Sentiment Analysis of Selected Comments on #SaveGaza on Tiktok Posts
Abstract
This study examines the sentiment expressed in TikTok comments under the hashtag #SaveGaza to explore the emotional dynamics and key themes within this digital public. TikTok’s unique short-video format and predominantly young user base provide a distinctive environment for political and humanitarian discourse. Sentiment analysis, which classifies text into positive, negative, or neutral categories, was applied to a 100 sampled dataset of highly engaged comments on #SaveGaza posts. The analysis revealed that negative sentiment dominated, reflecting widespread anger, grief, and frustration related to the Gaza crisis. Positive sentiment was also significant, expressing solidarity, hope, and calls for peace, while neutral comments provided factual context and historical information. Key themes identified include activism, media criticism, personal storytelling, and human rights advocacy. These findings align with the concept of affective publics, where shared emotional expression on digital platforms fosters politically engaged communities. The study highlights the challenges of sentiment analysis on TikTok due to informal language, slang, emojis, and evolving online vernacular, suggesting the need for hybrid approaches combining automated tools with manual interpretation. Overall, this research contributes to understanding how sentiment analysis can be adapted to TikTok’s environment and underscores the platform’s role as a space for effective political engagement. The insights have practical implications for activists, policymakers, and scholars interested in digital public discourse on emerging social media platforms.