Subtitling clips related to COVID-19 on Twitter.
What is it about?
This paper analyses how social media promoted the production and circulation of subtitled videos related to COVID-19 in the context of Saudi Arabia, posted by the Saudi Ministry of Health and 17 Twitter users (acting as fansubbers) during 2020.
Why is it important?
The paper explains how an official governmental body in Saudi Arabia managed the COVID-19 crisis by utilising social media for communicating and circulating information and guidelines in (non)subtitled clips. It also emphasises the role of ordinary Saudi Twitter users (fansubbers) who engaged effectively with the crisis by (re)producing subtitled videos and recirculating content. This digital participation foregrounded significant social and digital perspectives that could inform future crisis management and translation in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the importance of digital media in communicating critical information rapidly and effectively. It raises important questions regarding equal access to to online information and the number of languages used in these videos considering the high percentage of non-Arabic speakers working in Saudi Arabia.