Study shows depth of Pope's unpopularity with internet users
The Pope fares badly in a study that compares his online popularity with the Dalai Lama's.
- Andrea Tornielli
- Italy
- September 12, 2012
Benedict XVI is having a hard time getting his message across. Even on the web. And even in Italy. Italian reputation management company “Reputation Manager” has demonstrated this in a study published on “Expansion”.
Using its software system and a dedicated team of editorial staff for the analysis of data relating to the Italian web world, including social media, Reputation Manager compared the digital identities of Pope Ratzinger and the Dalai Lama, the Buddhist leader, Tenzin Gyatso.
The research was carried out using a “common conceptual model which focuses on three elements: personal image, religious life and communication. The personal image is established though a “biography” and “opinions” for both the individuals in question. The keywords for communication were similar: books, speeches, conferences and trips.”
Results show that the web, videos and social networks all appear to give a “balanced” image of the Dalai Lama, whereas descriptions of the Pope were “emotional and negative”. “The emotional impact of conversations regarding the two important religious figures which were examined by Reputation Manager, can be summarised a s follows: almost half of online content relating to the Pope (48,74%) has a negative tone and a prejudicial impact; only 7% of the content is positive though generally lukewarm and lacking enthusiasm; the rest of the content is neutral.
The Dalai Lama on the other hand, is significantly more popular on the web both quantitatively (53% against 47%, in terms of the total number of conversations) and qualitatively: 26% of online content is positive an only 8% is negative but not prejudicial, because the emotional impact of the words used are generally balanced, both in terms of positive comments and in terms of negative ones.”
The comparison between the two figures “is mostly based on video content (22%), but also on online newspaper headlines (19%) and forums (13%).” It is interesting to note that, after YouTube, the five top domains include the UAAR (the Italian Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics), ferraforum.it, corriere.it (the online version of Italian daily newspaper Il Corriere della Sera) and ilfattoquotidiano.it (the online version of Italian daily newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano).
The first video on Benedict XVI, which attracted over half a million viewings and numerous comments, is titled “Papa Ratzinger....in tutta la sua cattiveria!” (“Pope Ratzinger…in all his wickedness!”). This video was watched five times more than the most widely watched video on the Dalai Lama’s wise aphorisms (less than 90,000 viewings). The video content on Benedict XVI swings clearly towards the “parody”, “revelation and often ferociously “critical” categories.”
Full Story: Italian web gives Pope a tough time
Source: Vatican Insider/La Stampa
Using its software system and a dedicated team of editorial staff for the analysis of data relating to the Italian web world, including social media, Reputation Manager compared the digital identities of Pope Ratzinger and the Dalai Lama, the Buddhist leader, Tenzin Gyatso.
The research was carried out using a “common conceptual model which focuses on three elements: personal image, religious life and communication. The personal image is established though a “biography” and “opinions” for both the individuals in question. The keywords for communication were similar: books, speeches, conferences and trips.”
Results show that the web, videos and social networks all appear to give a “balanced” image of the Dalai Lama, whereas descriptions of the Pope were “emotional and negative”. “The emotional impact of conversations regarding the two important religious figures which were examined by Reputation Manager, can be summarised a s follows: almost half of online content relating to the Pope (48,74%) has a negative tone and a prejudicial impact; only 7% of the content is positive though generally lukewarm and lacking enthusiasm; the rest of the content is neutral.
The Dalai Lama on the other hand, is significantly more popular on the web both quantitatively (53% against 47%, in terms of the total number of conversations) and qualitatively: 26% of online content is positive an only 8% is negative but not prejudicial, because the emotional impact of the words used are generally balanced, both in terms of positive comments and in terms of negative ones.”
The comparison between the two figures “is mostly based on video content (22%), but also on online newspaper headlines (19%) and forums (13%).” It is interesting to note that, after YouTube, the five top domains include the UAAR (the Italian Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics), ferraforum.it, corriere.it (the online version of Italian daily newspaper Il Corriere della Sera) and ilfattoquotidiano.it (the online version of Italian daily newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano).
The first video on Benedict XVI, which attracted over half a million viewings and numerous comments, is titled “Papa Ratzinger....in tutta la sua cattiveria!” (“Pope Ratzinger…in all his wickedness!”). This video was watched five times more than the most widely watched video on the Dalai Lama’s wise aphorisms (less than 90,000 viewings). The video content on Benedict XVI swings clearly towards the “parody”, “revelation and often ferociously “critical” categories.”
Full Story: Italian web gives Pope a tough time
Source: Vatican Insider/La Stampa
