ANALYZING PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF DISABILITY THROUGH YOUTUBE COMMENTS: A CASE STUDY OF GHANIM AL MUFTAH'S VIDEOS

Abstract

Social media has transformed communication for individuals with disabilities, enabling them to advocate for inclusion and share their experiences, particularly through platforms like YouTube, which allows them to connect with global audiences. This study analyzes interactions with disability-related content by examining 1300 comments from five YouTube videos featuring Ghanim al-Muftah, an Arabic-speaking Qatari YouTuber with a disability. The research aims to explore Arabic people’s perceptions, patterns of engagement, and dominant thematic trends across Arabic comments, highlighting Arabic-cultural interactions. Employing qualitative content analysis with Communalytic Program for data extraction and Voyant tools for textual analysis, the findings indicate predominantly positive sentiment characterized by admiration, religious blessings, and expressions framing disability as a divine test rather than a societal limitation. Comments frequently used terms such as "hero" and invoked blessings like "Allah bless you," reflecting deep cultural and religious influences. Despite the positive support, practical discussions related to disability, such as digital accessibility improvements, were notably absent. This study enhances the understanding of digital disability discourse, highlighting how religious and cultural contexts shape perceptions of disability. It calls for improved digital accessibility on YouTube and better representation of disability issues. Future research should broaden data collection across platforms, consider demographic factors, and explore how video content influences user engagement and perceptions.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Humanities and Social Science