Through The Social Lens: General Elections 2020 – Part 2 From 23 Jun (Parliament Dissolves) To 30 Jun (Nomination Day) Real Time Real Information Truescope released a first part of this social lens analysis right after the day Parliament dissolved. In that report, we discovered that Lee Hsien Loong and Pritam Singh led the share of voice for ruling party and opposition respectively [Link] and that each party was viewed very differently by netizens in terms of traits such as Responsibility, Competence and Compassion – even amongst the opposition. After 7 intense days of nomination, we take this opportunity to evaluate and assess shifting narratives across politicians, parties on online and social media channels. OVERVIEW PERSONALITIES Which politicians are getting the most attention on social media? POLITICAL PARTIES What are the top 5 political parties people are talking about? ATTRIBUTES ASSOCIATION What are the attributes each political party is associated with? CHANNELS Where are the conversations happening? Disclaimer: This publication does not reflect any political opinions of Truescope. Data coverage is based upon the online and social channels in SG since 15 June 2020 (updated as of 24 June 2020) Disclaimer: This analysis takes into account active politicians, not including politicians who have retired or withdrawn from PERSONALITIES the elections such as Goh Chok Tong and Ivan Lim etc. With a total of 192 candidates from 11 parties, who is getting the most attention on social media? What did netizens discuss? PAP Opposition • Lee Hsien Yang joins PSP and had breakfast • Lee Hsien Loong addressing Lee Hsien with Tan Cheng Bock (25 Jun) Yang’s decision to join PSP (29 Jun) • Lee Hsien Yang not standing as candidate 1. • Lee Hsien Loong’s statements on Ivan 1. (30 Jun) Lim (27 Jun) • Heng Swee Keat’s statements on Ivan • Lee Hsien Yang joins PSP and had breakfast with Lim (27 Jun) Tan Cheng Bock (25 Jun) 2. • Heng Swee Keat spotted at West • Tan Cheng Bock contesting West Coast GRC (30 2. Coast Teban Market (27 Jun) Jun) • Lawrence Wong noting that Ivan Lim did the responsible thing by • WP unveils Nicole Seah as a potential 3. withdrawing (28 Jun) candidate (25 Jun) 3. • How Lawrence Wong managed • General comparison of Nicole Seah versus COVID19 (23-30 Jun) other female candidates (25-30 Jun) • Josephine Teo will lead the PAP team • Chee Soon Juan publicising the police 4. in Jalan Besar (29 Jun) rejection of his event application (24 Jun) 4. • Josephine Teo’s statement on Jobs (23 • Chee Soon Juan spotted walking about at Jun) Bukit Batok (23-30 Jun) • The PAP team in Tanjong Pagar welcomes others to contest the seat (26 Jun) • WP manifesto (28 Jun) 5. • Chan Chun Sing acknowledges criticism • Announcement of the departure of three 5. of Covid handling (29 Jun) of WP’s senior members (25 Jun) PERSONALITIES Key conversation highlights YOU WILL BE MISSED TOP BUZZ (Incumbent) TOP BUZZ (opposition) • Netizens thanked Khaw Boon Wan for his • Netizens speculated about why Low Thia tireless service over his many years across his Kiang was retiring and who will succeed him transport and education portfolios. in Aljunied GRC. POPULAR ‘FRESH’ FACES TOP BUZZ (incumbent) TOP BUZZ (opposition) • Shawn Huang was initially embroiled in a • Choo Suan Ming came into the online dispute over his alleged conduct when he was spotlight by being the youngest candidate a PC for NDP, but other netizens came to his revealed by any party thus far. support with opposing views. POLITICAL PARTIES Sales Top 6 constituencies people are talking about and key topics WP (Worker’s Party) • Speculating reasons why Low Thia Khiang is retiring SDP (Singapore Democratic Party) • WP unveiling Nicole Seah as • Rejection of SDP’s application to their candidate conduct a fundraiser • Chee Soon Juan spotted walking about at Bukit Batok PAP (People’s Action Party) • Ivan Lim Saga • Khaw Boon Wan’s PSP (Progress Singapore Party) retirement • Lee Hsien Yang Joins PSP • Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Lee Hsien Yang’s walkabouts RP WP PAP PSP SDP RDU SPP NSP PVP SFP SDA PPP POLITICAL PARTIES Top 6 constituencies people are talking about and key topics 1. Ang Mo Kio GRC 2. East Coast GRC • PAP unveils GRC team led by PM Lee • Heng Swee Keat was moved from • PAP and PSP reveals candidates for AMK Tampines GRC to East Coast GRC • Nicole Seah to contest in East Coast GRC 3. Aljunied GRC 4. Jurong GRC • • WP to defend Aljunied GRC against PAP Speculation whether Ivan Lim will • Discussions on who will take over Low contest in Jurong GRC Thia Khiang in Aljunied. • Discussions about Ivan Lim’s replacement, Xie Yao Quan 5. Hougang SMC 6. Tanjong Pagar GRC • Low Thia Khiang joins Sunday walkabout • Speculation whether Lee Hsien Yang will in Hougang be contesting in Tanjong Pagar GRC • NCMP Dennis Tan to stand in Hougang • Mentions about Lee Kuan Yew and his SMC stronghold of Tanjong Pagar ATTRIBUTES ASSOCIATION SUMMARY OF KEY TRAITS IDENTIFIED FROM SOCIAL How does each political party fare against specified AND ONLINE CONVERSATIONS WITH REGARDS TO attributes desired by netizens? GENERAL ELECTIONS 2020 TRAIT DEFINITION OF HOW NETIZENS VIEW THEM Actively reaches out to understand issues on the ground CONNECTED Deemed to be connected to the people on the ground Having high ability, fitness, or quality necessary to do or achieve goals / responsibilities. COMPETENT Demonstrates that he/she knows what he wants to achieve. Shows that he/she is responsible in his decisions and actions to be in the interest of public. RESPONSIBLE Not deemed to be corrupted. Gives confidence that he/she can be relied upon. RELIABLE Shows consistency in the way he/she acts. Reflects compassion, care, empathy and kindness. COMPASSION Takes the effort to go the extra mile. ATTRIBUTES ASSOCIATION MAPPING OUT THE LEVEL OF ASSOCIATION EACH How does each political party fare against specified POLITICAL PARTY HAS IN RELATION TO IDENTIFIED attributes desired by netizens? TRAITS PEOPLE’S ACTION PARTY PROGRESS SINGAPORE PARTY PAP’s attribute distribution PSP’s distribution shifted Responsible more aggressively, with the Responsible remained relatively stable 1 1 largest positive increase through the nomination 0.8 0.8 period, with only a slight shift coming from the reliability 0.6 0.6 from being deemed as a standpoint – this trend 0.4 continues over most 0.4 “competent” party to Reliable Connected Reliable Connected 0.2 opposition parties with many 0.2 “compassion” with many netizens sharing personal 0 netizens expressing that they 0 stories about how various MPs require a more “reliable” in their constituencies have opposition voice in helped them. parliament. Competence Compassion Competence Compassion Blue bar – data from 15 – 22 Jan (Before parliament dissolved) Red line – data from 23 – 30 Jun (Before nomination day) Black bar – Average of attributes from 23-30 Jun across all top 4 parties ATTRIBUTES ASSOCIATION MAPPING OUT THE LEVEL OF ASSOCIATION EACH How does each political party fare against specified POLITICAL PARTY HAS IN RELATION TO IDENTIFIED attributes desired by netizens? TRAITS WORKERS’ PARTY SINGAPORE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WP’s shift in attribute was the SDP had the greatest overall Responsible improvement in almost all 1 most dramatic of all parties Responsible analysed. The positive shifts in 1 traits with much of it coming 0.8 Reliability and Compassion 0.8 from praises of Dr Chee Soon 0.6 were due to positive 0.6 Juan, especially his post on 0.4 the “mess” at bukit batok. Reliable Connected discussion of their manifesto, 0.4 Reliable Connected 0.2 while the negative shifts were However, the “competence” 0.2 attribute suffered from 0 contributed from news of Low 0 Thia Kiang’s retirement which doubts on how SDP plans to reduced perception of the fulfil their promises. party’s overall competence and ability to connect. Competence Compassion Competence Compassion Blue bar – data from 15 – 22 Jan (Before parliament dissolved) Red line – data from 23 – 30 Jun (Before nomination day) Black bar – Average of attributes from 23-30 Jun across all top 4 parties BEFORE PARLIAMENT NOMINATION PERIOD DISSSOLVED (15 – 22 Jun) (23 – 30 Jun) 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Hardwarezone Twitter SG Talk Forum Forum 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8 CNA Straits Times Singapore Matters The Online Facebook Facebook Facebook Citizen Facebook 11 9 10 11 12 9 10 12 Chee Lim Team TODAY The Independent FB Workers Party SDP Soon Juan Facebook Facebook Page FB Page FB Page Facebook These are the top 12 social media pages that cover socio-political issues only. CHANNELS Top channels can vary on a wide range of pages (with Where are the conversations happening? over 10,000 identified in Singapore), not every news outlet or high-follower page is relevant to the issues you are monitoring. 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