messages exchanged in two of the largest Telegram groups in Singapore over a one-month period. Using multi-level analyses—including network analysis and discursive analysis—this study examines network diversity, discussion toxicity, and argument rationality to assess whether these groups facilitated discourses characteristic of a public sphere.

Authors:
Edson Tandoc, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Pheng Khai Tan, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

About the Presenter(s)
Edson C. Tandoc Jr. is President’s Chair Professor of Communication Studies at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and the founding Director of the Centre for Information Integrity and the Internet (IN-cube).

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

Bookmark