Articles tagged with Social Media
A recent study found that TikTok food content prompts hunger and cravings in adolescents, but parents can help them navigate its influence by fostering critical conversations and encouraging family meals. The study suggests parents can provide a protective perspective by questioning influencer claims and promoting healthy social media ...
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 hemp-derived cannabinoid brands emphasize lifestyle and recreational marketing, with minimal attention to safety warnings, on social media platforms. The study highlights gaps in platform policies and enforcement, calling for clearer standards addressing youth-oriented features and misleading health claims.
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 study on the 2019 global climate strikes found that online conflict enables millions of strangers to discover they are telling the same story and act together. The researchers identified three phases: exposure, entanglement, and coalescence, where distinct causes fuse into a single global movement.
A study of Reddit posts about the maternal Tdap vaccine found pregnant women seeking information to clarify concerns and better understand healthcare provider advice. Many posters asked for reassurance around vaccine safety or their choice to refuse the vaccine, but few posts contained discussions of vaccine hesitancy.
Researchers found that meaning in life and healthy digital habits are strong predictors of better mental health outcomes. These factors can be strengthened through interventions, regardless of religious affiliation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Teaching children emotional regulation and healthy friendships can provide a crucial buffer against social media's risks to mental health and self-worth. Strong childhood friendships are better equipped to navigate digital spaces, reducing the likelihood of online validation-based identity and self-worth issues.
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 study by Universitat Pompeu Fabra found that Instagram comments associate breastfeeding with the ideal of good motherhood, fostering guilt among women who cannot breastfeed. The research highlights the tension between idealized representation and everyday reality, revealing a need for critical awareness and empowerment.
A cohort study found that increased problematic social media use during mid-adolescence was directly associated with higher ADHD symptoms. The association was strongest among male participants.
Researchers argue that social media restrictions should be viewed as part of a complex system rather than isolated policies. They suggest using systems mapping to anticipate effects and design more balanced approaches, considering factors such as school engagement, social connections, and industry responses.
A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that low body esteem, problematic social media use, and other factors are linked to addictive-like behavior in women who undergo repeated cosmetic treatments. Nearly 20% of surveyed women met the threshold for moderate-to-severe risk of addictive cosmetic procedure use.
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.
Depression is associated with a greater tendency to be reinforced by social rewards on Twitter, contrary to laboratory-based findings of blunted reinforcement learning in depression. This suggests potential mechanisms linking social media use to worse mental health outcomes.
A new study reveals that racial and ethnic minority youth pay more attention to food influencers who share their racial identity, resulting in stronger engagement with unhealthy foods. The researchers found that identity-based social media marketing can be a powerful mechanism in shaping adolescents' eating behavior.
Researchers from Kyushu University Museum discovered a new wasp species, Eupelmus curvator, in Japan using social media-facilitated observations. The study provides the first formal scientific description of the male species and highlights the potential of digital collecting for biodiversity research.
A new study analyzing over 11,000 YouTube videos and comments found that online discussions surrounding avian influenza transformed scientific information into broader debates involving institutional trust, politics, and alternative interpretations of disease risk. The analysis identified dominant themes, emotional patterns, and shifts...
A Canadian study of over 13,500 older adults found that social networking sites were associated with poorer perceived mental health. Email use was positively correlated with mental health, while no significant associations were found for other digital communication tools.
A new study found that Australia's Social Media Minimum Age Act has little effect on reducing teen social media use, with many under 16s using platforms despite age restrictions. The study also showed that many teens are actively circumventing age verification checks.
A recent USF study found that male victims of financial sextortion experience significant financial and psychological effects, including anxiety and shame. The research highlights the importance of caution on dating apps and social media to reduce risk, as well as seeking help and support if affected.
Researchers analyzed TikTok videos discussing food noise, finding it's a relentless preoccupation with eating that affects daily activities. The study aims to bring evidence to differentiate between scientific claims and marketing purposes.
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.
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.
A Concordia-led team developed an AI-based method for detecting toxic online content, which outperformed existing tools in accuracy and throughput. The Proximal Policy Optimization-based Cascaded Inference System (PPO-CIS) layers scanning tasks to quickly identify harmful material.
Researchers found that most readers abandon sites after hitting paywalls, but these barriers actually increase subscriptions by 84 times. Paywalls also prompt readers to log in or explore free content. To boost digital revenue, publishers should target readers with tailored offers and cultivate direct relationships.
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.
Injectable peptides marketed online for enhancement purposes are raising concern due to lack of regulation and limited research. The use of these substances is blurring the line between legitimate treatment and enhancement use, complicating enforcement and creating uncertainty for clinicians, regulators, and consumers alike.
A new book titled SocialsVoice presents a complex portrait of the relationship between social media content and mental health from the perspective of Latino youth. Through participatory research, youth share their experiences online, including both negative stigmatizing content and supportive voices.
A study found that no social media restriction experiments have included people under the age of 16, making it impossible to know how bans will affect young people. Bans may also backfire by invading privacy, hurting marginalized people, and forcing teens to circumvent the ban.
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 after five exposures, users' impressions stabilize and shape their response to future information. The study challenges the common assumption that people evaluate information accuracy before forming opinions.
Research shows that adverts featuring people with a disability increase consumer attitudes towards brands and their products. Key findings include the benefits of disability inclusion and the importance of representing individuals with disabilities as capable advocates for a product or service.
Researchers found that personalized, engagement-based ranking algorithms lead to polarized and less accurate beliefs, while bridging-based and intelligence-based ranking algorithms promote consensus and accuracy. Alternative algorithms could help social media platforms support more positive values.
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.
Researchers analyzed a large dataset of Japanese Instagram ads to identify linguistic patterns linked to click-through rates. The study found that word choices for supplement and cosmetic ads differed significantly, with risk-related words boosting CTR in supplement ads, while motion-related language increased CTR in cosmetic ads.
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 study of US adults aged 30-70 found that online social media connections with strangers are associated with increased loneliness. In contrast, connecting with friends online was not linked to greater or decreased loneliness. The researchers suggest prioritizing in-person connections over social media ones.
A new study suggests that fitspiration content on social media can lead to negative self-esteem, unhealthy dieting, and exercise habits among young adults. Researchers analyzed 26 studies involving 6,111 individuals across seven countries, finding that even brief exposure to idealized images can trigger harmful comparisons.
A study by SWPS University found that people with depressive symptoms use less active language, such as 'I am incapable' instead of 'I achieve goals'. This analysis of social media posts shows promise for early detection and prevention of depression.
Simulations by a team of scientists show that unrestricted information sharing can lead to less accurate collective beliefs, particularly in socially homogenous settings. This phenomenon is driven by homophily and the amplification of erroneous ideas within groups.
A recent survey found that 31% of 16-year-olds and 39% of 18-year-olds had sent sexually suggestive photos or videos. Most teens receive these messages from strangers, while those in relationships often send them to their partners.
A new study found that young men who viewed idealized fitness or supplement videos on TikTok reported lower fitness satisfaction and stronger intentions to use creatine, a popular muscle-building supplement. The researchers highlight the need for targeted media literacy education and responsible social media practices.
New research from the University of Waterloo shows that social media posts can speed up wildfire response but also trigger costly over-reaction. The study analyzed Twitter data on California wildfires and found that while emotional posts can amplify urgency, they also distort resource allocation.
A study using the Meta Ad Library found that gambling companies are reaching young men on social media at more than double the rate of women, with 91% of ads targeting men only. The age group most exposed to advertising was 25-34-year-olds, who accounted for over a third of all unique accounts reached.
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 study published at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting found that adolescents with high social media use had triple the odds of recent alcohol use compared to non-users. The study suggests that digital literacy and safe online navigation are crucial in reducing exposure to alcohol-related content.
A study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that interspersing realistic portrayals of motherhood alongside idealized posts can help sustain positive feelings and reduce shame among mothers. This balanced approach may mitigate some social media harms, particularly for those prone to social comparison.
A comprehensive analysis of UK suicide data from 2019-2024 found a significant rise in cases involving sodium nitrite poisoning, predominantly affecting Gen Z and Millennials. The study highlights the need for urgent action to restrict access to this preservative and provide antidotes to mitigate its effects.
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 identified patient-reported symptoms associated with GLP-1s, including menstrual changes, fatigue, and temperature-related complaints, that may not be fully captured in clinical trials or drug labeling. Nearly 4% of Reddit users reported reproductive symptoms, and fatigue was the second most common complaint.