• Face It, Accept It, Deal with It, and Let It Go: How Does Taiwan’s Society Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Abstract

Purpose – Drawing on the framing perspective, this study explores how the Taiwanese people perceive and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach – Using data collected from Dcard, we employ topic modeling, supplemented by qualitative procedures, to examine the phenomenon under study.

Findings – During the early stage of the pandemic, the Taiwanese people tended to adopt active, defensive tactics to frame the crisis. After the outbreak in May 2021, the frame response significantly shifted to passive accommodation.

Research limitations/implications – Due to its anonymity, Dcard is not viable to trace the information of user accounts to determine if public discussions are manipulated by opinion leaders.

Practical implications/Social implications – The way the public perceives and views the crises will vary depending on the degree of situated crisis. In response, the government or business should adopt corresponding contingency strategies.

Originality/value – Emotions play an important role in shaping frame dynamics.

Keywords – COVID-19, Frame, Framing, Topic modeling, Social media