An analysis from Monash University conducted topic modelling and analysis of the sentiment of approximately 45,000 social media posts, comments and tweets that were scraped from social media platforms between February and July.

Lecturer Dr Verity Trott said while regional Victorians took to social media less to talk about the pandemic, when they did their sentiment was often more negative compared to that of people in Melbourne and it's surrounds.

"The negative sentiment during the past few months emerges from concerns relating to accessing health services, hospitals, GPs, psychologists as well as accessing resources like masks, long lines for Centrelink, and concerns about stockpiling," she said.

"There is also negative sentiment around how the restrictions will be implemented; how will the flow of traffic from Melbourne be stopped."

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She added these responses were much different coming from metropolitan areas of Victoria, who made light of the situation while looking to stay unified.

"There was a more positive sentiment within Melbourne spaces as users often made fun of or made light out of holiday goers and Melbournians trying to escape the restrictions to their (apparently) expensive holiday houses in regional Victoria," she continued.

"There was also a lot of solidarity happening within Melbourne and other city aligned groups, users trying to cheer each other up and provide peer support."

Dr Trott suggested the frequency people in regional Victoria post online for assistance could be potentially concerning as it could mean they are not reaching out for help when they need it during the pandemic.

"Regional folk must be relying on their immediate offline communities, families, friends, traditional or offline sources, or trying to do it alone."

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