Presidential 2022: what topics were the most commented on on social networks last week?

Every week until the presidential election, the social media monitoring tool Visibrain produces a barometer for LCI of the most commented on topics on social networks. FROM January 11 to 18, after a week marked by the words of Emmanuel Macron who said he wanted to piss off the French, it is the theme of education with the management of the health crisis by the government which has placed itself at the heart discussions on social networks.

After the tidal wave linked to Emmanuel Macron’s controversial remarks on the unvaccinated, publications on the presidential election have dropped this week, notes Visibrain. While the 1st round is scheduled for April 10, the campaign is thus the subject of 4,734,389 publications on social networks this week. A week of campaign marked in particular by the declaration of Christiane Taubira, the “immersive” meeting of Jean-Luc Mélenchon or the project for the school of Eric Zemmour.

Christiane Taubira put an end to the suspense last Saturday by announcing that she was going to present herself. By formalizing, the former Keeper of the Seals represents 4% of the posts published on the campaign this week.

“Paying Universities”“school“, “disabled children“, #disability…

This week, education, which accounts for nearly 10% of campaign posts, is at the center of discussion. Several reasons explain this. First, Emmanuel Macron’s speech during the conference of university presidents, Thursday, January 13. By declaring “untenable” the system “without any price” for students, the Head of State, who has not yet formalized his candidacy, has drawn the wrath of Internet users on social networks.

Then, it was the words of Éric Zemmour, made on Friday January 14 while he was talking with teachers, which aroused controversy. Indeed, the candidate of Reconquest! Believes that children with disabilities should be educated in special establishments, and not with other children. His statements received strong criticism, especially from the candidates in the race (Marine Le Pen, Anne Hidalgo, Jean-Luc Mélenchon). Finally, the strike of January 13 and the demonstrations by National Education staff to denounce the cumbersomeness of the health protocol in schools are also propelling the subject online.

… #IsolatedMinors, “incitement to hatred”

In addition to his comments on children with disabilities, Éric Zemmour is talked about for other statements, made in 2020 this time, about unaccompanied migrant minors. His conviction for “incitement to racial hatred” on Monday January 17 represents 7% of posts on the presidential election.

… #MelenchonNantes, “immersive meeting”

Finally, it is the “immersive meeting” of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Sunday January 16 in Nantes, which agitates social networks this week. The participants were indeed able to take advantage of visual stimuli, “natural smells” or even “spatialized sounds” during the gathering. A conclusive experience on social networks since the meeting captures 6% of posts on the campaign.

The buzz news of the week (Macron’s paying universities, education for disabled children in Zemmour, strike of January 13) allow education, which was already the number one theme last week, to converse with flying colors about its position in the ranking with 431,532 posts. That’s five times more than last week!

The Covid crisis is obviously taking part in the discussions on the presidential election, even if it is receding this week. With 11% of posts overall (compared to 25% last week), it is a cross-cutting subject, which impacts education as well as the theme of health, for example.