Main narratives:
- General anti-government sentiments;
- The incompetence of the current government;
- Anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments;
- Anti-Green Deal statements.
Overview:
During the examined week, narratives focused on domestic issues, particularly around vaccines, same-sex marriage, and climate change. The discussion on vaccines was prominent across various social media platforms, largely driven by recent lethal diphtheria incidents. These events were used to revive anti-vaccine sentiments, with many drawing connections to COVID-19 and reinforcing the notion that vaccines are a government tool for control and oppression. This narrative was particularly popular among groups already skeptical of public health measures, gaining traction through conspiracy theories about government overreach.
Regarding same-sex marriage, anti-LGBTQ+ narratives circulated but failed to gain significant engagement, particularly on major platforms like Facebook and TikTok. While these topics were discussed, the level of interaction was notably lower compared to previous weeks. It suggests that, at least during this reporting period, the issue did not resonate as strongly with the online audience.
In terms of platform dynamics, TikTok remained the dominant social media platform in terms of reach and engagement, particularly among both Russian and Latvian-speaking audiences. Its short-form video content allowed for rapid dissemination of narratives, with videos often gaining high levels of interaction. Meanwhile, activity on Facebook continued to decline, likely due to demographic shifts and content preferences. On the other hand, engagement on X/Twitter increased, indicating a potential shift in user behavior and the platform’s growing relevance for these types of discussions.
Overall, while vaccine narratives and government criticism dominated the week, other issues like LGBTQ+ rights and climate change remained present but were less influential in driving widespread engagement.
