Social Media And The Formation Of Public Opinion On Security-Related Incidents In Vietnam: Evidence From Facebook And Tiktok

Abstract

The strong development of social networks has changed the way the public accesses information and forms public opinion on security and order cases. In the context that Facebook and TikTok have become two highly influential platforms in Vietnam, identifying the mechanism of forming and spreading public opinion on these platforms is significant both theoretically and practically. The article aims to analyze the role of social networks in the process of forming public opinion through data from Facebook and TikTok related to security and order incidents of public interest. The study used a qualitative research method based on secondary data. Data sources include public posts, videos, and comments on Facebook and TikTok, combined with articles from mainstream media, regulatory reports, and domestic and international research works. The data is processed by content analysis and thematic analysis methods to identify the characteristics of the process of forming, amplifying and spreading public opinion in the digital environment. The results of the study show that the formation of public opinion on social networks is simultaneously affected by four groups of factors: (i) characteristics of security and order events; (ii) the content distribution mechanism of the digital platform; (iii) user interaction and sharing behavior; and (iv) the participation of mainstream media actors. On that basis, the study proposes a conceptual model of the process of forming public opinion on social networks in the context of security and order incidents in Vietnam, and at the same time gives some implications for public communication, information management and orientation of public opinion in the digital environment.