How E-Scooters Are Discussed in Almaty: Evidence from Social Media

This study examines how e-scooters are discussed in Almaty using 1,491 Facebook and Instagram posts collected between 2020 and 2025. The analysis combines thematic clustering, framing analysis, and sentiment classification to identify patterns in online discussion. Public discourse is mainly shaped by regulation and enforcement, and safety-related incidents attract stronger emotional reactions. Everyday complaints and mobility integration receive less attention, and most posts remain neutral in tone. The study highlights the value of social media for examining public perceptions of micromobility in a non-Western urban context.