Social networks as channels of political expression: the repercussion of the podium scholarship program

Abstract

This study sought to analyze, during the 2016-2020 Olympic cycle, the impact of the Bolsa Atleta Pódio financing program for high-performance athletes in Brazil on a specific social network, X (formerly Twitter). To achieve this objective, a documentary analysis was carried out and the following terms were used on the platform: “Bolsa Pódio Federal” and “Bolsa Atleta Pódio”, totaling 345 posts. After data collection, the posts were exported and inserted into the qualitative analysis software NVivo - QSR International (version 12). Nine emerging themes were identified: political focus, program promotion, comments on the athletes who were awarded the prize, speculation, attribution of results to the program, criticism of the program, bureaucratic aspects, and participation in competitions aimed at being awarded the prize. Furthermore, some posts did not fit into any of these themes and were grouped as miscellaneous subjects. Through the analysis, it was possible to observe several mentions related to the program and the results obtained by the awarded athletes as an object of political argumentation used by users on social media. In addition, a low percentage related to criticism of the program was also observed.