{"id":1338,"date":"2024-09-03T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/factcheck.lt\/?p=1338"},"modified":"2024-09-03T14:42:09","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T11:42:09","slug":"","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/factcheck.lt\/eng\/news\/youtube_belarus_state_analysis_082024\/","title":{"rendered":"Analysis of YouTube activity of the largest state media outlets in Belarus for August 2024","raw":"Analysis of YouTube activity of the largest state media outlets in Belarus for August 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

The publication continues monitoring Belarusian YouTube channels owned by state media. An additional context is the “slowing down” of YouTube in the Russian Federation that began in August 2024 and the Belarusian government’s plans<\/a> to create a Belarusian OTT service – videobel.by.<\/p>\n

\n

Methodology<\/strong>
\nData was collected using the YouTube API. Processing and visualization were performed using Python libraries – plotly, Dash, and sklearn.<\/p>\n

The August 2024 results have been compiled into a table for comparison with data from July 2024:
\n\"\"
\nFive “golden buttons” showed significant growth in both subscriber numbers and views. The number of posts was almost the same: 1425 in August 2024 and 1431 in July 2024.<\/p>\n

In August 2024, nearly two thousand posts<\/strong> (1906) were published on nine Belarusian state-owned YouTube channels, which garnered 167 million views<\/strong> by September 1, 2024, a 67% increase compared to July 2024<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The daily distribution of post publications and the number of views for these publications:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span>
\nIt is noteworthy that videos were uploaded every day of the week, despite August being a vacation month, with only slight decreases on a few Saturdays.<\/p>\n

Visualization of basic characteristics:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span>
\nThe SB_TV channel somehow collected 2.4 million likes!<\/p>\n

Content<\/strong>
\nTop 30 videos that garnered the most views:
\n\"\"<\/span>
\nThe current Belarusian authorities emphasize that Belarus is not involved in military actions, but almost all videos in the top 30 by views promote the Russian war agenda against Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Now let’s exclude shorts videos (less than 60 seconds) and see how the list of the most viewed videos changes:
\n\"\"<\/span>
\nHere, the range of disinformation narratives expands. Of course, most concern fake stories about the military operations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region, aiming to convey that Russia can change the situation on its territory. There are a couple of stories about the “failure” of the Olympic Games in Paris. And an intriguing report on the U.S. elections, suggesting that American policy toward the Belarusian authorities could change if Donald Trump wins. Naturally, Latvia is also targeted with a clickbait headline about the sale of Soviet soldiers’ tombstones.<\/p>\n

Engagement<\/strong><\/p>\n

A K-means cluster analysis was conducted. This is a machine learning method used to divide a dataset into groups (clusters) with similar characteristics. K-means works by iteratively assigning data to clusters based on proximity to centroids, which are the average values within each cluster.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Cluster definition: The graph likely shows the distribution of objects (e.g., posts) by the number of views and likes, divided into several clusters. Each cluster represents a group of posts with similar characteristics in terms of views and likes.<\/p>\n

Cluster interpretation: For example, one cluster may represent posts with a large number of views but relatively few likes, another \u2014 with few views and likes, and so on. Each cluster helps better understand the data structure and identify characteristic groups.<\/p>\n

A dynamic K-means graph<\/a> based on data from 1906 posts published in August 2024 and a 3D model graph<\/a>, with views, likes, and comments plotted on the axes.<\/p>\n

For an in-depth analysis of engagement with videos published on state-owned YouTube channels, a Quadrant Chart<\/i> was created.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Each dot on the chart corresponds to a separate video on the YouTube channel. This chart allows for the visualization and analysis of video popularity and engagement.
\nAxes of the chart:<\/p>\n