El círculo vicioso de la expresión violenta y la polarización ideológico-afectiva en tiempos de COVID-19: La opinión pública digital colombiana en X e Instagram

This article analyzes 102 digital pieces and 2761 comments from X and Instagram regarding eight milestones of discrimination and thirteen profiles of health professionals and social leaders in times of the COVID-19 in Colombia. Using quantitative content analysis, sentiment analysis and small data, the article propose a reflection on the construction of digital discourses close to reconciliation and mental health. The article discusses two findings: first, the digital discourses observed are part of what we call the vicious circle of violent expression; that is, the repeated use of violent expressions to delegitimize episodes of discrimination. Second, digital discourses are framed in what we have called ideological-affective polarization; that is, they are full of negative and aggressive feelings between opposing ideologies that mix the situation of the pandemic with the language of the Colombian armed conflict.