Understanding Viral Messages on Telegram: A Deep Dive into the World's Largest Hybrid Messenger
30.09.2023
In a comprehensive study titled "Characteristics of Viral Messages on Telegram; The World's Largest Hybrid Public and Private Messenger", researchers Arash Dargahi Nobari, Malikeh Haj Khan Mirzaye Sarraf, Mahmood Neshati, and Farnaz Erfanian Daneshvar explore the nature and characteristics of viral messages on Telegram. This article delves into the key findings of this study, shedding light on the dynamics of message virality on this unique platform.
The study meticulously analyzed 451,735 crawled messages, out of which 18,566 were identified as viral, based on parameters like the difference between a view counter of a message and view counter of other messages in the neighborhood. The researchers employed six annotators to categorize the messages and determine their sentiment, ensuring a broad representation of topics including news, education, sports, etc.
The viral messages were categorized into several groups, including Announcements, Events, Celebrity posts, Promotions, Emotional messages, Achievements, and others. Each category had its sub-categories and a varying number of messages, providing a multifaceted view of the types of content that gain traction on Telegram.
- Announcements: Public announcements issued by channels, e.g., a blocked road on a specific date.
- Events: Natural and unexpected events such as a devastating earthquake.
- Celebrity: Posts published by famous celebrities or their opinions on different matters.
- Promotion: Discounts and special conditions of sale for different productions and services.
- Emotional: Messages that stimulate public emotion, e.g., pictures of child labors.
- Achievements: Different achievements in the contexts of sports, nation, and industry.
The study also performed sentiment analysis on the viral messages, categorizing them as negative, positive, and neutral. Out of 18,566 viral messages, 5,388 were negative, 5,125 were positive, and 8,053 were neutral. This analysis provides insights into the emotional tone of the content that tends to go viral on Telegram.
Understanding the characteristics of viral messages on Telegram can have significant implications for various domains, including marketing, public relations, and information dissemination. The detailed categorization and sentiment analysis performed in this study offer valuable insights for anyone looking to leverage Telegram for reaching wider audiences.
The study suggests further exploration of group-based communication dynamics and the development of models to predict message virality on Telegram. Additionally, the integration of user behavior analysis can enhance the understanding of information flow and user interaction on this platform.
Telegram stands out as a hybrid public and private messenger, hosting a myriad of messages that gain virality due to various factors. The study by Nobari et al. serves as a foundational piece in unraveling the characteristics of viral messages on Telegram, offering a structured overview of the types of messages and their sentiments that resonate with the users.
For a more detailed exploration of the study's methodology, findings, and implications, refer to the full research document.