2013/05/08 by Mark Thamm, Arnim Bleier, Thamm, Mark +1
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · Social Sciences · #FOS: Computer and information sciences #FOS: Physical sciences #H.1.2 #Misinformation and Its Impacts #Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence #Physics and Society (physics.soc-ph) #Social Media and Politics #Social and Information Networks (cs.SI) #cs.SI #physics.soc-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1305.1734
6 pages, ACM Web Science 2013
arxiv created 2013/05/08 · openalex publication_date 2013/05/08 · arxiv updated 2013/05/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In this preliminary study we compare the characteristics of retweets and replies on more than 350,000 messages collected by following members of the German Federal Diet on Twitter. We find significant differences in the characteristics pointing to distinct types of usages for retweets and replies. Using time series and regression analysis we observe that the likelihood of a politician using replies increases with typical leisure times while retweets occur constant over time. Including formal references increases the probability of a message being retweeted but drops its chance of being replied. This hints to a more professional use for retweets while replies tend to have a personal connotation.