Articles tagged with Social Media
Researchers developed a model to infer opinions from social networks and measure left-right political division. The model shed new light on how political beliefs are shaped, providing insights for policymakers and real-world debates.
A machine-learning model was trained on 10 million tweets to infer users' subjective wellbeing. The study found that New Year's Day is the most popular holiday, followed by Defender of the Fatherland Day and International Women's Day. The researchers also discovered gender differences in attitudes towards certain holidays.
A recent analysis found that TikTok health information videos on Mpox are often inaccurate, incomplete, and of poor quality. This poses significant risks to public health, particularly during outbreaks.
A new study explores the growing trend of patient influencers promoting prescription drugs on social media, often with close ties to pharmaceutical companies. Despite some good intentions, researchers raise concerns about the lack of medical training and potential for misinformation, highlighting the need for greater regulation.
Research by University of Florida researchers found that disinformation ads on Facebook use a clear recipe with short ad buys, familiar language, and big budgets to reach more people. The most engaging ads were full of positive feelings encouraging good emotions about one's own groups rather than bad emotions towards others.
New research reveals that Gen Z values authenticity in online personal branding strategies, using platforms like LinkedIn to project strong impressions. Study findings suggest that imperfection is beneficial for job seekers, with employers seeking unique points and cultural fit.
Research finds that both conservative and liberal Americans share fake news due to a fear of exclusion from their social groups. The study suggests that pre-bunking methods and highlighting the importance of accurate news can help reduce the spread of fake news.
A web-based program educating mothers about reliable health information and vaccine-preventable illnesses was effective in persuading vaccine-hesitant mothers to vaccinate themselves and their infants. The study found that 82% of hesitant pregnant women received flu and Tdap vaccines after participating in the online intervention.
A study from Swansea University found that reducing social media use by 15 minutes a day can significantly improve physical health and psychological well-being. The results showed a 15% improvement in immune function, 50% improvement in sleep quality, and 30% fewer depressive symptoms.
A new study published in BMC Public Health suggests that problematic social media use in preteens is linked to both positive and negative alcohol beliefs. Researchers found that 97% of social media posts display alcohol in a positive context, contributing to positive perceptions among adolescents.
A new study by University of Cambridge researchers found that offering tiny cash rewards for accuracy can increase people's ability to distinguish between misinformation and the truth. The study suggests that fake news thrives due to a motivational imbalance, where users have more incentive to get clicks than to spread accurate content.
A new study found that U.S. senators' tweets about greed perform better in terms of likes and retweets, particularly among Democrats who gain stronger traction for negative tweets about their opponents.
A new study by MIT scholars reveals that sharing news on social media can lead to a decline in accuracy, as considering sharing impairs people's ability to discern truth. The study found that asking participants about sharing reduced their success rate at telling truths from falsehoods, with a 35% decrease in accuracy.
A 21-person commission of public health experts calls for networked communities sharing accurate vaccine information to counter misinformation. The US has seen a surge in anti-vaccine activism, leading to vaccine hesitancy and increased illnesses.
Researchers at Brigham Young University categorized GIF users into three types: Enthusiasts, Searchers, and Referentialists. Enthusiasts use GIFs to express themselves and impress others, while Searchers enjoy the thrill of finding the perfect GIF for a situation. Referentialists rely on pop culture references to respond to GIFs. Under...
Researchers found that Americans are more receptive to counter-partisan messages than previously thought, and party loyalty does not significantly distort their processing of evidence. The study used a survey of over 5,000 partisans to test the effect of persuasive messaging on their attitudes.
Primary care physicians recommend screening adolescents and young adults for cyberbullying and social media misuse, citing the need for timely intervention due to underreported incidents. Screening tools like R-OBVQ, CBVS, CABS, and MARC can help identify potential risks.
Researchers analyzed 304,242 #StopAsianHate tweets to understand the role of reflection in social justice activism. The study found that reflection is an essential element, informing both individual involvement and overall movement progress.
Analysis in the US, UK, Brazil, and Argentina shows that winners' Twitter supporters respond faster and engage more positively than losers' supporters. The study found reduced toxicity levels among winners' supporters, suggesting a correlation between winning and increased social media engagement.
A study analyzing over 800,000 tweets found that negative emotions expressed about geoengineering can easily fall into conspiracy theories. The researchers also discovered a strong link between geoengineering and the chemtrail conspiracy theory, with toxic tweets spilling over across regional boundaries.
A study of over 93,000 people across 93 countries found that men and women spend an average of four hours a day on beauty-enhancing behaviors. Social media usage is the strongest predictor of attractiveness-enhancing behaviors, with active users investing more time in improving their appearance.
A study by Dr. Roman Lietz and Dr. Fergal Lenehan found that socially engaged Twitter users share similar values and motivations, including a commitment to human rights, tolerance, and understanding. Despite the harsh environment of social media, these individuals demonstrate surprising similarities in their perspectives on society.
Researchers catalogued fake interaction resale panels offering customized services, including buying likes, views, followers, and online visits on various platforms.
A study of 11,633 children aged 9-11 found that increased screen time was associated with a higher risk of developing suicidal behaviors two years later. Each additional hour of screen time led to a 9% higher risk of reporting suicidal behavior.
A recent study from the University of South Australia found that teenagers with a 'late sleep chronotype' who use technology before bed on weekends are at greater risk of disturbed sleep. This can lead to a serious sleep deficit, negatively impacting their daily tasks and wellbeing.
A Brigham and Women's Hospital study reveals that popular YouTube videos on sleep health often contain misinformation, despite expert-led content receiving significantly fewer views. The study highlights the prevalence of consumer bias in popular videos, which may lead to patients avoiding care or receiving wrong care.
Participants who reduced their social media use by 50% saw significant improvements in how they felt about their weight and overall appearance. The study suggests that limiting social media use may be a feasible method of producing short-term positive effects on body image among vulnerable populations.
MIT researchers have developed a receiver chip that targets and blocks unwanted signals without hurting device performance. The chip uses a mixer-first architecture and block digital filtering to remove harmonic interference, enabling it to handle high-power signals effectively.
An analysis of 13 million tweets suggests that celebrity tweets, particularly from politicians and news anchors, played a significant role in shaping public opinion on the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. The findings highlight the importance of monitoring social media activity to combat misinformation and promote health-protective behaviors.
New research explores the impact of digital media on visual perception, finding that online environments can shift what the brain pays attention to. Studies suggest that excessive digital use can lead to a reduced sensitivity to oblique angles, but this effect may not be permanent once exposure to nature increases.
A Concordia researcher found that Instagram can provide relief and validation for women with mental health issues, such as eating disorders and anxiety. The study reveals how three Quebec women use Instagram in their daily lives to cope with mental illness.
A University of Kansas study analyzed over 1,000 AI-generated ads and found that they are only labeled as ads about half the time, often appealing to consumers in positive ways. The prevalence of AI in programmatic advertising raises concerns about consumer deception and the need for updated guidelines to require transparency.
Researchers have developed a novel prognostic index to predict survival outcomes in gastric cancer patients. The inflammation-combined prognostic index (ICPI) combines three biomarkers - lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio - to provide a personalized prognosis for each patient.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found that people's use of popular websites and social media platforms differs significantly based on their location and language. The study analyzed data from 124 countries and found that YouTube and Twitter are used in distinct ways across regions.
A study by Georgia State University researchers identifies common techniques and forms of deception used by scammers to target victims on dating apps. The team analyzed nearly 10,000 vetted reports to develop a model for victim vulnerability and resilience.
A study by the University of Bath found that close friends can expect a like regardless of previous posts, while acquaintances must reciprocate to earn a like. The study explores how relational closeness affects user behavior on social media.
A study by researchers at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found that politicians who engage in incivility receive fewer followers and less interest in their messages. The researchers analyzed social media posts from Donald Trump and Joe Biden, finding that the former president lost over 6 million followers due t...
A UTHealth Houston study found caregivers of people at high risk of CTE are more likely to seek information from social media than physicians. The study also showed that participants reported 77% of online CTE information is probably true, with league-sponsored websites and healthcare providers being the least credible sources.
A Rutgers study found that people who know someone who became ill with COVID-19 or died from the disease are twice as likely to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The study also found that essential workers and those with better health status were more likely to get vaccinated.
A new study found that posts labeled as true received more engagement and positive reaction on Reddit than those marked as false. This contrasts with previous research suggesting falsehoods travel more quickly online.
A new study reveals that online hate speech is frequently conveyed through subtle and modified wording, allowing it to evade detection. Covert methods of expression are being used by haters to avoid detection, highlighting the need for increased attention to implied ways of expressing hate.
A study of nearly 2 million Tweets in London and San Francisco identified specific events and locations associated with different emotions. The analysis showed that certain locations, such as hotels and restaurants, were linked to higher levels of joy, while train stations and transportation sites were linked to disgust.
The University of Missouri has received a $2 million grant from the Department of Justice to help detect potential threats to school safety in rural Missouri schools. The project will partner with up to 26 rural school districts and utilize technology software to monitor online activity for threatening language or images.
A machine-learning analysis of 59 million online posts reveals associations between real-world events and various types of hate speech, including anti-immigration and LGBTQ-related slurs. The study suggests a complex relationship between triggering events and online hate speech, with potential implications for mitigating such speech.
A new project aims to examine the circulation of newspaper reports on anti-Black violence between 1863 and 1921. The team will use computational methods to trace how stories spread across the country and map their impact, with potential applications for studying other forms of racial violence.
An online randomized trial found that exposure to civic education via social media increased support for democracy, political efficacy, and voter registration among young adults in Tunisia. The study suggests that online civic education can be an effective tool in strengthening democratic values and rejecting authoritarian rule.
Researchers analyzed nearly 400,000 Twitter posts to find that five popular conspiracy theories overlapped in narratives highlighting malicious purposes and secretive actions. The most common conspiracies included those related to Bill Gates, 5G Networks, vaccinations, QAnon, and Agenda 21.
A new study analyzed nearly 20,000 conversations between online users and a chatbot called SimSimi to understand user interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers found that daily chats with the chatbot mostly led to positive emotions and reduced negative moods during lockdowns.
A USC-led study of over 2,400 Facebook users found that social media platforms' reward structures encourage habitually sharing information, leading to the spread of fake news. The researchers suggest that platforms should pursue structural changes to limit misinformation, rather than just moderating posted content.
Researchers from Curtin University have identified six new plant species using photos shared on Facebook and iNaturalist. The newly described carnivorous sundews were discovered through images taken by nature enthusiasts and photographers, demonstrating the potential of citizen scientists to contribute to advances in taxonomic research.
A study analyzing YouTube videos by popular influencers with millions of followers found that many promoted stopping hormonal birth control over using it or safer alternatives. The researchers warn that this could lead to unplanned pregnancies and emphasize the need for critical evaluation of online health information.
A Temple-led study explores how recently firearm-injured individuals perceive news media coverage of their injuries and firearm violence. Participants reported feeling relieved when not
A new study by NYU's Center for Social Media and Politics found that Russian Twitter campaigns during the 2016 presidential race primarily reached a small subset of highly partisan Republicans. Despite influencing efforts, there were no measurable changes in attitudes, polarization, or voting behavior among those exposed to these forei...
A new method to detect groups of anomalous users has been developed by a Ben-Gurion University researcher, which can work on any network or platform. The method, known as Co-Membership-based Generic Anomalous Communities Detection Algorithm (CMMAC), uses network structural properties to identify unusual online behavior.
A new study reveals that high-quality coral reefs in Hawaii are popular tourist sites, but also at risk from tourism-related development and pollution. The research used social media and aerial mapping to analyze the impact of tourist visitation on live coral cover across hundreds of coastal sites.
Researchers tracked tweets about two invasive insects, spotted lanternfly and Tuta absoluta, on Twitter and in news stories. They found that activity patterns on these platforms aligned with official surveys, providing insights into pest spread timing and location.
Research suggests that social media use in early adolescence may affect the brain's sensitivity to rewards and punishments, potentially influencing psychological adjustment. The study of 169 sixth- and seventh-grade students found associations between habitual checking behaviors on social media and changes in brain development.
A study of 169 students found that habitual social media checking is linked to increased sensitivity in adolescent brains. This increased sensitivity may be an adaptive behavior to navigate the digital world, but also poses potential long-term consequences for brain development.
The study identifies four key drivers of political violence in the United States: toxic polarization, identity-based ideologies, erosion of democratic norms, and disinformation. These drivers contribute to increased acceptance of political violence and undermine democratic institutions.
Research found that people using social media to escape superficial boredom are preventing themselves from progressing to profound boredom, a state that can lead to more creative and meaningful activity. Profound boredom stems from uninterrupted time spent in solitude, allowing individuals to question their sense of self and existence.