Articles tagged with Social Networks
Researchers have developed a new method to measure homophily in social networks, which can accurately capture biases within group interactions. The study found that traditional methods may produce misleading results, particularly in networks with unequal groups and asymmetric mixing.
Researchers from UC Davis analyzed 23 million Venmo transactions to find at least 83,068 unique users using drug-related emojis or slang. The study highlights the need for vigilance and adaptive regulatory measures to prevent digital footprints from being misused.
Researchers observed Canada goose flocks before and after a population-management cull, finding that the birds strengthened existing relationships rather than forming new connections. This social conservatism helps reduce the potential for increased disease transmission.
A new study by UArizona researchers found that solitude does not correlate with feelings of loneliness unless a person spends 75% of their time alone. The study also highlights the importance of social connections for human health and introduces a new method to measure social activity using a smartphone app.
A Dartmouth-led study found that tweets featuring K-pop group BTS generated 111 times more virality than similar tweets without the artist's name. This highlights the power of entertainment in driving public health messages and bridging cultural divides.
A researcher from Göttingen University advises on overcoming difficulties faced by mining communities in transition, suggesting a three-step approach centered around stakeholder collaboration. This approach combines early planning, local-based solutions, and targeted investments to foster economic and workforce transformation.
Researchers at EPFL have developed the Backtracking Dynamical Cavity Method (BDCM) to study disordered systems, which are found in materials science, climate, and social networks. By tracing steps backward from stable points, the BDCM provides valuable insights into complex system dynamics.
Researchers found that childhood adversity can reshape an individual's moral development, leading to a 'deformative experience' that pulls them away from their true nature. This asymmetric sensitivity to life history information affects judgments of praise and blame.
The study found that network-level variables significantly improved model fit and displayed strong independent associations with oral health outcomes. Network proportion needing dental treatment was positively associated with current dental treatment needs, while exposure to reported dental visits decreased odds of no recent dental vis...
A new computer science tool is applied to examine Judeo-Christian relations in literature from the early first centuries CE, yielding wondrous results. The study reveals that Jewish sources are familiar with early Christian sources, but show wider geographical familiarity with both eastern and western Christian sources in later periods.
A University of Oklahoma assistant professor will study how relationships among non-profits, community groups, and local government agencies can improve disaster resilience by enabling organizational interactions. The project aims to strengthen the knowledge network of resources available to a community during emergencies.
A recent study by Bar-Ilan University researchers proves that six degrees of separation exist in social networks due to human behavior and cost-benefit analysis. Social networks tend to favor this pattern as individuals seek strategic connections to gain prominence, balancing drive for prominence with limited budget for new friendships.
New research found that social infrastructure in rural communities can provide essential support to older, non-white adults. This study highlights the importance of community spaces in promoting healthy aging among Black and Hispanic older adults, who are disproportionately affected by loneliness and mental health issues.
Researchers found that similarity with a potential friend, the properties of a potential friend's network, and the potential friend's domain expertise are key drivers behind individuals' online friendship decisions. Having common interests and demographic traits improves the odds of two strangers becoming friends in an online community.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis offers a fine-grained scale to understand how people use social media, revealing four categories: belief-based, consumption-based, image-based and comparison-based. Each category is associated with unique personality traits and behavioral characteristics.
The study found that COVID-19 lockdowns led to significant declines in face-to-face and virtual interactions among couples, particularly among lower-income and Latino/Black couples. These declines persisted even after vaccines became available and restrictions were lifted. The researchers highlight the need for public health measures t...
Researchers observe 'social motor entrainment' in macaques, where movements synchronize with others, and find it varies by animal pairs, social hierarchy, and stimulus type. This study provides insights into the neural underpinnings of social cohesion and has implications for understanding human conditions like autism spectrum disorder.
A new study found that social support, sense of community, and depressive symptoms played a role in changes to an online gaming site's social structure over time. Members who reported more social support and a greater sense of community were more likely to form communication ties and connect with others.
A UBC study found that employee layoffs have a strong impact on voluntary turnover among remaining employees, especially when high performers are let go without clear justification. The research suggests that organizations should prioritize clear communication and compassionate decision-making to avoid destabilizing their workforce.
A recent study by Sara Valentini and colleagues at Bocconi University found that consistency between online content and the values associated with a brand increases rebroadcasting frequency. Posts containing price promotions also perform well when aligned with the brand's identity, with followers being 109% more likely to share them.
A new study reveals that first-generation college graduates often originate from more affluent families with greater resources. This challenges the notion of a meritocracy, where success is solely based on individual effort. The research highlights the significant advantage these students have due to their family's socioeconomic status.
Research suggests that lonely people process information in unique ways, differing from their peers, even with large social networks. This difference may lead to a reduced sense of understanding and further challenges in achieving social connection.
A new study by Cornell University researchers found that being a woman or racial minority can help someone stand out in memory, but also increases the likelihood of confusion when others share similar attributes. The findings suggest that biases in memory may contribute to discrimination and have significant implications for career adv...
A new study found that repeated requests for personal data increase disclosure, despite unchanged concerns about privacy. Researchers suggest practical measures to reduce this effect and encourage mutually beneficial sharing.
A new approach to describing network connections can help predict system strong and weak points, crucial for understanding disease spread and communication networks. Researchers found that mapping hierarchies and incoherence within a system enables prediction of strong and weak connections.
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.
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 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 study by the University of Exeter found that flamingos form groups based on their individual personalities, with birds of similar traits spending more time together. This complex social behavior could help improve the welfare of captive flocks and provide insights into the evolution of bird societies.
Researchers catalogued fake interaction resale panels offering customized services, including buying likes, views, followers, and online visits on various platforms.
A new study by Dartmouth College researchers finds that sanctions on wealth managers would be more effective than asset seizure in crippling Russia's oligarchs. The research uses network science to map the connections between wealthy individuals and their financial experts, revealing a vulnerable network that can be disrupted with targ...
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology found that pairing students reduces academic and social gaps, increasing well-being. The study, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, showed positive effects on communication, stress, and personal contacts.
A new study found that people with large social networks, particularly those with women, are more likely to take action to protect their health during environmental disasters. The research also highlighted the importance of community leaders and local groups in disaster recovery efforts.
A new methodology analyses ideology and polarisation of European countries using Facebook posts, revealing changes in political trends month by month. The EU Political Barometer website allows for comparisons across countries at different times.
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 new study found that individuals with a strong sense of purpose in life are less likely to drink heavily when craving alcohol. This discovery opens the door for new strategies to discourage binge drinking in college students by focusing on their mission, values, and goals.
Researchers at Complexity Science Hub developed a model using physics principles to predict group sizes in humans. By analyzing social stress and homophily, they found that group sizes can be predicted with relatively small information, revealing new insights into human behavior.
A recent study by University of Missouri researcher Jake Haselswerdt suggests that partisan beliefs do not overshadow how people perceive the severity of COVID-19 in their communities. Local public health information appears to get through to individuals, regardless of their political leanings.
The AVID college preparatory program has been shown to have a positive effect on students' social networks, psycho-social outcomes, and health behaviors. Students who participated in the program had lower odds of using substances and associating with substance-using peers compared to those in usual school programs.
A new study published in PLOS ONE suggests that different styles of social media use—passive, reactive and interactive—are related to psychological well-being. Interactive users reported greater feelings of social connectedness than passive or reactive users.
A recent study published in Geriatrics found that age, education, social network, pain, and depression are significant predictors of physical activity in older adults. The findings suggest that modifying these factors through targeted interventions can increase physical activity levels.
Researchers found that female rhesus macaques become increasingly selective in their social interactions as they get older, focusing on relatives and established friendships. This trend suggests that females play an active role in shaping their social networks, rather than being shunned by society.
A new model examines the interplay between epidemic spreading and information diffusion to understand how reliable info can be better disseminated during epidemics. Effective prevention practices and mass media can increase the epidemic threshold, making it harder for infections to spread.
A study by international researchers found that descendants of transmigrants dominate and become influential actors in host community knowledge networks. This has led to the marginalization of native communities, who are now positioned at the margins of their local knowledge system.
A study published in Body Image found that social media use is associated with lower appearance satisfaction. Engaging with content from friends and family was found to have a significantly stronger negative impact on appearance satisfaction compared to celebrities or influencers.
A systematic review found scarce evidence supporting social prescribing's effectiveness in improving social support, physical function, or primary healthcare use. The link worker model showed promise in reducing hospital admissions and improving self-rated health for those with multiple conditions in deprived communities.
A recent study from North Carolina State University found that employees' relationships with coworkers significantly impact their sense of purpose and drive at work. The researchers discovered that employees who receive advice and support from their peers are more likely to feel a strong connection to the company.
A recent academic study found that Facebook's introduction at American colleges was associated with a significant worsening in mental health symptoms, particularly depression and anxiety. The study used a novel research method to establish causality between social media use and poor mental health.
A large-scale experimental study by Harvard, Stanford, and MIT researchers found that weaker social connections on LinkedIn have a greater beneficial effect on job mobility than stronger ties. Weaker ties increased the likelihood of job mobility the most, while strongest ties had the least impact.
A new study found that teenagers' exploration of their environment is associated with enhanced psychological well-being and larger social networks. Higher levels of exploration are also linked to increased risk-taking behaviors.
A new study published in Information, Communication and Society journal found a strong link between economic inequality and problematic social media use among adolescents. The research, involving over 179,000 schoolchildren from 40 countries, suggests that new strategies are needed to reduce the impact of deprivation on social media use.
A study by University of Cambridge researchers found that short animations can help people recognize and resist misinformation. The experiment, conducted on YouTube with over 30,000 participants, suggests a potential solution for fighting disinformation.
A new study led by York University finds that lower-to-middle-income countries struggle with high unemployment rates after COVID-19 lockdowns and economic restrictions. In contrast, higher-income countries such as Canada have better managed their unemployment rates.
Researchers found that adult female capuchin monkeys who are well-integrated into social networks with other females survive longer. In contrast, heterosexual relationships showed no survival-related benefits to females, but may still provide benefits for some individuals in specific circumstances. The study also reveals complex behavi...
A study by West Virginia University found that over 7% of junior high and high school students in rural Appalachia identified as gender-diverse, including nonbinary or transgender identities. This exceeds previous estimates and highlights the need for support services in these areas.
Researchers found that while short-term success is linked to narcissism and psychopathy, Machiavellianism leads to long-term benefits. High network reach efficiency also enhances performance for dark salespeople.
A new study by Prof. Gurit Birnbaum reveals that online interactions, such as flirting, can be destructive to a relationship. The research found that participants who engaged in flirty chats perceived their current partner in a more negative light, both consciously and unconsciously.
Researchers assessed 539 videos from 16 leading food and beverage brands on TikTok, finding that unhealthy food marketing is prevalent among children. The study highlights the need for policies to protect kids from the harmful impact of food marketing on social media platforms.
A new study by researchers at the University of Oxford found that ageing female wild red deer on the Isle of Rum in Scotland tend to adopt a life of solitude as they grow older. They interact with fewer other individuals within their home ranges and shift to less populated areas of their habitat.