Discourse and Digital Communication on the Telegram Platform: Methodological Approaches and Thematic Cases

Abstract

The article examines the conceptual and methodological foundations of conducting critical discourse analysis of publications on the Telegram messenger as a unique digital media platform characterized by multimodality, weak content moderation, and a high degree of user anonymity. Telegram is widely used in political communication, civic activism, the dissemination of information, and disinformation, making it a significant subject of academic research across various disciplines. Based on a review of recent studies, the paper identifies key areas of Telegram discourse research: political campaigns and elections, social and protest movements, infodemic phenomena, and the spread of extremist and conspiratorial narratives. Special attention is given to the methodological synthesis of critical discourse analysis and digital methods for collecting and processing big data, including topic modeling and network analysis. The article presents case studies from different countries, demonstrating Telegram's role in electoral processes, protest mobilization, the dissemination of radical ideas, and the formation of new forms of digital identity. The authors conclude that further comprehensive research on Telegram discourse is essential for a deeper understanding of contemporary media processes, digital activism, and the risks of radicalization amid the global transformation of the information space.