Attitude Analysis in Flat Earther’s Community Post on Social Media ‘X’

Abstract

This research explores how evaluative language is used by members of the Flat Earther community on platform X (formerly Twitter) to construct meaning and reinforce group identity. The study adopts a descriptive qualitative approach, applying Martin and White’s (2005) Appraisal Theory to examine the expression of Attitude in selected social media posts. Twenty English-language posts were purposively chosen from verified accounts actively participating in the #FlatEarth conversation. The data, comprising words, phrases, and clauses containing evaluative elements, were analyzed using content analysis techniques, guided by Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña's (2014) interactive data analysis model. The findings reveal 113 instances of Attitude distributed across three categories: Affect (35 instances or 30.98%), Judgement (39 instances or 34.51%), and Appreciation (39 instances or 34.51%). The dominance of Judgement and Appreciation indicates that members frequently assess people’s behavior, credibility, and scientific claims, while also expressing value judgements towards evidence and phenomena. Meanwhile, Affect reflects expressions of personal feelings, such as satisfaction and security, contributing to emotional cohesion within the group. These patterns suggest that evaluative language plays a central role in fostering solidarity, building group narratives, and resisting mainstream scientific discourse. The study highlights the importance of language in shaping social meaning within online conspiracy communities and recommends further research to explore how similar patterns emerge across different cultural and digital contexts.