Economic Uncertainty on Social Media: The Impact of X Posts on Economic and Financial Indicators

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 56 - 69, 31.03.2025

Muhammed Fatih Yürük

https://doi.org/10.54821/uiecd.1634814

Abstract

This study explores the influence of posts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) concerning economic uncertainty on key economic and financial indicators, including GDP, commercial bank loans, and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The analysis focuses on the United States due to its pivotal role in global financial markets and the significant presence of U.S. users, who account for 50% of English-speaking X users, offering a rich dataset for studying social media-driven economic sentiment. Variables such as the USA Gross Domestic Product Index, Commercial Bank Loans, New York Stock Exchange Composite, and X-based Economic Uncertainty Index (TEU) were analyzed using monthly data from June 2011 to April 2023. Employing a Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model, the study finds that fluctuations in commercial bank loans and the NYSE Composite significantly impact GDP, while posts reflecting economic uncertainty, as captured by the TEU, primarily respond to changes in bank loans. The results reveal a bidirectional relationship between GDP and commercial bank loans, where loans can drive economic growth through increased consumer spending and investment, though excessive borrowing may lead to instability and crises. Furthermore, the TEU is influenced solely by variations in commercial bank loans, highlighting social media sentiment’s sensitivity to credit dynamics in the U.S. economy.

Keywords

Economic Uncertainty, Social Media, X, GDP, VAR

Sosyal Medyada Ekonomik Belirsizlik: X Gönderilerinin Ekonomik ve Finansal Göstergeler Üzerindeki Etkisi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, X (eski adıyla Twitter) sosyal medya platformunda ekonomik belirsizliğe dair paylaşımların, GSYİH, ticari banka kredileri ve New York Borsası (NYSE) gibi ekonomik ve finansal göstergeler üzerindeki etkisini incelemektedir. Analiz, ABD’ye odaklanmıştır çünkü ülke, küresel finansal piyasalardaki lider konumu ve İngilizce X kullanıcılarının %50’sini oluşturan geniş kullanıcı kitlesiyle, sosyal medya kaynaklı ekonomik duyarlılık çalışmalar için ideal bir örnek teşkil etmektedir. Çalışmada, USA Gross Domestic Product Index, Commercial Bank Loans, New York Stock Exchange Composite ve X tabanlı Ekonomik Belirsizlik Endeksi (TEU) değişkenleri, Haziran 2011 - Nisan 2023 dönemine ait aylık verilerle analiz edilmiştir. Vektör Otoregresif (VAR) model yapılan araştırmada, ticari banka kredileri ve NYSE’deki değişimlerin GSYİH’yi önemli ölçüde etkilediği, TEU ile ölçülen ekonomik belirsizlik paylaşımlarının ise esasen banka kredilerindeki dalgalanmalara tepki verdiği bulunmuştur. Bulgular, GSYİH ile ticari banka kredileri arasında çift yönlü bir ilişki olduğunu göstermektedir; krediler, tüketici harcamaları ve yatırımlar yoluyla büyümeyi teşvik edebilirken, aşırı borçlanma istikrarsızlık ve krizlere yol açabilir. Ayrıca, TEU’nun yalnızca banka kredilerindeki değişimlerden etkilenmesi, sosyal medya duyarlılığının ABD ekonomisindeki kredi dinamiklerine özel bir hassasiyet gösterdiğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

Ekonomik Belirsizlik, Sosyal Medya, X, GSYİH, VAR

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