,
11 tweets,
4 min read
Read on Twitter
1/n I frequently tweet out graphs that illustrate or describe the 'great awokening'. My focus has now shifted to testing some of the aspects of the theory I offered (tabletmag.com/jewish-news-an…) to explain it.
2/n Below is one such attempt. Specifically, I found that a state's annual average google search interest in 'white privilege' predicts the % of a states' white population that 'disagrees' that 'blacks should work their way up without special favors'. This relationship, however.. 
3/n ...a) only becomes significant in 2012 and onward (i.e. the period in which the awokening ostensibly spawned), and b) is significantly stronger in more liberal/blue states than conservative/red states. Here are the annual predicted margins
4/n Importantly (and unsurprisingly), the effects of WP search interest are stronger the larger the share of a states' white population that consumes digital news. This suggests that, whatever the nature or direction of this relationship, it isn't merely 'random noise'
5/n Btw..is Buzzfeed really that 'woke' (asking from ignorance)? Because I'm finding that searches for it are somewhat strongly correlated (r=0.65) with those for 'white privilege'
6/n In fact, the results of a mixed effects model (second level=state) I ran suggest that Buzzfeed searches, followed by NYT, are the strongest net predictors of white privilege interest. There's also a buzzfeed x political orientation x year interaction that I'll graph shortly
7/n Sometimes I wonder how I'd present such results at an academic conference *gulp*
8/n Looks like the buzzfeed-white privilege connection begins post-2012 and crescendoes in 2016
9/n Similar if slightly weaker pattern for NYT news searches
10/n I've clearly underestimated Buzzfeed as a purveyor of wokeness
11/n As it happens, and shifting now to individual-level data, reading buzzfeed uniquely (i.e. net of other relevant variables) predicts perceiving greater levels of discrimination against blacks (index= treatment by police, treatment by government, and discrimination in general)
