New post-debate insights from Facebook reveal that Bill C-51 was a popular topic in conversations taking place on the social network during the leaders debate.
Data released Friday morning suggests Conservative Leader Stephen Harper was often mentioned in conversations about a so-called "Netflix tax" and the controversial anti-terror Bill C-51.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s name frequently came up in discussions on the middle class and Bill C-51, while Green Leader Elizabeth May was linked to conversations about Bill C-51 and foreign policy.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, the leader generating the least amount of discussion on Facebook, had his name mentioned most in conversations about minimum wage and the middle class.
Environmental concerns
The social network also noticed that the environment jumped four spots to become the second-most discussed broad issue during the debate, behind the economy.
Social issues remained the least-discussed broad issue.
Focusing on discussions regarding the environment, approximately 55 per cent of conversations were about energy and 45 per cent were about climate change.
That aspect reflects another highlight Facebook noticed during the debate.
May generated the "biggest conversational moment of" the debate at 8:37 p.m. Thursday, when she mentioned that greenhouse gas emissions decreased when the recession hit.
Terms most likely used in conversations about each leader are as follows:
Stephen Harper:
1. Netflix tax
2. Bill C-51
Justin Trudeau:
1. Middle class
2. Bill C-51
Elizabeth May:
1. Bill C-51
2. Foreign policy
Tom Mulcair:
1. Minimum wage
2. Middle class
Most discussed issues during debate (prior ranking in brackets):
1. Economy (1)
2. Environment/Energy (6)
3. Governance (2)
4. Foreign Policy (3)
5. Terrorism/Intelligence/Surveillance (4)
6. Government Benefits (5)
7. Social Issues (7)
