Research on social media and its effects on people. Covers sleep and mood, body image, self-objectification, and the platforms' wider social impact.
The study found that 80% of allergist Twitter users have more than 50 followers, while 78% follow at least one peer. Allergy-related tweets accounted for 49% of the analyzed content, with 52% containing hyperlinks.
A study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting found that peanut allergy rates are higher in families with higher economic status. The 'hygiene hypothesis' suggests that a lack of early childhood exposure to germs may contribute to allergic diseases.
A study by the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology found a higher incidence of alpha-gal sensitization in regions with lone star ticks. This allergy causes delayed reactions after consuming red meats, such as beef, pork, and lamb, posing a life-threatening risk.
Studies found that half of children with egg allergies can tolerate baked eggs, and 55% outgrow the allergy entirely. Baked eggs are found to be less allergenic than raw eggs, making them a safer option for those with egg allergies.
A recent study by George Bizer and colleagues found that negatively framed political attitudes are stronger than positively framed attitudes, particularly when people process the messages deeply. This effect is strengthened when people think more deeply about the issues involved.
Researchers are developing high-technology ways to see and think about modern cities, using tools like online mapping and modelling to transform the urban experience. This technology enables real-time engagement with citizens through social media, providing valuable insights into city movements and activity patterns.
A WSU study found that young adults who use social media to express their political beliefs are more likely to participate in public affairs. The study analyzed over 400 undergraduate college students and found that those interested in election information were more likely to use digital sources to learn about elections.
Virginia Tech researchers developed a computer-based system to analyze social media posts for vehicle defects, a first large-scale case study confirming the value of social media in vehicle quality management. The system can sift through millions of unrelated posts to identify useful information on safety and performance issues.
Scientists at CAMH identified a potential new approach to preventing smoking relapse by targeting brain receptors involved in nicotine exposure. The protein peptide showed promise in reducing attempts to seek nicotine in an animal model of relapse.
A new study by Katie Davis finds that digital media helps teens foster a sense of belonging and share personal problems, but the impact on autonomous self-development is unclear. Digital connectedness may support an outward-looking self, reliant on others for affirmation.
A new study by Christine Greenhow at Michigan State University found that Twitter use among students improves course engagement and grades. Students who tweet as part of their instruction are more engaged with the content and have higher grades.
A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that Facebook-based STI prevention messages encouraged condom use among young adults, with 68% reporting condom use two months after the intervention. The effects decreased over time but remained significant compared to traditional HIV prevention programs.
A Clemson University and University of Louisville study found that sports journalists used Twitter to post biased commentary during the Penn State sex abuse scandal, blurring personal and professional boundaries. The research highlights the challenges of maintaining objectivity in social media news reporting.
A study by Penn State researchers found that people perceive tweets and retweets differently depending on the source, with original tweets from popular doctors being most credible. Non-medical professionals with a large following were also seen as more trustworthy than doctors who retweet health messages.
The Society of Interventional Radiology's flagship publication has launched a new app for iPad users, offering convenient access to interventional radiology literature and multimedia. The app allows readers to browse the latest issue, save articles, take notes, and share content on social media.
Researchers will investigate how cybercriminals make money, interact with victims and defenders, and establish relationships among thieves. The project aims to identify opportunities for interventions and defenses against cybercrime by understanding the human factor in security.
A qualitative study of teenage patients found they spend a great deal of time online, guarding their privacy consciously. They prioritize social and psychological privacy but are concerned about data collection for targeted ads.
A study by UC San Diego researchers found that Facebook's 'get out the vote' message boosted voter turnout by an estimated 340,000 votes in 2010. The study showed that social influence and peer pressure played a crucial role in encouraging people to participate in elections.
A new algorithm developed by Georgia Tech can identify influencers as information changes within a network, making it more efficient than existing algorithms. The software can process streaming graphs up to 100 times faster and has wide-ranging applications in advertising, transportation, and other fields.
The Gruber Foundation honored Mary Gehring and Valerie Horsley with the Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award for their groundbreaking research in Arabidopsis epigenetics and mouse genetic models. The awards recognize early career female scientists making significant contributions to genetics.
Adolescents in foster care are at risk of cyber-bullying, privacy loss and personal harm due to lack of guidelines on social media use. Child welfare agencies should develop policies to guide their online activities, says MU expert.
A new study by Northwestern University found that most Americans feel empowered and enthusiastic about the high volume of information available, rather than feeling overwhelmed.
Researchers from Northeastern University used Twitter data to analyze voting patterns in American Idol, predicting the outcome of votes with high accuracy. The study also identified geographical influences on voting patterns, suggesting that a different outcome might have occurred if voting had been open to international fans.
Fit Brains, a top online brain fitness platform, has achieved 75 million brain game scores played by over 5 million users. The company is celebrating with a charitable incentive, donating $10 to a brain research foundation for each new membership in September.
HASTAC has received a $294,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study its own social network, focusing on effective ways to support interdisciplinary collaborations. The study will analyze six years' worth of data from the HASTAC website, examining mentoring and virtual peer connections.
A University of Dayton study found that homeless individuals have equal access to social media platforms, including Facebook, where they can build support networks and solve practical issues. Social media becomes a refuge for them, a place to interact without being judged.
Wolters Kluwer Health has renewed its partnership with the American Academy of Neurology to publish Neurology, Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology, Neurology Today, Neurology Now, and Neurology Clinical Practice. The AAN journals have won multiple publishing awards and are widely recognized for their value in the field.
A new study by Professor Kimberley Scharf suggests that having more Facebook friends can reduce the likelihood of sharing information about charitable causes, as people rely on others to pass on information. In smaller, closer-knit groups, people are more likely to give to charities.
A team of researchers has developed a machine learning approach to analyze millions of tweets on Twitter for signs of bullying. The computer can identify bullies, victims, accusers, defenders, and reporters, and even analyze the emotions behind the messages. This new method could provide valuable insights into bullying issues and help ...
A recent study by Prof. Gabriel Weimann reveals that lone wolf terrorists are not isolated individuals but part of virtual terrorist communities on the Internet. These online forums and platforms provide social environment, support, and moral encouragement to radicalize individuals and track their enlistment and training processes.
A study by Florida International University reveals that employers use Facebook to assess job candidates, potentially creating a new digital divide. The findings raise ethical questions about the role of social media in hiring processes.
A new guideline published by the American Academy of Neurology recommends several treatments for people with chorea, a symptom of Huntington's disease that can make everyday activities challenging. The guideline suggests that medications such as tetrabenazine, riluzole, and amantadine may be helpful in treating chorea.
A study at the University of Missouri School of Journalism developed a method to help advertisers target online audiences by knowing their personality types. Researchers found that individuals who liked high-risk activities tend to update their status, upload photos, and interact with friends frequently, while those who are more reserv...
A Wisconsin University study surveyed 190 students and found no significant association between social media use and depression. Researchers advise parents to consider their child's overall life context, not just their online behavior.
The AGA journals, Gastroenterology and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, maintained strong standing with high impact factors in 2011. Both journals received a significant number of citations and had outstanding immediacy indices.
A study of Texas high school students found that over 1 in 4 adolescents have sent nude pictures through electronic means. The prevalence of teen sexting is linked to their sexual behavior, with those who sexted more likely to have begun dating and had sex than their peers.
The next generation of Digital Earth seeks to address issues with current digital globes by incorporating local perspectives, temporal information, and open-source partnerships. This shift aims to improve accuracy and inclusivity while maintaining scientific standards.
A study published in Computers in Human Behavior found that editing social media profiles on Facebook increases self-esteem, while using MySpace leads to higher levels of narcissism. Researchers also discovered that the differences in site format between MySpace and Facebook may contribute to these findings.
The study found that large proportions of young people across racial and ethnic groups have access to the Internet and use online social media regularly. Participatory politics are an important dimension of politics, with 41% of young people engaging in at least one act during the prior 12 months.
Tropical cyclone System 96L is intensifying off the Yucatan Peninsula, with a 70% chance of becoming a tropical depression by weekend. NASA predicts heavy rains and localized flooding along US Gulf Coast.
This year's predicted dead zone size features a wide range of 1,197 to 6,213 square miles due to differences between two forecast models. The actual size will be released after monitoring surveys led by Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium.
A new study reveals that groundwater in the upper Patapsco aquifer underlying Maryland is tens to hundreds of thousands of years old, with some samples dating back over a million years. This ancient water was recharged during cooler periods in earth's history and is now being rapidly pumped out by human activity.
A team of researchers found reliable patterns of brain activity linked to engaging moments in films. They used EEG to collect data on human subjects' brainwaves during repeat viewings of dramatic scenes, revealing correlations with alpha activity levels indicating attentiveness.
A study analyzing health insurance claims found that patients with surgical site infections after knee or hip replacement had significantly higher rates of rehospitalization and increased healthcare costs. The analysis suggests that preventing further complications could save the US healthcare system up to $65 million annually.
A study by UT Dallas researchers found that Facebook profile pictures reflect individual preferences but also unconscious cultural biases. Westerners tend to focus on central faces, while East Asians emphasize context and surroundings.
A study by Ohio State University found that 44% of new mothers increased their Facebook use after giving birth, while 31% of fathers did. This was attributed to the need for social support and feedback during a stressful time. Mothers who reported greater satisfaction with their parenting role had closer ties on Facebook.
Researchers from MIT revisited data from a seminal online experiment and found that a clear quantitative indicator of quality consistently predicts song popularity across all sites. High-quality songs will gradually rise to the top, even on sites where downloads determine ordering, but equilibration takes time.
A new Georgia Tech study identifies four behaviors characteristic of Twitter hyperadvocates, including sending high-volume tweets, retweeting with minimal original content, and coordinating with other users. These behaviors can create an echo chamber effect, increasing the perceived legitimacy of advocated positions.
A study by Loyola University Medical Center researchers found that 91 Facebook pages were used to solicit living kidney donors for patients aged 2-69. Twelve percent of the pages resulted in a successful transplant, while 30% reported potential donors being tested for compatibility.
Key figures like Egypt's Esraa Abdel Fattah and Tunisia's Lina Ben Mhenni used social media to organize protests and bridge with mainstream media. The study highlights the crucial role of women in the Arab Spring revolutions, transcending traditional gender roles and communication methods.
A North Carolina State University study analyzed Twitter posts about the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after the 2011 disaster, finding that while people shared information quickly, it often lacked context and analysis. The study suggests that social media haven't significantly changed the content of our communications, but rather ho...
The American Gastroenterological Association honors outstanding contributions and achievements in gastroenterology through its prestigious recognition awards. The AGA presents several awards, including the Julius Friedenwald Medal, William Beaumont Prize, Distinguished Educator Award, and more.
Recent studies explore how technology is changing the questions asked by psychological scientists, with a focus on data collection from social media platforms like Facebook. Researchers are leveraging smartphone sensors to gather insights into human behavior and environments, offering new avenues for scientific inquiry.
A study suggests that social media can revolutionize healthcare by improving patient-physician relationships, reducing inefficiencies, and providing new revenue streams. This could alleviate the projected shortage of physicians in the US by 2025.
Researchers from Norway created a scale to measure Facebook addiction, finding it more common among younger users and those with anxiety and social insecurity. The study also reveals that people with high extraversion scores are at greater risk of developing delayed sleep-wake rhythms.
The Livehoods project uses foursquare check-ins to map a city's neighborhoods, reflecting both geography and the people who frequent them. Researchers found diverse communities within neighborhoods, shedding light on urban dynamics.
Researchers found social networks on Facebook tend to form around graduation year or university housing rather than shared interests. The study's findings suggest universities can create strong community among students by manipulating student housing efforts.
A study analyzing over 600,000 tweets found that opinion leaders and celebrities fueled the spread of news about Osama bin Laden's death on Twitter. Nearly 80% of tweets were certain that bin Laden was dead within 21 minutes of TV confirmation.
The Lancet Series on Adolescent Health highlights the worsening health status of adolescents worldwide, who face new challenges such as social media. The authors emphasize the need for improved adolescent health, considering factors like poverty, education, and digital media.
Researchers created animated characters, Briana and Damon, to communicate anti-violence messages to urban youth. The characters were developed in collaboration with community members and featured in Facebook videos aimed at reducing teen violence.