Articles tagged with Social Networks
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 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.
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.
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 funding model is being tested in Pennsylvania, which could lead to higher quality care at lower costs. The global budget model provides a fixed payment to hospitals, incentivizing them to focus on patient outcomes rather than extensive care.
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.
A study analyzing FIFA voting data from 2010-2016 suggests cultural similarity biases results. Captains were found to be more biased than coaches, while media people were the least biased.
Researchers analyzed 4,000 Facebook posts to understand how clickbait influences user engagement. They found that both headlines and text can 'bait' users into interacting with a post, with some techniques more successful than others.
Administering oxytocin to central social network members spreads cooperation via increased punishment of uncooperative behavior, Li et al. found in a new study published in JNeurosci. Cooperation can conflict with individual goals, but oxytocin may have evolved humans' need for group living.
Researchers developed an algorithm to improve matching efficiency, considering user preferences and behavior. The new algorithm shows improved results in field experiments, with at least 27% more matches than the current one.
Researchers found a clear tendency for people to assign idealized attributes to their online avatars, particularly regarding psychological traits. This phenomenon suggests that internet users often present an idealized version of themselves, with significant differences between actual and ideal self-representations.
A major study explores biases against women, minorities, and Indigenous knowledges in Australian history on Wikipedia. The research aims to improve representation and make the platform more equitable.
A new study found that childhood circumstances and personality traits are significantly associated with loneliness in older age, accounting for 10.42% and 7.50% of the variance respectively. Life experiences during childhood, such as having few friends or a poor relationship with parents, can increase the risk of loneliness later in life.
A recent study by the American Psychological Association found a small but significant increase in loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 5% rise in loneliness prevalence across individual studies. However, not all groups experienced this increase, highlighting the need for further research on risk and protective factors.
A new study highlights the importance of addressing Africa's unique media landscape in combating misinformation. Pavement media, including discussions in marketplaces and social spaces, play a key role in spreading false information.
Research by Adam Fetterman at the University of Houston found that publicly admitting mistakes on Facebook leads to more positive online impressions. This is because humility, openness and honesty are perceived as important traits in online interactions.
Young people aged 18-30 fear influence and control, crime and security, changes in life pace, negative technological consequences, and social inequality. Digital fears reinforce traditional concerns and emerge from uncertainty and growing forces beyond human control.
Researchers found that rhesus macaques with more grooming partners had larger brain areas for social decision-making and empathy, specifically the mid–superior temporal sulcus (STS) and ventral-dysgranular insula. The study suggests that social connections influence brain structure in nonhuman primates, with possible implications for h...
A recent study by the University of Rochester found that mobility patterns can be predicted with surprising accuracy based on data collected from acquaintances, even if individual users turn off their own location tracking. The researchers discovered that up to 95% of an individual's movement pattern can be inferred from people they ar...
A UK crime gang study found that OCG members who previously offended together are more likely to become victims of violence, with a 56-fold increase in risk. The study also revealed cycles of escalating violence within the criminal milieu, with harassment increasing the potential for violence by 243 times.
A new study by MIT scholars confirms that physical proximity plays a crucial role in workplace collaboration. The study found that email exchanges occur more often among researchers whose workspaces are connected through indoor halls rather than outdoor paths.
A large majority of individuals who reported non-suicidal self-injury on Reddit described their experience in terms similar to those used to diagnose substance use disorder. The study suggests that clinicians may adopt strategies used to diagnose and treat substance use disorders to better support people living with non-suicidal self-i...
A new study at Tel Aviv University's Coller School of Management found that employees who use pictures and emojis are perceived as less powerful than those who use words. In various experiments, respondents attributed more power to verbal messages and rated those with visual profiles as less capable.
A new study from North Carolina State University found that feeling inclusive in the classroom is key to promoting STEM education and student engagement. Students who felt their classrooms were inclusive were more likely to feel like they belonged and engage with their STEM classes.
Research shows female chimpanzees tend to avoid villages and farmland, while males are more likely to encounter humans, leading to smaller social gatherings for females. This sex difference in risk perception could have significant consequences for the survival of chimpanzees.
Yang Wang's research focuses on usability of privacy technologies and artificial intelligence. Researchers will conduct semi-structured interviews, surveys, and co-design sessions with users from India and Bangladesh about their experiences with targeted ads.
A University of Utah-led study examines cooperation networks in the Utah State Legislature, finding that politicians tend to work with colleagues from their own political and gender groups. The researchers discovered a high rate of reciprocation, with members of the same gender increasing the likelihood of future cooperation.
Researchers identified that 10% of students were recognized as relationally aggressive by peers but not teachers. Students with higher levels of academic competence and female students were more likely to be recognized by both groups. The study suggests that better identification of these students is crucial for effective interventions.
A new study reveals that online social network algorithms can distort and amplify biases against minority groups, leading to unequal visibility and ranking. Researchers found that homophily and the proportion of minorities in a network can contribute to this effect.
A new study found that crowdfunding has limited success in helping people pay their medical bills, particularly in low-income and under-insured communities. Despite raising over $650 million annually, 33.8% of campaigns remain unfunded, highlighting the need for better health insurance coverage and social assistance programs.
A field experiment in China found that people tend to increase activity when informed that others are themselves increasing activity, suggesting a low-cost intervention for promoting economic activity during the pandemic. The study suggests that social cues can be a useful signal for evaluating risks and making decisions about activities.
A new study of Chinese older adults found that higher levels of social isolation are associated with having fewer teeth and losing teeth more quickly over time. Despite this, loneliness was not linked to the number of remaining teeth or tooth loss rate.
A new study by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid researchers has detected a significant digital gap in internet usage between rich and poor people, with poorer areas consuming more social media and traditional news outlets. The study found that higher levels of education and purchasing power are associated with more traditional online m...
Researchers studied evacuees from Finland during WWII and found that cultural similarities, such as language and social networks, were crucial for successful migrations. Being younger, male, educated, and linguistically similar to the host population also increased the likelihood of staying in a new home.
A study shows that UK government trust, social norms, and privacy concerns play a significant role in the adoption of the NHS Covid-19 app. Initial enthusiasm to adopt the app was higher in urban locations, while people's concern about third-party data access fuelled reluctance to use it.
Researchers have uncovered a 50,000-year-old social network spanning eastern and southern Africa, driven by changing rainfall patterns and climate change. The study, using ostrich eggshell beads, found nearly identical bead characteristics between 50,000 and 33,000 years ago, indicating a long-distance connection.
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.
Researchers from Drexel University's Autism Institute found that professional development providers with larger, more supportive networks perform better as coaches for teachers of autistic students. They also discovered that coaching support is more important than financial support for performance outcomes.
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 study from the University of Eastern Finland found that working-age people living with dementia experience insufficient guidance and counselling. This results in premature retirement and loss of social contacts, leading to feelings of anxiety, exhaustion, and shame.
A new study found that most people maintain their pre-retirement level of social support after retirement, with women and those with high social support experiencing an improvement in mental wellbeing. The research also shows an increase in life satisfaction for couples where either the man or woman retired.
A study by University of Arizona behavioral ecologist Jennifer Verdolin mapped the intricacies of prairie dog social dynamics, including degree centrality and between-ness centrality. This research has big implications for conservation efforts, highlighting the importance of considering all factors that support a species' survival.
Researchers from HSE University's Laboratory of Complex Systems Modeling and Control proposed a new mechanism explaining power-law patterns in real-world systems. The discovery may improve understanding of processes leading to strong earthquakes, forest fires, financial market crashes, and social network synchronization.
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.
Research suggests that fostering positive workplace social relationships between men and women can improve gender equity and inclusion in STEM. Even small gestures of social inclusion, such as chatting with female teammates during breaks, can reduce stereotypes and increase feelings of engagement.
A new study reveals that male giraffes have higher social connectedness than females, with males forming more acquaintances and older males having shorter social paths. This complexity could impact conservation efforts for endangered giraffes.
A study by Indiana University researchers found that individuals' socioeconomic status and social networks play a significant role in shaping their decisions about health controversies. Higher-status people faced fewer consequences for resisting medical guidelines, while those with lower statuses experienced more scrutiny. The study em...
A new WVU study found that psychological capital, including self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resiliency, can help employees cope with the stress of working during a pandemic. Workers who used adaptive coping strategies fared better, but those relying on maladaptive behaviors experienced higher levels of stress.
A computer simulation modelled by Associate Professor David Goldbaum suggests a leader emerges through a dynamic self-reinforcing social process, even with identical attributes among group members. The study finds that building up influence and gaining popularity is key to becoming a leader.
Lehigh University researcher Roberto Palmieri aims to make RDMA technology even faster by revisiting a long-held theory. His goal is to enable all machines to interact with local memory, reducing latency and improving performance.
Spotted hyenas inherit advantageous social networks from their mothers, which affect their health and longevity. Higher-ranking mothers imprint these networks on their cubs more accurately, leading to longer life and reproductive success.
Researchers used 27 years of detailed data on hyena social interactions to reveal that mother's social networks are inherited by their cubs. Higher-ranking mothers' cubs closely replicate their mother's social connections, while lower-ranking offspring diverge more.
A new study reveals that inherited social networks passed from mothers to offspring are essential to spotted hyena life and survival. The strength of the maternal relationship affects social inheritance and is positively correlated with long-term survival for both mother and offspring.
A new study by Indiana University researcher Hank Green found that cohesive neighborhoods where people get along and help each other have a lower likelihood of binge drinking. In contrast, disordered neighborhoods with less social cohesion tend to increase binge drinking, especially among those with denser social networks.
A recent study analyzes the influence of Greta Thunberg's global discourse on local movements like Barcelona's Fridays for Future. The research reveals how her personal story and social media posts create a collective action framework that resonates with locals, resulting in increased impact on social networks.
A large study of hospital employees found that individuals tend to mirror the food choices of others in their social circles, influencing both healthy and unhealthy eating patterns. The researchers discovered that casual acquaintances can also shape eating behavior, with peer pressure being a key factor.