“I’ve Never Failed. A Global Pandemic Came, and I Got 0”: Researching the Circulation Process of a Tweet

Abstract

The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has had a major impact on the university sector, especially after authorities ordered the closure of educational institutions. This closure forced the adjustment of teaching to a virtual environment, affecting the entire educational community, especially students. In the face of this, social networks became the main platform for student protests against the enforced changes. This article examines the circulation process of a tweet generated by a university student on the impact of the new adaptations. To do so, a narrative methodological approach was developed through storytelling analysis. This analysis explores thematic approaches, participation frameworks, comments, and reactions derived from the original tweet. Among the most important findings are the trend toward the development of new stories and the production of responses where an aggressive and ironic tone predominate. This article also offers reflections on participatory culture in virtual environments. © Common Ground Research Networks, Javier Mula Falcon, Cristina Cruz Gonzalez, Jesus Domingo Segovia, Carmen Lucena Rodriguez, All Rights Reserved.