Examining hyperloop hype on Twitter

Abstract Hyperloops are a theorised mode of high-speed transportation that involves moving goods or people through a vacuum tube. Though the idea of a hyperloop is hundreds of years old, it was not until recently that a functional prototype was built. Despite the technology being in its early stages, users on Twitter have already formed unrealistic expectations regarding the technologies potential uses. A review of 6288 original tweets found that over 38% of users overstated the technologies potential benefits, or understated the potential costs of construction. Of users with unrealistic expectations, 48% displayed wildly unrealistic expectations that often involved hyperloops crisscrossing the globe in a matter of years. This is important given that public money is already being spent on the research and development of hyperloops; in part because of advocates championing the technology. Reviewing the discourse surrounding hyperloops can help ensure that the benefits of spending public money are maximised.