Articles tagged with Social Media
Climate change sentiments were overwhelmingly pro-human activity action, while vaccine sentiments showed a significant gap between pro and neutral views. The study analyzed 87 million tweets from 2007 to 2016 and found less interaction among users with opposing views on vaccines compared to climate change.
A recent study found that social media posts about COVID-19 were less likely to contain misinformation than posts about other health topics. The research also revealed that health misinformation was already prevalent before the pandemic, with credible sources like governments and academic institutions being more trustworthy.
A study analyzing nearly 5,200 foods and beverages in celebrities' social media posts found that most depicted unhealthy profiles. Alcoholic beverages, snacks, and sweets were commonly showcased, raising concerns about their impact on public health.
A new study led by a Pitt father-daughter duo found that people's emotions play a significant role in the spread of fake news on social media. The researchers discovered three distinct groups: 'hot' individuals who are highly emotional and likely to share fake news, 'upset' users who react negatively to misleading headlines, and the 'c...
Researchers at George Washington University found that mainstream parenting communities were exposed to misinformation from alternative health and anti-vaccination communities on Facebook. The study reveals how social media machinery can pull these communities closer to extremes, highlighting the need for a new strategy to combat onlin...
A new study published in Health Promotion Practice highlights the flaws in sexual education on TikTok, a video-based social media platform. The study found that many videos on the app provide unverified claims and misinformation, posing a risk to teenagers and young adults seeking sex education.
A study analyzing McDonald's social media marketing across 15 countries found that the company prioritizes children in lower-middle-income countries with more posts and child-friendly content. This may exacerbate existing healthcare issues in these vulnerable populations.
A new study found that news media amplified rather than rectified misleading health information from TV personality Dr. Oz, resulting in the further spread of misinformation. The researchers called for government oversight to lessen the risk of spreading inaccuracies.
A new study found significant discrepancies in estimates of social media use among teenagers and their parents, with parents underestimating the time spent on social media. The study also found larger discrepancies in families of color, single parents, and low-income families.
New research finds that social media echo chambers can create a strong bond and increase the likelihood of radicalization. In studies examining posts on Gab and Reddit's "Incels" community, researchers found that users who aligned with the group's morals were more likely to use hateful language toward outgroups.
A recent study from Tel Aviv University found that mothers' smartphone use reduces toddler interaction by a factor of four. Reduced interaction can have far-reaching consequences on child development, including language and social skills. The study also found no significant difference between browsing smartphones and reading magazines.
A Penn State study found that live-streaming ads for alcohol, energy drinks, and junk food significantly increased during the pandemic, targeting young viewers. The researchers discovered that energy drinks made up nearly 80% of marketing, while ads for restaurants and soda were also prevalent.
A study found that a hip hop song about suicide prevention led to an increase in calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and a reduction in suicides. The researchers suggest that positive media stories can have a protective effect, particularly for hard-to-reach groups.
During the pandemic, Twitter sentiment around vaping went from broadly positive to mostly negative, likely due to concerns over its link to COVID-19 infection. The study analyzed tweets and found a significant shift in public opinion on the risks associated with vaping.
Research by University of Kent and Nottingham Trent University found that video and text-based messaging apps have a negative effect on the mental wellbeing of young people over 16 during Covid-19 lockdowns. Despite this, face-to-face contact is positively associated with wellbeing compared to digital contact.
A computational analysis of billions of tweets has uncovered high-resolution timelines of the major stories surrounding Trump's presidency from 2016 to 2021. The study found that turbulence in these stories varied over time, with dominant narratives emerging for longer periods during certain periods.
A recent study used computer vision algorithms to analyze nearly 9,400 Flickr photos taken along Colorado's Front Range, identifying preferred outdoor landscapes with moderate accuracy. The algorithm performed well for images of water, structures, and agricultural lands, but struggled with forests. Combining social media data with on-s...
Researchers found that when people react to news, they unknowingly group themselves into polarized networks, missing out on diverse news sources. This can lead to ideologically homogenous social connections and contribute to the high rates of American political divisiveness.
Researchers at the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media at George Mason University received $800,000 in funding to launch a podcasting and video production studio and upgrade their social media marketing efforts. The award will also support the center's operating reserve.
Researchers at UC3M found that Facebook ads can target a specific person with just four rare and specific interests. This nanotargeting ability exposes users to new risks, including potential identification without consent. The study highlights the need for advertising platforms to protect individual privacy.
A new UniSA study is helping protect children from online predators by investigating language and behaviors used to gain unacquainted children's trust. The research aims to deliver new linguistic indicators to monitor, identify, and apprehend suspects.
A recent study found that Twitter's architecture and features discourage the dissemination of conspiracy theories. Twitter users combine high levels of education with a greater tendency to search for news and engage in political debates, seeking reliable information.
Converting empty offices into podcast studios poses unique acoustic challenges. Experts recommend optimizing space for better sound quality, using minimal absorptive treatments and selecting suitable microphones. Aesthetically pleasing room finishes are also crucial for visually appealing recording spaces.
A research team from India identified a previously unknown species of kukri snake, Oligodon churahensis, found in the Churah Valley of Himachal Pradesh. The discovery was made possible by an Instagram photo shared by Virendar K. Bhardwaj, which caught the attention of a herpetologist and led to further investigation.
Researchers examined social media posts promoting live bird sales from West Africa, finding 83 species for sale, including endangered parrots. Social media platforms must work with wildlife experts to detect harmful content, as algorithms alone are not enough.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found an association between social media use and self-reported symptoms of depression in adults aged 18 and older. The research suggests that individuals who use social media more frequently may experience greater levels of depressive symptoms.
A new study by New York University's Center for Social Media and Politics found that warning users of the potential consequences of their use of hate speech can decrease their subsequent posting of hateful language for a week. Researchers examined the impact of issuing warnings to users who had been suspended for posting tweets with ha...
Researchers found that re-identifying individuals from genomic data using public face images is harder than previously thought, with success rates well below idealized settings. They developed a method to alter social media photos and reduce the risk of privacy breaches.
A recent study published in the Journal of Marketing found that brand-to-brand praise can lead to increased consumer engagement and sales for the praiser. The research suggests that this approach is particularly effective for brands that are not traditionally seen as warm or caring, such as for-profit brands.
A new study by MIT researchers finds that video clips have a modestly larger impact on political persuasion than the written word, but only by one-third. Participants were more likely to believe events occurred when shown in a video, but this advantage was limited to changing attitudes and behavior.
A Rutgers-led study found that conflicting health information can lead to confusion, errors, and negative feelings towards experts. Those exposed to conflicting messages performed slower on attention tasks and reported more effort, despite accurate performance.
Researchers found that cascades of equally shared true and untrue tweets are virtually indistinguishable, implying that untruths may not be more prone to spreading than truths online. This study has implications for strategies to curb misinformation on Twitter.
Researchers found a significant rise in Instagram posts with hashtags related to self-injury, with nearly 110,000 posts in December compared to 58,000 at the start of 2018. The study also showed a connection between self-injury and depression, as well as suicide, highlighting the need for effective coping strategies and online monitoring.
The American Pediatric Society (APS) has named Dr. Megan A. Moreno the recipient of the 2022 Norman J. Siegel Outstanding Science Award, recognizing her significant contributions to pediatric science and adolescent health. The award acknowledges her pioneering work on social media research and its impact on adolescent wellbeing.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge found that universities are increasingly using social media metrics to claim impact in research, despite this being a 'naïve and problematic' grasp of the concept. This is linked to institutional isomorphism, where organisations imitate each other's approaches to uncertain goals.
A Boston University researcher found that while many climate deniers are receptive to disinformation, some are also open to the science. Her study suggests that engaging with individuals most vulnerable to climate disinformation is crucial in stopping its spread.
A University of Washington study finds that countermarketing campaigns based on anti-smoking tactics decrease the buying of sugary 'fruit' drinks for children. The campaign effectively reduced virtual purchases by 31% and significantly lowered trust in fruit drink brands among participating Latinx parents.
A new study maps out risk factors associated with misleading information and proposes practical ways to manage them in the business world. The research aims to bridge the divide between academic research and real-world practice of cyber risk management.
A UBCO study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that negative health experiences and withdrawal symptoms are major barriers to quitting e-cigarettes. Gradual reduction methods, including tapering nicotine concentration and using distraction techniques, were preferred by over 65% of quitters.
A new study published in Computers in Human Behavior found that using Instagram or Snapchat before age 11 was significantly related to more problematic digital behaviors. Parental restrictions on phone use and checking social media ameliorated some of the negative effects.
A Rutgers-led study found that banning right-wing extremists from Twitter significantly reduces the spread of anti-social ideas and conspiracy theories. Removing these individuals from social media platforms leads to a nearly 92% decline in tweets referencing them, as well as a 90% decrease in new users tweeting about them.
A study published in the Atlantic Journal of Communication analyzed Instagram posts from 20 celebrity influencers about COVID-19 between March and May 2020. The researchers found that celebrities initially modeled guidance from health experts, normalizing suggested behaviors such as staying home and practicing hand hygiene.
Researchers analyze competition among high-profile Twitter users and suggest a revenue-sharing program to increase user engagement. The study found that sharing revenues with all tweeting players, not just top performers, is more effective and less expensive for the platform.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that Yelp star ratings on health care facilities can indicate county-level death rate disparities. Counties with more 1-star reviews had higher death rates, and a one-point difference in average scores was associated with a reduction of approximately 60 preventable deaths.
Only one in four Western Roman emperors died of natural causes, following a power law distribution. The study found that the risk of survival was high when taking the throne, but declined after 13 years, with a sharp increase again at this point.
A study of over 281,000 tweets from top US hospitals found limited support for the Black community and social justice topics on their social media channels. The researchers found that only a few tweets related to Black Lives Matter predated the killing of George Floyd.
A new study examines vaccination misinformation on social media, revealing that fear-provoking messaging fuels its spread. The research team developed predictive models to identify true and false information on Twitter, categorizing messages as positive or negative cause-effect statements.
Researchers analysed publicly available comments in response to nature video content on Facebook during the UK's first national Covid-19 lockdown. The study found that engaging with this virtual nature content helped people cope with stress and mental fatigue, and increased feelings of connectedness to nature and others.
Researchers found that tweets with negative valence and consumer orientation generate permanent price impacts, while those with positive valence and competitor orientation increase temporary price impacts. Firms can design social media content to improve firm value by incorporating attributes such as valence and subject matter.
Research suggests that brief exposure to COVID-related social media content can have negative emotional consequences, whereas reading about kind acts during the pandemic does not. The study found that individuals who engaged in 'kindness-scrolling' experienced improved mental health and well-being.
A new study by MIT researchers has found that blind and sighted readers have sharply different takes on what content is most useful to include in a chart caption. The study created a four-level framework for evaluating charts, which could help develop more effective tools for automatically generating captions and alternative text.
A new study found that scientists who present their own work in science videos are perceived as having more expertise and being more trustworthy than third-party presenters. The study also showed that first-person accounts can humanize the science and make it more relatable to a wider audience.
Researchers found that conservative tweets are more effective at reaching moderates than liberal tweets, thanks to their network connections and linguistic similarities. The study suggests that liberals need to consciously connect with moderates to compete on Twitter.
A systematic review of social media research identified 46 harmful effects, ranging from psychological harms like jealousy and loneliness to security and privacy issues. The study highlights the need for user moderation and software development strategies to mitigate these negative effects.
A study analyzing TikTok videos under the hashtag #preworkout found that dry scooping, where undiluted powder is put in the mouth followed by liquid, amassed over 8 million views. The study suggests physicians should be aware of pre-workout's dangers, especially among teens.
A pilot program providing tailored cervical cancer screening for trans men and nonbinary people was well-received, with 100% satisfaction rates. The program aimed to address barriers such as dysphoria and stigma, and could serve as a model for similar programs.
Researchers identified six major themes associated with smoking risk and protective factors among TGE adults, including experience of stress, gender affirmation, and environmental cues. The study aims to design culturally sensitive messaging for smoking cessation through social media and inform further community-engaged research.
New research from University of Georgia suggests that the no-makeup movement isn't liberating women from cosmetics. Instead, cosmetic sales have increased alongside the rise of the no-makeup trend. The study found that people perceive 'natural' looks with makeup as more attractive than those without.
Research finds that at-risk teen girls who have experienced sexual abuse are more likely to be cyberbullied and experience heightened offline sexual activities. Targeted intervention strategies using algorithm-based approaches could help these teens navigate the Internet safely.
A study published in the Journal of Marketing found that complimenting a competitor can increase a brand's reputation and sales, particularly among skeptical consumers. The tactic is most effective when done strategically and authentically, signaling a brand's warmth and trustworthiness.