To better understand the public discourse surrounding UFOs on social media, this study employs a hybrid methodological approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative analyses of X platform (formerly Twitter) posts. We used Thick Big Data Method, employing our own Python script and scraped posts from the X platform (formerly Twitter) to study the patterns and narrations that occur in communication about UFOs. For scrapping, we have chosen hashtags directly connected with the subject of the analysis: #UFO (117 k of Tweets), #UFOsightings (21 k), #Aliens (79 k), and #UAP (66 k). The collected data were set in the timeframe of March 2022 to November 2023. From each hashtag, we extracted samples of the 25 most liked, English-language Tweets (100 in total) including the keywords: expert(s), and scientist(s).
Thereafter, each Tweet was analyzed in terms of popularity, including content such as pictures, videos, memes, URL links, rhetorical means, main subjects, pro-UFO arguments, main emotions linked to the content, type of expert—UFO-witness, scientist, self-explorer, other, presentation of experts with the visual elements. Each section contained questions and categories, which were later used for a thorough narrative and rhetorical analysis. The sources of this data are clearly cited in the article, and readers may access them by contacting the lead author. Furthermore, the data contains anti-scientific content of a misleading nature, which carries the risk of unethical use.
