Data Visualization Lineages

Along with other visual content, data visualizations are increasingly used within participatory online discourse. Though often considered to be “objective”, data visualizations can also be created and/or appropriated to a variety of roles in online discussions. Here, we study the use and evolution of data visualizations within social media discourse. Through computationally-assisted qualitative analysis, we first describe how data visualizations are used to support different rhetorical frames, highlighting key tactics and sources of these visualizations. Next, we conduct a deep analysis of three Data Visualization Lineages (DVLs), exploring the role of adaptations, annotations, and remixing within families of data visualizations that share the same origin but have diverged through distinct visual alterations. We conclude by discussing approaches for supporting researchers in identifying and unpacking data visualization lineages, and highlighting design opportunities for promoting healthy online discourse.