Frame, emotion, and online opinion: The formation of public opinions in Weibo

This study explores the formation of online public opinions in a disaster context in China. Based on framing theory and affective intelligence theory, the study employs a content analysis of 506 media posts and 2908 individuals’ Weibo posts to examine media frames, public emotions, and public opinions in the discussion of Tianjin port explosion incident. Results show that media frames keep consistent throughout different stages of the incident, while online emotions and online public opinion frames experience significant shifts with time passing by. Moreover, the effects of media frames on public opinions are moderated by public emotions. When the public are experiencing positive emotions, they are more likely to be affected by media frames; however, when people are under negative emotions, the impacts of media frames will be tempered. The results suggest that the framing effects of the media on public opinions are conditional in the online space, depending on the emotional state of the public.