Topics of Conversation on Twitter Surrounding Government Shutdown Percent of conversation GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
The Pew Research Center analyzed about 600,000 tweets that directly referred to the government shutdown from September 27-30. The largest component of the conversation (35% of the assertions) was made up of tweets relaying straight news accounts and information without comment, while 26% focused on impact of a government shutdown, such as the effects on the stock market, federal employees or the economy as a whole.
Almost as much of the Obamacare conversation (42%) focused on straight news as opinions over the law (43%). Much less of the discussion involved the implementation of the health care changes. Confusion and concerns about potential problems associated with implementing the law made up 10%, while messages pointing people to where they could get information about enrolling in the new exchanges made up 5%. (The analysis ended on Monday, Sept. 30, the day before the exchanges became active.)
Topics of Conversation on Twitter  | Surrounding Government Shutdown  | Percent of conversation  | GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN  | Straight news  | 35%  | Effects &  | 26  | consequences  | 17  | Blame Republicans  | Let the shutdown  | happen  | Jokes  | Blame Democrats/  | Obama  | OBAMA CARE  | Straight news  | 42%  | Oppose Obamacare  | 31  | Support Obamacare  | 12  | Problems with  | 10  | implementation  | How to get  | information about  | implementation  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 