Exploring Perceptions of Veganism


Abstract in English

This project examined perceptions of the vegan lifestyle using surveys and social media to explore barriers to choosing veganism. A survey of 510 individuals indicated that non-vegans did not believe veganism was as healthy or difficult as vegans. In a second analysis, Instagram posts using #vegan suggest content is aimed primarily at the female vegan community. Finally, sentiment analysis of roughly 5 million Twitter posts mentioning vegan found veganism to be portrayed in a more positive light compared to other topics. Results suggest non-vegans lack of interest in veganism is driven by non-belief in the health benefits of the diet.

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