A Guardian analysis of X activity around June's disorder in Belfast and Southampton found that most of the accounts driving the conversation were based outside the UK, with seven of the 12 most-read posts originating in the US.
Key facts
- More than half of X accounts posting about the Belfast and Southampton unrest were based outside the UK, according to a Guardian analysis.
- Of 8,672 accounts whose combined posts exceeded 1,000 views, just 45.3% were shown as UK-based.
- 55% of the accounts were located overseas, based on the platform's own location function.
- Seven of the 12 most-read posts came from the US.
More than half of the X accounts that posted about the June rioting in Belfast and the civil disorder in Southampton were based outside the UK, according to an exclusive analysis by the Guardian.
The analysis examined 8,672 accounts whose combined posts about the events exceeded 1,000 views. Just 45.3% of those accounts were shown as being from the UK, according to the social media platform’s own location function.
That means 55% of the accounts involved in the conversation were located overseas, the Guardian reported, raising questions about how much of the online activity around the unrest was driven from within the UK itself.
The concentration of overseas activity was even more pronounced among the posts that reached the largest audiences. According to the Guardian, seven of the 12 most-read posts about the events came from the United States.
The findings relate to X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, and rely on the location data the platform itself assigns to accounts. The Guardian’s analysis focused specifically on the disorder in Belfast and Southampton in June.
Why it matters
The analysis highlights how online conversations about local unrest in the UK can be shaped substantially by accounts based abroad. Understanding where such posts originate matters for assessing how information, and potential misinformation, spreads during periods of civil disorder.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Guardian analysis find?
It found that more than half of the X accounts posting about the Belfast and Southampton unrest in June were based outside the UK, with only 45.3% shown as UK-based.
How many accounts were examined?
The analysis looked at 8,672 accounts whose combined posts about the events exceeded 1,000 views.
Where did the most-read posts come from?
According to the Guardian, seven of the 12 most-read posts came from the United States.