Nelly Tincheva

Facebook Posting as Socio-Political Action in Bulgaria’s Quarantine and Social Distancing Contexts

Introduction

Facebook posting as socio-political action in bulgaria’s quarantine and social distancing contexts. Examine how Bulgarian Facebook users' socio-political posting changed during COVID-19 quarantine and social distancing, and how online communication is seen as real action.

Abstract

The paper explores dynamics in Facebook users’ attitudes towards their interaction on the platform before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. It reports on a questionnaire-based study involving 120 respondents from Bulgaria, where Facebook enjoys an atypical 98% of all social media site visits. The investigation registers trends in attitudes to Facebook posting during the quarantine period and during the social-distancing period; these are contrasted with pre-pandemic data. The data reveal that, before the pandemic, Facebook was used socio-politically in order to debate a socio-political issue and to exchange socio-political information. In the quarantine period, people used Facebook primarily to debate a socio-political issue and to motivate others to take socio-political (in)action. In the social-distancing period, people used Facebook primarily to motivate others to take socio-political (in)action and to debate a socio-political issue. Special attention is paid to one of the registered tendencies, namely the steep increase in respondents’ viewing their posting on Facebook as performing actual socio-political action. An explanation is offered as to how online FACEBOOK COMMUNICATION comes to be conceptualized as offline ACTION.

Review

This paper offers a timely and insightful exploration into the evolving nature of Facebook usage for socio-political action, particularly within the distinct contexts of COVID-19 quarantine and social distancing. Its focus on Bulgaria, where Facebook holds an exceptionally dominant position in the social media landscape (98% of social media visits), provides a unique and valuable case study for understanding digital civic engagement in a specific cultural and media ecosystem. The comparative approach, contrasting pre-pandemic attitudes with those during two distinct phases of the pandemic (quarantine and social distancing), is a methodological strength that allows for the identification of nuanced shifts in user behavior and perception. The abstract clearly delineates significant shifts in how Bulgarian Facebook users engaged with the platform for socio-political purposes. Prior to the pandemic, engagement primarily revolved around debating socio-political issues and exchanging information. However, the quarantine period saw an increased emphasis on motivating socio-political (in)action, a trend that further intensified during the social-distancing phase, where it surpassed debate as the primary motivation. The study, based on a questionnaire with 120 respondents, effectively highlights these attitudinal changes. A particularly compelling finding, and a central focus of the paper, is the "steep increase" in respondents conceptualizing their Facebook posts as performing *actual* socio-political action, which points to a profound re-evaluation of online engagement during crisis periods. The paper's ambition to provide an explanation for how "online FACEBOOK COMMUNICATION comes to be conceptualized as offline ACTION" is a significant theoretical undertaking and promises to be a central contribution. This conceptual leap is crucial for understanding the evolving relationship between digital platforms and real-world civic participation, especially in times of restricted physical interaction. While the abstract does not elaborate on the specifics of this explanation, the premise itself is compelling and addresses a core question in digital activism research. The full paper should meticulously unpack the mechanisms and mediating factors driving this reconceptualization, potentially drawing on theories of collective action, performativity, or digital citizenship, to fully justify this crucial conceptual bridge. The findings offer fertile ground for future research into the dynamics of digital engagement in unique national contexts.

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