Netizen Sentiments and Demands in the Context of Normalized Epidemic Prevention and Control: A Comparative Study of Three Provincial Capitals in China

Abstract

This study analyzes social media posts in three of mainland China’s provincial capitals during outbreaks of COVID-19 in late 2021 and whether the demands and sentiments expressed in these posts were associated with the cities’ levels of economic development. We found that, despite media censorship, negative sentiments exceeded 90% of the total content of posts during the recent COVID prevention and control measures. The most frequent two demands were for epidemic prevention and control—which accounted for more than half of the content—and travel and transportation. We also found that opposition to prevention and control measures and demands for daily essentials were negatively associated with urban economic development. In addition, Internet users from more developed cities were more likely to express psychological demands, for instance, the desire for human interaction and the need for leisure and entertainment.