Digital Political Communication in the European Parliament: A Comparative Analysis of Threads and X During the 2024 Elections

In an era marked by digital transformation and political polarization, the European Union faces significant challenges in maintaining effective communication and public trust. This study examines the European Parliament’s use of Threads and X (formerly Twitter) during the 2024 European Parliament el...

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Main Authors: Ana Velasco Molpeceres, Jorge Miranda-Galbe, María Prieto Muñiz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Journalism and Media
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5172/6/1/42
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author Ana Velasco Molpeceres
Jorge Miranda-Galbe
María Prieto Muñiz
author_facet Ana Velasco Molpeceres
Jorge Miranda-Galbe
María Prieto Muñiz
author_sort Ana Velasco Molpeceres
collection DOAJ
description In an era marked by digital transformation and political polarization, the European Union faces significant challenges in maintaining effective communication and public trust. This study examines the European Parliament’s use of Threads and X (formerly Twitter) during the 2024 European Parliament elections, analyzing the types of content published, multimedia resources employed, and engagement generated on both platforms. Using a quantitative content analysis of 171 posts from the official English-language accounts, this research identifies key differences in communication strategies across platforms. Findings reveal that X prioritizes video content, mentions, and reposts, fostering higher user engagement, whereas Threads leans toward infographics and a more informative approach. The study highlights the fragmented nature of digital political communication and underscores the necessity for the European Parliament to adapt its strategies to the dynamics of each platform. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of institutional communication in an evolving digital ecosystem and its implications for electoral mobilization and public discourse.
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spelling doaj-art-1bb9092ce40e403fadceedddb0f0e5d12025-08-20T03:43:27ZengMDPI AGJournalism and Media2673-51722025-03-01614210.3390/journalmedia6010042Digital Political Communication in the European Parliament: A Comparative Analysis of Threads and X During the 2024 ElectionsAna Velasco Molpeceres0Jorge Miranda-Galbe1María Prieto Muñiz2Departamento de Periodismo y Nuevos Medios, Facultad de Ciencias de la Información, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Periodismo y Nuevos Medios, Facultad de Ciencias de la Información, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Periodismo y Nuevos Medios, Facultad de Ciencias de la Información, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainIn an era marked by digital transformation and political polarization, the European Union faces significant challenges in maintaining effective communication and public trust. This study examines the European Parliament’s use of Threads and X (formerly Twitter) during the 2024 European Parliament elections, analyzing the types of content published, multimedia resources employed, and engagement generated on both platforms. Using a quantitative content analysis of 171 posts from the official English-language accounts, this research identifies key differences in communication strategies across platforms. Findings reveal that X prioritizes video content, mentions, and reposts, fostering higher user engagement, whereas Threads leans toward infographics and a more informative approach. The study highlights the fragmented nature of digital political communication and underscores the necessity for the European Parliament to adapt its strategies to the dynamics of each platform. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of institutional communication in an evolving digital ecosystem and its implications for electoral mobilization and public discourse.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5172/6/1/42social mediaTwitterXThreadspolitical communicationdigital communication
spellingShingle Ana Velasco Molpeceres
Jorge Miranda-Galbe
María Prieto Muñiz
Digital Political Communication in the European Parliament: A Comparative Analysis of Threads and X During the 2024 Elections
Journalism and Media
social media
Twitter
X
Threads
political communication
digital communication
title Digital Political Communication in the European Parliament: A Comparative Analysis of Threads and X During the 2024 Elections
title_full Digital Political Communication in the European Parliament: A Comparative Analysis of Threads and X During the 2024 Elections
title_fullStr Digital Political Communication in the European Parliament: A Comparative Analysis of Threads and X During the 2024 Elections
title_full_unstemmed Digital Political Communication in the European Parliament: A Comparative Analysis of Threads and X During the 2024 Elections
title_short Digital Political Communication in the European Parliament: A Comparative Analysis of Threads and X During the 2024 Elections
title_sort digital political communication in the european parliament a comparative analysis of threads and x during the 2024 elections
topic social media
Twitter
X
Threads
political communication
digital communication
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5172/6/1/42
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