Analyzing Digital Polarization on Hijab : A Dataset of Annotated YouTube Comments

This thesis presents a pioneering analysis of digital polarization on the topic of Hijab by examining YouTube comments from the Arab world. Employing a novel dataset of around 10K annotated comments, this research investigates the digital discourse using seven labels: Stance, Use of Sarcasm, Argumentation, Cordiality, Offensiveness, Hopefulness, and Apparent Gender of Commenters. The findings reveal significant insights into gender dynamics and the prevalence of specific rhetorical strategies within the debate. This study contributes to the broader field of polarization and argument mining, offering a unique lens on the intersection of digital culture and societal issues in the Arab context.