Unpopular Opinions: Reddit vs Twitter Data

Summary

An analysis of 1.6 million social-media mentions from January 1 to June 30, 2020 examines consumers’ “unpopular opinions” and compares Reddit with Twitter. Overall mentions rose 34% from March through June versus the preceding four months, while Reddit’s r/unpopularopinions posts increased 105% during that period. Across online sources, pop-culture characters generated 63,000 mentions, followed by TV shows at 55,000, fandoms at 45,000, and books at 44,000; Friends was criticised for aspects considered unacceptable today. Reddit contributed 958,000 mentions, including 19,000 about subreddits, while Twitter contributed 554,000, led by 15,000 movie and TV opinions. The platform breakdown also surfaces differences such as Reddit’s meta discussions and Twitter’s opinions about money, chocolate, and ice.

Takeaways

1. 1

   Unpopular-opinion mentions across social media increased 34% from March through June 2020 compared with the preceding four months.

2. 2

   Reddit recorded 958,000 mentions, including 19,000 about subreddits and 19,000 about the idea that change is not good.

3. 3

   Twitter recorded 554,000 mentions; its distinctive topics included 4,000 mentions equating money with happiness and 2,000 each about chocolate and ice being disgusting.