Articles tagged with Mass Media
A study of 122 Australian consumers found that EV misinformation can lead to misconceptions about safety, environmental impact, and practicality. Researchers suggest addressing underlying concerns and providing credible information to build trust in electric vehicles.
A new book reveals how political polarization is reshaping family life, with couples developing strategies to navigate disagreement and others experiencing differences as moral conflicts. The author argues that these challenges reflect broader societal issues and may shape the socialization of future generations.
A Concordia study found that media outlets increasingly linked wildfires to climate change, with 40% of stories mentioning the topic and 30% explicitly connecting it to climate change. The shift in coverage may signal a long-term realignment in the discussion around climate change in the media ecosystem.
New research from Washington State University found that AI corrections are most persuasive when delivered in a tone that matches a user's level of anthropomorphism. An empathetic tone can be more effective in decreasing misperceptions, especially when the tone aligns with a user's beliefs about AI agents.
A new study found that films written by women but directed by men generate higher profits than those written by men, with a 34% median profit increase. Despite this, women are still severely underrepresented in directing roles, with only 29.4% of films crediting a woman as a director or screenwriter in 2023.
A study by Penn State researchers found that conversational chatbots can lead users to trust misinformation, but adding verification tools can offset this effect. The study tested the impact of conversational AI chatbots on user trust and found that users who could verify information were more skeptical of the AI's responses.
Panelists emphasize the importance of empowering parents to make informed decisions about their children's digital lives. They argue that what works offline can also work online, with a combination of reasonable rules and genuine warmth. The discussion highlights the need for parents to understand media literacy and teach their childre...
A study of 323 women found that thinspiration content increased self-objectification and worsened mood, while body-positive content boosted mood, despite still increasing self-objectification. Body-positive content strengthened positive mood effects in women with high self-objectification tendencies.
Researchers used social media data to analyze US sleep trends during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding widespread sleeplessness across the country. The study, published in PLOS One, suggests that nighttime social media posts can be used to track sleep patterns and identify areas of high sleep distress.
University journalism programs are filling news deserts by providing community news, but face challenges in maintaining consistency and recognition. The six case studies in the book highlight the pros and cons of university-operated news outlets, including the benefits of faculty expertise and student coverage.
Research by Prof. Samsun Knight reveals that streaming services' algorithms prioritize familiar content, leading to overexposure and decreased engagement. To combat this, Prof. Knight suggests exploring less familiar content and incorporating human recommendations to discover new artistic movements.
A new study found that online review platforms can be vulnerable to cyberattacks, which can be triggered by analyzing users' review lengths and social connections. The researchers suggest adding noise to the data to reduce the risk of identity theft and phishing attacks.
A scoping review reveals the significant impact of digital technologies on gender-based violence in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among women and girls. The study highlights the need for urgent action to address this emerging issue.
Researchers found that media literacy was the strongest predictor of trust in social institutions, while respondents who critically assessed online information had higher levels of institutional trust. Social media use, particularly WhatsApp, was not a significant predictor of civic engagement.
A systematic review reveals that social media has only partially fulfilled its promise to democratize climate change communication. Established actors continue to shape the discussion, while climate-change skeptics gain visibility. This undermines public debate on climate change.
A new framework, Tripartite Reactions to Emotions theory, explains how emotional posts and reviews influence perceptions of products and authors' own feelings. The theory reveals three distinct psychological reactions: pushing people toward and away from a product or brand, sometimes simultaneously.
Despite scientific progress, public faith in science is collapsing due to the proliferation of digital platforms and the democratization of access to information. This erodes trust as people rely on expert opinions without evaluating scientific claims for themselves.
Florida Atlantic University's video compression technology has been acquired by Dolby Laboratories, contributing to the international VVC Video Compression Standard and reducing video data requirements by approximately 50% while maintaining visual quality. The portfolio comprises 683 IP assets, including 250 granted patents worldwide.
A five-year panel study in Japan found that vaccine-related conspiracy beliefs are associated with media skepticism and distrust of institutions. Common forms of conspiracy thinking involve persistent distrust of social institutions and mainstream media.
All 50 US states have introduced bills to regulate social media and digital platforms for minors. A new public database, the Youth Digital Policy Repository, categorizes state legislation by location, year, and topic, providing a centralized source of regulations to inform future legislation.
A new study from the University of Kansas reveals that everyday people often focus on punishment as a solution to gender-based violence rather than examining its causes. Commenters regularly called for imprisonment and stripping perpetrators of power and resources, with some even advocating for poverty as a form of punishment.
Researchers found that problematic Internet usage is associated with worse mood, more stress, and longer internet use times. The study suggests that temptation is the main driver for continued internet use, with feelings of pleasure and relief emerging as reinforcing factors.
A new scale developed by University of Arizona researchers helps marketers predict consumer habits by analyzing which era evokes the most nostalgia. The Nostalgia for Eras scale assesses three components: warmth, loss, and idealization, identifying specific decades that evoke strong nostalgic feelings.
Researchers have developed an AI tool that can detect online propaganda in Kinyarwanda, a Bantu language spoken by 350 million Africans. The dataset, called KinyaProp, provides examples of misinformation in Kinyarwanda for large language models to learn from and recognize.
Research by Harvard Medical School found that traffic fatalities increased by 14.3% the day after mass shootings, resulting in nearly 20 additional deaths nationwide. The study analyzed internet search patterns and data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System to identify a consistent pattern across the country.
A study published in American Psychologist found that White children who consumed media with fewer Black characters had less positive attitudes towards Black children and were more likely to attribute racial inequalities to differences. The research highlights the role of media consumption in shaping childhood prejudices, suggesting th...
An Aston University study has found that the public lacks a clear understanding of what constitutes 'social media', with varying opinions on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. The research highlights the importance of precise definitions to avoid ineffective regulation and protect vulnerable groups.
New Cornell University research reveals that social media content creation is often depicted as a 'dream job,' but highlights the less auspicious elements of work in this space, including endemic burnout. The researchers found that creators have few mechanisms for protection from work-related harms due to their status as independent co...
A study found that social media helped spread information during the Rolling Fork tornado, but also revealed communication challenges facing rural areas due to limited broadband access and fragmented media. Researchers suggest a need for personalized messaging strategies to address diverse community needs.
A WSU study explores the environmental cost of influencer PR gifts, finding that only 1% of comments mention packaging sustainability. The research suggests influencers can promote eco-friendly behaviors by discussing sustainable practices in their unboxing videos.
A recent study in Japan found that direct survey questions can make negative attitudes toward the mass media appear stronger than they actually are. The study compared direct questioning with indirect questioning using a list experiment and found a significant gap of 15.4 percentage points in agreement rates.
New research from the University of Kansas finds that AI technology can be used to deliver relevant ads without collecting personal data. The studies show that AI systems can generate relevance by interpreting content structure, semantic cues and emotional tone within a webpage.
A study of nearly 1,000 TikTok videos found that sunscreen misinformation attracts disproportionate audience engagement, with critique-focused content generating more likes, shares, and comments than promotional videos. The analysis highlights the viral potential of contrarian content on TikTok.
Research by Bjorn Beijnon explores how digital platforms turn people into 'data subjects', shaping behavior through convenient design choices. Fieldwork found personalized info environments can reinforce existing beliefs and contribute to fragmented understandings of reality.
A study assesses the quality and accuracy of Crohn's disease-related content on Instagram Reels, finding moderate overall quality with medical-advice videos containing significant misinformation. The research emphasizes the importance of critically evaluating social media health content to ensure accurate information is shared.
A study by University of Pittsburgh researchers found that a single TV episode sparked a surge in awareness and conversations about the historic ambulance service. Online search trends and social media conversations revealed how entertainment media can spark curiosity and learning about forgotten topics.
Researchers found that watching positive aging videos on TikTok increased women's positive emotions about aging, boosted their confidence in aging well, and even changed their attitudes towards older people. The study suggests that having a positive aging role model can be enough to change one's own thinking.
Differences were observed in parent and child mealtime media use patterns among racial and ethnic groups. Black parental race was positively associated with paired use, while Asian parental race was associated with individual use.
A recent study by Marta Coll-Florit found that while Spanish newspapers are openly discussing suicide, they still employ stigmatizing metaphors such as 'war' and 'epidemic', which can perpetuate shame and guilt around the topic. The researcher argues that these metaphors convey a focus on individual blame rather than collective respons...
Participants trusted AI more for large-scale scanning tasks like identifying red flags in social media posts, while trusting humans for nuanced fact-checking requiring piecing together evidence. The findings suggest that effective fact-checking tools should provide accurate results and explain how they're reached.
A study found that 14 million workdays are lost annually due to menopause, while women rely on online misinformation for medical advice. The authors advocate for open conversation and inclusive approaches to combat stigma and support women's health during this transition.
A recent study of over 3,000 Taiwanese students found that adolescents who received clear disclosure of social media sponsorships demonstrated improved advertising literacy. However, this improvement was tempered by a need for critical thinking to curb purchase intent among the young participants.
Researchers found that individuals with a 'news will find me' mindset consider social media friends and algorithms as trustworthy as professional editors and journalists. This can lead to a reliance on unverified information and undermine traditional news sources.
A study by Marta Serra-Garcia examines how incentives in the online attention economy shape scientific communication, finding that attention-driven summaries are not more likely to be factually inaccurate but tend to include less information. The research reveals a trade-off between engaging content and conveying accurate details.
A new study finds that interaction dynamics in online communities can amplify small imbalances, rapidly turning mixed-opinion communities into highly-polarized ones. Even without algorithms and homogeneity-seeking behaviors, initial polarizations can emerge unintentionally.
A recent study found that risk perceptions of e-cigarettes rose sharply during and after the EVALI outbreak, lingering even after scientists identified the cause. This shift in perception was more pronounced among non-white participants, potentially exacerbating existing health disparities.
A new UN Women report reveals that online violence and deepfakes are pushing women out of public life, with alarming rates of mental health diagnoses and self-censorship. The study also found that law enforcement is often failing to provide justice for survivors, highlighting the need for effective education and training.
New research from the University of Kansas found varying approaches to AI use in journalism classes across US institutions. The study suggests that a more consistent approach could better serve education and practice, but inconsistent policies may confuse students. Researchers recommend clearer guidelines from accrediting bodies.
Researchers found that exposure to aggressive diplomatic messaging reduces favorability towards China in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. In contrast, perceptions of the US are less affected, with limited persuasive power.
Adolescents who follow social media tipsters report higher gambling intention and increased frequency. The study highlights the need for stronger regulation of tipster-related marketing and media literacy programmes to address persuasive strategies and improve risk awareness.
A new Johns Hopkins University study reveals a significant link between following 'new right' media outlets and vaccine hesitancy. The research surveyed nearly 3,000 adults, finding that those who engage with these outlets are more than twice as likely to be hesitant about vaccines.
A study by the University of Kansas found that high school journalists learn business skills through practice and experiential learning, even if business concepts are not directly addressed. Student media advisers reported financial pressures and stressed the need for improved financial literacy education.
Social media use has been linked to psychological distress and impaired functioning in some people, but the impact varies widely depending on how and why it's used. Researchers are debating how to measure social media addiction and need more rigorous studies to determine whether it should be classified as a clinical disorder.
Researchers found that watching an online performance in real time boosts several aspects of the viewing experience, including a common factor of heightened sense of presence. The liveness effect weakens when viewers cannot see a performer's face, but going live can benefit streamers by motivating audience engagement.
The report proposes new strategies for digital safety, including AI-powered tools to detect and intervene in harmful situations. Experts also recommend involving children and youths in the design process, particularly schools, to promote agency and well-being.
A recent study examines the mechanisms behind Japan's prolonged silence on Johnny Kitagawa's crimes, characterizing it as a 'conspiracy of silence.' The research reveals that structural factors, including media networks and government policies, contributed to this silence. Key findings include the avoidance of negative coverage by tele...
A new study reveals traditional TV ads deliver less than expected impact, with promotions, recency, programming, and habits playing a crucial role in ad effectiveness. The research uses smart TV data to measure causal impact on consumer purchases, providing insights for advertisers and improving TV networks' measurement capabilities.
Adolescents who spend more time on social media tend to struggle with recognizing and pronouncing words. However, frequent social media use is also linked to faster information processing and shorter reaction times.
A new study finds that personal attacks in politics are strongly associated with greater media coverage, but show no correlation with fundraising or policy success. Researchers discovered an asymmetric pattern of conflict entrepreneurs, who use antagonistic rhetoric to gain media attention and become 'media celebrities'.
A crisis communication study reveals Ticketmaster's inadequate response to technical failures and public backlash, leading to a political scandal and antitrust lawsuit. The company's lack of transparency, avoidance of responsibility, and failure to issue a full apology further damaged its reputation.