Perceiving Umeå : Instagram's Lens on Neighborhoods in the City

Sammanfattning: This master thesis in human geography explores how neighborhoods are represented and perceived on the popular social media platform Instagram. By analyzing user-generated content, both visually and textually, this study aims to uncover the predominant themes, characteristics, and subjective perspectives associated with neighborhood representation on Instagram. Through a systematic analysis of the content shared by Instagram users, the research identifies recurring themes, visual motifs, and distinguishing features that emerge when portraying and expressing experiences of different neighborhoods using topic modelling and sentiment analysis in Orange. The study specifically focuses on Umeå, allowing for a deeper understanding of how Instagram users perceive and portray the various neighborhoods within the city. The findings of this research hold potential implications for urban planning practices, as they shed light on the factors influencing neighborhood representation on Instagram and their relevance to decision-making processes related to urban development, community engagement, and social well-being. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the interplay between social media and neighborhood representation.