Articles tagged with Social Networks
Researchers investigate how algorithms create personalized content and 'filter bubbles' that can foster biases and inequality. The MyBubble project aims to provide transparency into online advertising and profiling.
A recent study analyzed the social networks of 19 male chimpanzees, revealing how power struggles and competition for mates led to the division of the chimp community. The findings suggest that internal conflicts can have far-reaching consequences in primate societies.
A new study by Cornell University researchers found that social networking sites create awareness for gift-worthy occasions and inspire people to give more gifts. Online gift exchanges on Facebook were found to be reciprocal, with most givers reporting having received a gift in the past.
New research from Binghamton University explores how personality traits affect social networking addiction, finding that neuroticism increases the likelihood of addiction, while conscientiousness decreases it. Conscientiousness and agreeableness also play a role, with specific combinations affecting addiction likelihood.
A new MIT study found that false news travels more rapidly and deeply on Twitter than real news, with false statements retweeted up to 70% more often. Researchers attribute the phenomenon to human psychology, suggesting that novelty drives the spread of falsity.
A new study found that adolescent and young adult cancer survivors have more available resources for emotional and practical support as well as advice on weight and physical activity. The study also showed a correlation between the strength of social networks and better coping skills.
Researchers used network analysis to re-examine medieval texts and found a negative value suggesting an Irish versus Viking conflict, contradicting revisionist historians' views. The study provides new insights into the complex picture of relationships during this period.
Close female relatives are disproportionately viewed as difficult due to their emotional and practical support. Research found that 15% of relationships were categorized as difficult, with conflicts most often with close kin like parents, siblings, and spouses.
Researchers found that almost 500 roads were listed as completed but never built, linked to local politicians steering contracts to favored businesses in their social networks. The study suggests giving local politicians no formal role in road-building may exacerbate corruption.
A recent study published in BMC Public Health found that socially isolated individuals are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. The research suggests that promoting social integration and participation may be a promising target in prevention strategies for type 2 diabetes.
A study suggests that online social networks can help individuals with social anxiety reach out to others without feeling overwhelmed. Participants who felt socially apprehensive were more likely to use microblogging as a means of communication.
Researchers from the University of Notre Dame found that sharing major life events on social media revives dormant connections and increases indegree centrality. The study also reveals that major life events provide an opportunity for users to revive communication with their dormant ties, reducing embeddedness.
A national survey of physicians found that those with a social network member with poor breast cancer prognosis are more likely to recommend routine mammograms for younger and older patients. This suggests the need for better understanding the personal experiences that shape clinicians' practices.
Researchers discovered that women with stronger social networks had better survival rates after a colorectal cancer diagnosis. The study found that patients with more intimate ties, such as family and friends, were associated with lower death rates. Social network strengthening could be a tool for managing colorectal cancer.
Researchers developed a tool to help users cloak their identity and avoid certain types of inferences drawn about them based on their social media behavior. The 'cloaking device' can significantly reduce the predictive value of online information used for targeting.
A new study found that SuperAgers -- people aged 80+ with exceptional cognitive ability -- report more satisfying relationships compared to their peers. This association suggests that maintaining strong social networks may be linked to slower cognitive decline.
Researchers found that similar-achieving students tend to form close friendships, and this can lead to homogeneous social circles over time. The study's findings have important implications for understanding how social reproduction of inequality works in the digital age.
A new study by USC ISI uses Twitter bots to spread positive messages, finding that information becomes viral when people are exposed multiple times. The researchers' findings suggest a cumulative reinforcement effect, where repeated exposure increases the likelihood of adopting an idea.
A study by the University of Texas at Austin found that spouses with a satisfying social network experience lower levels of physiological stress during marital conflicts. Having even a few close friends or family members to talk to outside of their marriage alleviates tension.
A study found that university students consistently believe their peers have more friends than they do, affecting their happiness. This misperception can be corrected through interventions to promote friendship formation, supporting students' transition to university life.
A new analysis suggests that targeted educational interventions can improve living kidney donation rates. The study found significant benefits from educating both the potential recipient and their close social network, highlighting a promising approach to increase living donor kidney transplantation.
Researchers found that people with insecure attachment styles have weaker social networks, struggle to form new relationships, and are more likely to dissolve ties. Primes can improve attachment security and relationship maintenance on social networks.
Researchers developed an algorithm that identifies the most influential people in social networks, known as 'hubs', and targeting them can effectively isolate a contagion. The approach shows promising results in controlling diseases like parasitic worm infections by treating fewer households.
A new study by LMU assesses the benefits and risks of social media monitoring apps, highlighting their use in verification and tracking individuals across multiple networks. While some see these tools as useful for journalists, others express concerns over personal privacy and potential misuse.
A new study by FSU researcher Matthew Pietryka found that people more closely connected to electoral candidates in their social network vote at higher rates. The study also found that greater connection to a particular party increases the likelihood of supporting that party and opposing others.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania's Damon Centola refutes the classic theory that groupthink destroys the wisdom of crowds. In egalitarian networks, where everyone has equal influence, individuals help each other get smarter, leading to a striking improvement in the intelligence of the group.
Researchers developed a computer model to spot social media users who make up information about themselves, estimating age and gender with high accuracy. The study found that nearly 40% of adult website users lie about their age and one-quarter lie about their gender.
Researchers found that female vampire bats who invest in non-kin friendships cope better when a major food donor is removed from their social network. They score more food than those who only focus on close kin relationships.
A new Yale University study found that even 'dumb' AI can help human groups by boosting their performance. The experiment, which used an online game with human players and robotic AI players, showed a significant improvement in the median time for groups to solve problems.
A CCNY-led team analyzed massive datasets to show that an individual's location in a social network is correlated with their economic status. The study suggests that targeting individuals based on their social network metrics can increase response rates in marketing campaigns.
Researchers found that watching videos and listening to music are the most data-intensive activities, accounting for around half of mobile data demand. Changing user behavior, such as gathering together to watch streamed media or using SMS texting instead of instant messaging, could significantly reduce energy consumption.
A new paper in Science Advances challenges the approach of using metadata to validate community detection algorithms, showing that this method introduces biases and limits algorithm diversity. Researchers propose two new statistical approaches to explore deeper patterns within network data.
A Penn study found a link between social network structure and brain activity, revealing that individuals with diffuse friend networks show more dynamic brain responses than those with close-knit social circles. The research used fMRI to examine the brain's response to social exclusion, finding that participants with sparse networks ex...
A study found that paying users to write product reviews suppresses the number of reviews on social platforms, especially among those who are socially well-connected. The authors argue that this approach undermines the intrinsic motivation for honest reviews and increases the likelihood of fake reviews.
A recent meta-analysis of 57 studies involving over 25,000 participants found a weak to moderate link between social media activity and narcissistic tendencies. Grandiose narcissists are more likely to frequent social networking sites, whereas vulnerable narcissism is associated with insecurity and social withdrawal.
A study by the American Psychological Association found that people who feel lonely experience worse cold symptoms than those who don't, regardless of their social network size. The researchers studied 159 participants and discovered that feeling lonely had a greater impact on symptoms than actual loneliness.
A comprehensive review of primate social networks and parasites highlights the importance of super-spreaders in disease transmission. Combining behavior data with parasite analysis can help identify high-risk traits and develop targeted interventions.
Researchers found that CEOs with moderate social capital are most likely to voluntarily step down from a failing company. In contrast, those with high or low social capital are less likely to quit due to the potential consequences of their actions on their reputation and job prospects.
Researchers used wireless tracking technology to map social interactions in remote hunter-gatherer populations, showing that close friendships facilitate the exchange of information and culture. Strong friendships are more important than family ties in predicting levels of shared knowledge among individuals.
A new research paper published in Science argues that the US government's national security systems have not adapted sufficiently to the threats posed by groups like Al Qaeda and Islamic State. The paper calls for more field research on young people to inform machine learning and big data analysis to combat terrorism.
Hoaxy is a new tool that visualizes how claims in the news and fact checks of those claims spread online through social networks. The tool helps understand the mechanisms behind fake news spread and can be used by users to evaluate evidence about a claim and its rebuttal.
A new study found that adolescents are up to 183% more likely to carry out violent acts if their friends have also committed the same act. The contagion extends beyond friends to up to four degrees of separation, making it essential to stop violence in one person to prevent it from spreading to others.
A new study by Boston University researchers indicates that citizens are likely to know a gun violence victim, highlighting the issue's prevalence in American society. The study used CDC data from 2013 and found that nearly all Americans have a 99.85% chance of knowing someone who has experienced gun violence.
Research reveals that prior social associations during food search carry over into shaping breeding locations and future environmental conditions for wild great tits. Spatial structure during breeding is underpinned by these social connections, which can have population-level effects.
Researchers mapped character relationships in Scottish epics and found close similarities to Irish texts, challenging the authenticity of Macpherson's works. The study also reveals distinct distance from classical Greek literature.
Researchers found that frequent viewing of selfies on social media sites can lead to lower levels of self-esteem and life satisfaction. Those with a strong desire to appear popular were more sensitive to this effect.
A new study by Yale University researchers found that the initiation of violent raids among the Nyangatom nomadic tribal group depends on the presence of leaders who have participated in many raids and hold central positions in their social network. Non-leaders, however, had a bigger impact on raid participation due to their friendships.
Researchers found that providing tips and personalized feedback was just as effective as access to online social networking sites in promoting physical activity. Interventions were most effective among participants with low initial physical activity levels, suggesting a need for stronger reinforcers to motivate population-wide changes.
A new thesis developed by David Núñez proposes ways for smart appliances to improve their relationship with users through social networks. The research focuses on predicting trust, recommendation systems, and maximizing influence in these networks.
The project, which maps personal relationships among historical figures, will be improved and expanded with the grant. The team plans to connect the network with other digital resources and work on preserving it.
Researchers found that cricket populations have innate social rules, resulting in stable networks that form year after year. The study, published in BMC Evolutionary Biology, suggests that these networks are conserved over evolutionary time, influenced more by population size than environmental changes.
A study by University of Zurich researchers found that individuals posting hate speech who used their full name were more common than anonymous trolls. Online anonymity is not a deterrent for hate speech, as it can actually increase credibility and popularity among trolls.
Researchers studied two contemporary groups of hunter-gatherers, the Agta of Philippines and Mbendjele of Republic of Congo, revealing surprising similarities in their three-tiered social networks. This multilevel structure appears to buffer individuals against day-to-day shortfalls in foraging returns.
Researchers develop mathematical model of animal social networks, finding that newborns copy their mother's connections to form social relationships. The study captures key properties of observed networks in four diverse species, suggesting a simple 'social inheritance' mechanism drives social structure.
A University of Missouri study found that children physically react to stress from their social networks, with cortisol levels and salivary alpha-amylase indicating stress responses. The quality and size of childhood social relationships may have long-term physiological consequences for youth's physical and mental health.
Research at University of Oxford found that individuals with more friends have a higher pain tolerance due to increased endorphin release, which promotes social bonding and pleasure. Additionally, the study discovered correlations between fitter people, those with higher stress levels, and smaller social networks.
A recent study found that seniors use Facebook primarily for social bonding and curiosity, with a desire to stay connected to family and friends. The researchers suggest that simple and convenient interface tools are essential for attracting older adult users and motivating them to use the site longer.
A study by University of Cambridge researchers used Foursquare and Twitter data to quantify the social diversity of London neighborhoods, discovering that signs of gentrification are strongest in deprived areas with high social diversity. These areas saw an influx of more affluent visitors and improved wellbeing indicators.
Research found that central, socially-connected female monkeys had fewer lice, as grooming removes eggs from hair. The effects were most pronounced during winter mating and summer childbirth.
Researchers tracked over 300 individual Sand Tiger sharks and found complex social networks with fission-fusion behavior, similar to mammals. The study sheds light on shark interactions in the open ocean and has implications for conservation efforts.