The Role of Language in Shaping Public Opinion: A Discourse Analysis of Netizen Comments on Digital Platforms
Abstract
The rapid development of social media as a digital public sphere has transformed how individuals construct, express, and negotiate public opinion. The language used in netizen comments serves as a primary medium for representing emotions, identity, and social perceptions. This phenomenon has become increasingly relevant amid growing polarization, misinformation, and intense digital interactions. This study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the role of language in shaping public opinion through discourse analysis of netizen comments on digital platforms. Using a qualitative approach with a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) design, this research explores meaning, lived experiences, and power relations embedded in linguistic practices. Data were collected through document analysis of social media comments, in-depth interviews with 15–20 active users, and non-participatory observation. The findings reveal three main themes: language as an expression of collective emotions, a marker of identity and social affiliation, and a tool for negotiating reality. These findings show that digital public opinion is formed through emotional expression, social pressure, and dynamic meaning construction, with implications for discourse studies, digital literacy, and public communication.
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