Mixed methods for digital anthropology: a report on the analysis of Bolsonarist groups on the Telegram platform

Abstract

Given the platformization of so many forms of social interaction, digital anthropology faces new ethical and methodological challenges. In this article, we explore how learning and the use of mixed methods (quanti-quali) can contribute to anthropological work in the study of complex systems such as digital platforms. In this article, we present a case study of how we observed the most shared messages among users of more than 200 extreme far-right groups on Telegram on January 8, 2023. Based on the experience of testing and applying new multidisciplinary methods that combine computer science and social anthropology, we sought to conduct exemplary analyzes of the political event that took place in Brasilia. We reflect on the ethical implications of these new methods and conclude by emphasizing the importance of improvements and the need for ethical revisions enabling the use of mixed methods in digital anthropology.

Keywords:
digital anthropology; mixed methods; Telegram; far-right