Mapping of sentiment analysis on food security among Malaysians using social media analytics

Abstract

The study investigates the spatial distribution of sentiment in food security-related tweets among Malaysians, aiming to identify hotspots of positive, negative, and neutral sentiments. Note that data collection involved gathering 2,218 tweets on basic necessity products from January 2019 to August 2022, capturing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-processing and content analysis techniques identified the main themes in the tweets, while sentiment analysis categorised them using VADER: ArcGIS and hotspot analysis visualised and analysed tweet density. Regional trends were observed, with the East Coast states and certain West Coast states having the highest number of tweets. Urban areas expressed concerns about food security and living costs due to urbanisation and limited agricultural land. Here, sentiment visualisation revealed negative sentiments prevalent in developed cities (46.8%) and positive (33.9%) or neutral (19.4%) sentiments in suburban areas. This study emphasises the growing use of social media platforms and the integration of social media data in spatial analysis, highlighting the importance of uncovering hidden patterns for increased social awareness and meaningful dialogue. Understanding the sentiments expressed by Malaysians on social media regarding rising food prices can provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to address these challenges effectively.