Representation of Artificial Intelligence in Online Media: A Critical Discourse Analysis
Abstract
The phenomenon of interaction in digital spaces shows that language in netizen comments plays an increasingly significant role in shaping public opinion, especially amid the rapid flow of information that is often unverified. In the context of contemporary social and cultural life, online comments not only reflect individual viewpoints but also become arenas for the production of meaning, collective emotions, and the negotiation of identity. This study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of how language is used by netizens to shape, influence, and construct public opinion. The research employs a qualitative approach with a Critical Discourse Analysis design, involving 12 participants who are active users of digital media. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation of comment interactions on digital platforms, and document analysis in the form of comment texts. Data analysis was conducted thematically by tracing patterns of meaning that emerge in the discursive practices of participants. The findings reveal three main themes: language as an arena of collective emotion, as a means of negotiating social identity, and as an instrument of contesting meaning that reflects power relations. These findings indicate that public opinion in digital spaces is formed through complex interactions between emotions, the need for social recognition, and linguistic strategies used both consciously and unconsciously. Theoretically, this study enriches Critical Discourse Analysis by adding affective and subjective experiential dimensions. Practically, the results imply the importance of strengthening critical digital literacy, managing healthy online interactions, and developing public communication policies that are more sensitive to the dynamics of language in digital spaces.
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