This is Where We Leave You

.title[
# This is Where We Leave You
]
.subtitle[
## Historic Retrospective of X/Twitter #Edchat
]
.author[
### Bret Staudt Willet + Jeff Carpenter + Hunhui Na (Florida State University + Elon University)
]
.date[
### October 20, 2024
]

---

# <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 576 512" style="height:1em;width:1.12em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#fff;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M160 32c-35.3 0-64 28.7-64 64V320c0 35.3 28.7 64 64 64H512c35.3 0 64-28.7 64-64V96c0-35.3-28.7-64-64-64H160zM396 138.7l96 144c4.9 7.4 5.4 16.8 1.2 24.6S480.9 320 472 320H328 280 200c-9.2 0-17.6-5.3-21.6-13.6s-2.9-18.2 2.9-25.4l64-80c4.6-5.7 11.4-9 18.7-9s14.2 3.3 18.7 9l17.3 21.6 56-84C360.5 132 368 128 376 128s15.5 4 20 10.7zM192 128a32 32 0 1 1 64 0 32 32 0 1 1 -64 0zM48 120c0-13.3-10.7-24-24-24S0 106.7 0 120V344c0 75.1 60.9 136 136 136H456c13.3 0 24-10.7 24-24s-10.7-24-24-24H136c-48.6 0-88-39.4-88-88V120z"/></svg>

**View the slides:**

[bretsw.com/aect24-edchat](https://bretsw.com/aect24-edchat)

---

---

On March 21, 2006, @jack posted

`"just setting up my twttr"`

<hr>

### A lot has changed in 18 years

---

**March 21, 2006:** Twitter launched for public use. Tweet length limited to 140 characters.

**July 2, 2009:** Hashtags (i.e., keywords preceded by the “#” symbol) included in tweets automatically become hyperlinks that connect users to the search results of all tweets containing that hashtag.

**November 6, 2009:** Retweet button added to the Twitter user interface, allowing users to easily rebroadcast content to their own followers.

**November 7, 2017:** Tweet length expanded to 280 characters.

**May–July, 2018:** Twitter changes policy on bot activity and begins removing millions of accounts.

**November 15, 2021:** Twitter API v2 becomes the primary API.

---

**October 28, 2022:** Elon Musk purchases Twitter, transforming the platform into a privately owned company.

**February 9, 2023:** Twitter ends free access to its API, both v1 and v2.

**Spring 2023:** Tweet length expanded to 4,000 characters (for paid users) on February 8, to 10,000 characters on April 14, and to 25,000 characters on June 27.

**June 2023:** Twitter ends access to the Academic API.

**July 23, 2023:** Twitter’s name is changed to X.

---

X/Twitter has garnered a lot of attention from academic researchers

<div class="caption">
Image source: <a href="https://www.connectedpapers.com/main/703c67511a6bc9c6db4993512aa18d036653ba94/graph">Connected Papers</a>
</div>

---

### Individual use <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 448 512" style="height:1em;width:0.88em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#782F40;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M438.6 278.6c12.5-12.5 12.5-32.8 0-45.3l-160-160c-12.5-12.5-32.8-12.5-45.3 0s-12.5 32.8 0 45.3L338.8 224 32 224c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32l306.7 0L233.4 393.4c-12.5 12.5-12.5 32.8 0 45.3s32.8 12.5 45.3 0l160-160z"/></svg> Spaces for learning

---

<div class="caption">
Image source: <a href="https://www.techspot.com/news/51337-new-myspace-goes-live-focuses-on-social-music.html">TechSpot</a>
</div>

---

---

# <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 640 512" style="height:1em;width:1.25em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#fff;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M456 0c-48.6 0-88 39.4-88 88v29.2L12.5 390.6c-14 10.8-16.6 30.9-5.9 44.9s30.9 16.6 44.9 5.9L126.1 384H259.2l46.6 113.1c5 12.3 19.1 18.1 31.3 13.1s18.1-19.1 13.1-31.3L311.1 384H352c1.1 0 2.1 0 3.2 0l46.6 113.2c5 12.3 19.1 18.1 31.3 13.1s18.1-19.1 13.1-31.3l-42-102C484.9 354.1 544 280 544 192V128v-8l80.5-20.1c8.6-2.1 13.8-10.8 11.6-19.4C629 52 603.4 32 574 32H523.9C507.7 12.5 483.3 0 456 0zm0 64a24 24 0 1 1 0 48 24 24 0 1 1 0-48z"/></svg> <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 448 512" style="height:1em;width:0.88em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#fff;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M438.6 278.6c12.5-12.5 12.5-32.8 0-45.3l-160-160c-12.5-12.5-32.8-12.5-45.3 0s-12.5 32.8 0 45.3L338.8 224 32 224c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32l306.7 0L233.4 393.4c-12.5 12.5-12.5 32.8 0 45.3s32.8 12.5 45.3 0l160-160z"/></svg> <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 512 512" style="height:1em;width:1em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#fff;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M416 398.9c58.5-41.1 96-104.1 96-174.9C512 100.3 397.4 0 256 0S0 100.3 0 224c0 70.7 37.5 133.8 96 174.9c0 .4 0 .7 0 1.1v64c0 26.5 21.5 48 48 48h48V464c0-8.8 7.2-16 16-16s16 7.2 16 16v48h64V464c0-8.8 7.2-16 16-16s16 7.2 16 16v48h48c26.5 0 48-21.5 48-48V400c0-.4 0-.7 0-1.1zM96 256a64 64 0 1 1 128 0A64 64 0 1 1 96 256zm256-64a64 64 0 1 1 0 128 64 64 0 1 1 0-128z"/></svg><br><br> Purpose: <br> Evolution of Spaces

---

---

- <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 640 512" style="height:1em;width:1.25em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#782F40;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M456 0c-48.6 0-88 39.4-88 88v29.2L12.5 390.6c-14 10.8-16.6 30.9-5.9 44.9s30.9 16.6 44.9 5.9L126.1 384H259.2l46.6 113.1c5 12.3 19.1 18.1 31.3 13.1s18.1-19.1 13.1-31.3L311.1 384H352c1.1 0 2.1 0 3.2 0l46.6 113.2c5 12.3 19.1 18.1 31.3 13.1s18.1-19.1 13.1-31.3l-42-102C484.9 354.1 544 280 544 192V128v-8l80.5-20.1c8.6-2.1 13.8-10.8 11.6-19.4C629 52 603.4 32 574 32H523.9C507.7 12.5 483.3 0 456 0zm0 64a24 24 0 1 1 0 48 24 24 0 1 1 0-48z"/></svg> X/Twitter hashtag \#Edchat

- <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 448 512" style="height:1em;width:0.88em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#782F40;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M96 32V64H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v48H448V112c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48H352V32c0-17.7-14.3-32-32-32s-32 14.3-32 32V64H160V32c0-17.7-14.3-32-32-32S96 14.3 96 32zM448 192H0V464c0 26.5 21.5 48 48 48H400c26.5 0 48-21.5 48-48V192z"/></svg> 2008 to 2023

Questions:

- RQ1: **Popularity** of \#Edchat as a space for educators’ professional learning (i.e., **volume**) changed over time
- RQ2: **Relevance** of \#Edchat tweets for educators’ professional learning (i.e., **content**) changed over time

---

**Quantitative approach:**

\+ **naturalistic inquiry** (unobtrusive, not disrupting)

\+ **at scale** (reaction across education)

= **data mining** (digital traces)

---

# <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 448 512" style="height:1em;width:0.88em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#fff;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M96 152v8H48v-8C48 68.1 116.1 0 200 0h48c83.9 0 152 68.1 152 152v8H352v-8c0-57.4-46.6-104-104-104H200C142.6 48 96 94.6 96 152zM0 224c0-17.7 14.3-32 32-32H416c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32h-5.1L388.5 469c-2.6 24.4-23.2 43-47.7 43H107.2c-24.6 0-45.2-18.5-47.7-43L37.1 256H32c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32z"/></svg> Data Collection

### Digital traces:

<hr>

All tweets containing keyword text **"#edchat"**

Retrieved using **R**, a combination of open packages and custom code

**16,898,906 tweets**

October 25, 2008 to May 23, 2023 (14 years, six months, and 28 days)

---

# <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 512 512" style="height:1em;width:1em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#fff;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M0 256a256 256 0 1 1 512 0A256 256 0 1 1 0 256zM288 96a32 32 0 1 0 -64 0 32 32 0 1 0 64 0zM256 416c35.3 0 64-28.7 64-64c0-17.4-6.9-33.1-18.1-44.6L366 161.7c5.3-12.1-.2-26.3-12.3-31.6s-26.3 .2-31.6 12.3L257.9 288c-.6 0-1.3 0-1.9 0c-35.3 0-64 28.7-64 64s28.7 64 64 64zM176 144a32 32 0 1 0 -64 0 32 32 0 1 0 64 0zM96 288a32 32 0 1 0 0-64 32 32 0 1 0 0 64zm352-32a32 32 0 1 0 -64 0 32 32 0 1 0 64 0z"/></svg> Data Analysis

### RQ1: Popularity for educators’ professional learning

- 5 measures of volume changing over time

### RQ2: Relevance for educators’ professional learning

- 7 measures of content changing over time

---

# <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 640 512" style="height:1em;width:1.25em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#fff;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M533.6 32.5C598.5 85.3 640 165.8 640 256s-41.5 170.8-106.4 223.5c-10.3 8.4-25.4 6.8-33.8-3.5s-6.8-25.4 3.5-33.8C557.5 398.2 592 331.2 592 256s-34.5-142.2-88.7-186.3c-10.3-8.4-11.8-23.5-3.5-33.8s23.5-11.8 33.8-3.5zM473.1 107c43.2 35.2 70.9 88.9 70.9 149s-27.7 113.8-70.9 149c-10.3 8.4-25.4 6.8-33.8-3.5s-6.8-25.4 3.5-33.8C475.3 341.3 496 301.1 496 256s-20.7-85.3-53.2-111.8c-10.3-8.4-11.8-23.5-3.5-33.8s23.5-11.8 33.8-3.5zm-60.5 74.5C434.1 199.1 448 225.9 448 256s-13.9 56.9-35.4 74.5c-10.3 8.4-25.4 6.8-33.8-3.5s-6.8-25.4 3.5-33.8C393.1 284.4 400 271 400 256s-6.9-28.4-17.7-37.3c-10.3-8.4-11.8-23.5-3.5-33.8s23.5-11.8 33.8-3.5zM301.1 34.8C312.6 40 320 51.4 320 64V448c0 12.6-7.4 24-18.9 29.2s-25 3.1-34.4-5.3L131.8 352H64c-35.3 0-64-28.7-64-64V224c0-35.3 28.7-64 64-64h67.8L266.7 40.1c9.4-8.4 22.9-10.4 34.4-5.3z"/></svg> <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 640 512" style="height:1em;width:1.25em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#fff;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M9.4 9.4C21.9-3.1 42.1-3.1 54.6 9.4L160 114.7V96c0-17.7 14.3-32 32-32s32 14.3 32 32v96c0 4.3-.9 8.5-2.4 12.2c-1.6 3.7-3.8 7.3-6.9 10.3l-.1 .1c-3.1 3-6.6 5.3-10.3 6.9c-3.8 1.6-7.9 2.4-12.2 2.4H96c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32s14.3-32 32-32h18.7L9.4 54.6C-3.1 42.1-3.1 21.9 9.4 9.4zM256 256a64 64 0 1 1 128 0 64 64 0 1 1 -128 0zM114.7 352H96c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32s14.3-32 32-32h96 0l.1 0c8.8 0 16.7 3.6 22.5 9.3l.1 .1c3 3.1 5.3 6.6 6.9 10.3c1.6 3.8 2.4 7.9 2.4 12.2v96c0 17.7-14.3 32-32 32s-32-14.3-32-32V397.3L54.6 502.6c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L114.7 352zM416 96c0-17.7 14.3-32 32-32s32 14.3 32 32v18.7L585.4 9.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0s12.5 32.8 0 45.3L525.3 160H544c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32H448c-8.8 0-16.8-3.6-22.6-9.3l-.1-.1c-3-3.1-5.3-6.6-6.9-10.3s-2.4-7.8-2.4-12.2l0-.1v0V96zM525.3 352L630.6 457.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3s-32.8 12.5-45.3 0L480 397.3V416c0 17.7-14.3 32-32 32s-32-14.3-32-32V320v0c0 0 0-.1 0-.1c0-4.3 .9-8.4 2.4-12.2c1.6-3.8 3.9-7.3 6.9-10.4c5.8-5.8 13.7-9.3 22.5-9.4c0 0 .1 0 .1 0h0 96c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32H525.3z"/></svg> <br><br> Results

---

### Original Tweets and Retweets

---

### Original Tweets on Tuesdays vs. Other Days

---

### Replies and Original Tweets with Questions

---

### Percentage of Questions and Replies in Original Tweets

---

### Mean Number of Favorites and Retweets of Original Tweets

---

### Mean Number of Characters in #Edchat Original Tweets

---

### Percentage of Original Tweets with Hyperlinks

---

### Mean Number of Hashtags in Original Tweets

---

### Top-10 Hashtags in Original Tweets by Year

---

### Content That is Favorited vs. Not

---

### Content That is Retweeted vs. Not

---

### Mean LIWC Characteristics of Original Tweets

---

---

**Similar to Rise and Fall of MySpace**

---

### Technological + Social Factors for Change

---

### Success Can Lay the Foundation for Decline

---

# <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 512 512" style="height:1em;width:1em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#fff;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M416 398.9c58.5-41.1 96-104.1 96-174.9C512 100.3 397.4 0 256 0S0 100.3 0 224c0 70.7 37.5 133.8 96 174.9c0 .4 0 .7 0 1.1v64c0 26.5 21.5 48 48 48h48V464c0-8.8 7.2-16 16-16s16 7.2 16 16v48h64V464c0-8.8 7.2-16 16-16s16 7.2 16 16v48h48c26.5 0 48-21.5 48-48V400c0-.4 0-.7 0-1.1zM96 256a64 64 0 1 1 128 0A64 64 0 1 1 96 256zm256-64a64 64 0 1 1 0 128 64 64 0 1 1 0-128z"/></svg> This Is Where We Leave You

---

# <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 512 512" style="height:1em;width:1em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#fff;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M156.6 384.9L125.7 354c-8.5-8.5-11.5-20.8-7.7-32.2c3-8.9 7-20.5 11.8-33.8L24 288c-8.6 0-16.6-4.6-20.9-12.1s-4.2-16.7 .2-24.1l52.5-88.5c13-21.9 36.5-35.3 61.9-35.3l82.3 0c2.4-4 4.8-7.7 7.2-11.3C289.1-4.1 411.1-8.1 483.9 5.3c11.6 2.1 20.6 11.2 22.8 22.8c13.4 72.9 9.3 194.8-111.4 276.7c-3.5 2.4-7.3 4.8-11.3 7.2v82.3c0 25.4-13.4 49-35.3 61.9l-88.5 52.5c-7.4 4.4-16.6 4.5-24.1 .2s-12.1-12.2-12.1-20.9V380.8c-14.1 4.9-26.4 8.9-35.7 11.9c-11.2 3.6-23.4 .5-31.8-7.8zM384 168a40 40 0 1 0 0-80 40 40 0 1 0 0 80z"/></svg> Future Directions

- Digital traces can flag changes and mark where to pay attention

- In research, we must strive to get as much **context** and **perspective** as possible

- In practice, we must work to increase **digital literacy** to navigate the paradoxes

---

# <svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 320 512" style="height:1em;width:0.62em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:#fff;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M80 160c0-35.3 28.7-64 64-64h32c35.3 0 64 28.7 64 64v3.6c0 21.8-11.1 42.1-29.4 53.8l-42.2 27.1c-25.2 16.2-40.4 44.1-40.4 74V320c0 17.7 14.3 32 32 32s32-14.3 32-32v-1.4c0-8.2 4.2-15.8 11-20.2l42.2-27.1c36.6-23.6 58.8-64.1 58.8-107.7V160c0-70.7-57.3-128-128-128H144C73.3 32 16 89.3 16 160c0 17.7 14.3 32 32 32s32-14.3 32-32zm80 320a40 40 0 1 0 0-80 40 40 0 1 0 0 80z"/></svg> <br><br> Questions

**Bret Staudt Willet + Jeff Carpenter + Hunhui Na**

Florida State University + Elon University

<hr>

<div class="caption">
Images created with Midjourney. Slides made with RMarkdown.
</div>