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On user-generated content platforms, individuals and firms alike seek to build and expand their follower base to eventually increase the reach of the content they upload. The bulk of the seeding literature in marketing suggests targeting users with a large follower base, that is, high-status influencers. In contrast, some recent studies find targeting lower-status influencers to be a more effective seeding policy. This multimethod article shifts the focus from the follower base of the seeding target to the focal content creator. The authors propose accelerating natural triadic closure by leveraging first-degree followers as interconnectors to target second-degree followers, that is, the nearby (low-status) influencers (who are interconnected with the focal content creator). Empirical studies document that this seeding target is much more effective for building and expanding the follower base, compared with targeting influencers who are not interconnected with the focal content creator—that is, the remote (both high- and low-status) influencers—by 2,300% and 46%, respectively. These studies on the acceleration of natural triadic closure are augmented by a preregistered field experiment to obtain convergent validity of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet and communication technologies have been growing at a rapid pace, enabling data sharing and many other applications. Online trading and e-commerce are important applications that provide ease of business as well as flexibility for buyers. In this paper, we provide an overview of social commerce (s-commerce) in the context of Saudi Arabia. This paper explains s-commerce, the background of Saudi Arabia, and its digital economy vision. This paper also highlights the importance of social media and networking, as well as novel web technologies for s-commerce. We also highlight the research gap in the analysis of s-commerce potential in the Saudi market. This paper conducts a detailed analysis of s-commerce in Saudi Arabia based on a sequential explanatory research design with a quantitative and qualitative phase. The quantitative phase involves a survey based on 504 responses. The qualitative phase involves interview questions of 25 participants. Based on this study, seven themes (each with two or more factors) to enhance s-commerce in Saudi Arabia were identified. Finally, future opportunities and challenges are also discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the role of visual culture on social media in the construction and dissemination of political narratives. Through an analysis of instances where symbols, including images, memes and videos, are utilized in digital media and their interaction with political discourse, this study aims to elucidate the impact of these visual representations on public sentiment and the intricate dynamics of political authority. The study focuses on pivotal events of the past year, investigating how social media have served as pivotal platforms for political communication and social mobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel strategies are needed to target the health of postpartum women, who face numerous competing demands. This survey study of 553 postpartum women found 90% want access to a range of health information via social networking sites from reputable professionals, with Instagram (71%) the preferred platform. Delivery of health information to postpartum women via health organisation social networking sites could deliver cost savings and health benefits for postpartum women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on problematic online activities commonly focus on one type of online activity, such as social media. However, individuals often use their Smartphones for more than one online activity. This study examined four types of online activities (social networking, gaming, information acquisition, and short-form video viewing). Based on a combinatory assessment of problematic smartphone use and hours spent online, two groups were created from a larger sample (N = 642): a problematic smartphone user group (PSU; N = 230; F = 72%; Age = 24.99 ± 6.60) and a non-problematic smart phone user group (NPSU; N = 87; F = 62%; Age = 30.49 ± 10.22). As compared to the NPSU group, the PSU group engaged in more social networking, gaming, information acquisition, and short-form video seeing. The PSU group also scored higher on psychological distress, sleep disturbance, fear of missing out, metacognitions about Smartphone use (MSU), desire thinking (DT), and lower on satisfaction with life and cognitive reappraisal. Regression analyses were employed to probe correlates of each online activity among the PSU and NPSU groups. The findings are discussed in light of the metacognitive model of addictive behaviors and future directions are provided concerning the challenges of distinguishing individuals for problematic Internet-related behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last few years have witnessed an increased reliance on social media as a primary communication channel to disseminate news, updates, and information on different subjects. Media practitioners have been using framing to highlight certain segments of news stories and shape public opinion to engage audiences with the news stories and influence their perception and response. This study investigates the types and frequency of frames used in an Emirati Instagram news account (@UAE_Barq) during the COVID-19 outbreak to explore if certain frames, such as gain vs loss, human interest, and attributing responsibility, can elicit negative, neutral, or positive responses from Instagram users. The study found that various types of frames emotionally influenced Instagram users. The academic and practical implications of the study are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of social media and networking has been remarkable. Since its inception in 1995 with Classmates.com, the landscape evolved to include Friendster in 2002, LinkedIn and MySpace in 2003, and Facebook in 2004. Today, social networking is a global phenomenon, with Facebook boasting nearly 2.95 billion active users worldwide (Statista, 2023a). The number of significant social media platforms has also increased, with the top sites in the United States accounting for most of the activity. This study explores a 2021 Pew Internet dataset through Two-Step Cluster Analysis to identify Social Networking User Groups. By combining usage data from top social media websites with pertinent demographic and sociographic information, we establish two distinct user clusters for social media in the US as of 2021. The implications for marketers, researchers, and society at large are also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Social relationships impact health and may affect proximal determinants such as obesity. Our review examined empirical evidence of the impact of changes in social relationships on risk of obesity in aging adults, with attention to gender. Methods: We systematically searched Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL, and ProQuest Dissertations and reference lists of relevant reviews and papers published up to November 2022. Longitudinal studies examining changes in marital status, living arrangement, social participation, and social networks and anthropometric changes or incident obesity were deemed eligible. Relevant data were extracted and synthesized narratively. Results: We identified 41,910 eligible titles, resulting in 252 full texts and 7 included studies. All studies were conducted in the United States and assessed marital transitions only; 3 studies included both women and men. Overall, compared with people who remain non‐married, entering marriage leads to a significant increase in body mass index (BMI) for both genders. Conversely, transitioning out of marriage through widowhood or divorce leads to a decrease in weight (kg/lbs), waist circumference, and BMI for both genders. All seven studies were deemed to be of medium quality. Conclusions: Our review revealed a paucity of prospective evidence on social connections as determinants of obesity among aging adults. There is limited evidence that marital transitions are associated with changes in anthropometric measurements in aging individuals, but no evidence on the effects of changes in living arrangements, social participation, and social networks on anthropometric measurements. More research attention to the social determinants of obesity is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the modern era, social media has transformed how people connect, communicate, and assimilate information. However, as social media use becomes increasingly global, concerns have been raised about its negative impact on mental health and consequences such as behavioral addictions. This narrative review aimed to uncover the possible implications of users' obsession with social media and how it affects behavioral addictions to examine the factors contributing to social media obsession and explore the impact of social media addiction on mental health with the underlying causes of compulsive behaviors.Methods: This narrative review was conducted using multiple databases, employing specific keywords related to social media addiction, obsessions, online likes, self-presentation, and psychological effects. A total of 71 papers were selected according to the inclusion criteria, and finally, 11 were retrieved. All the English qualitative and quantitative studies from 4 April 2011 to 14 April 2022 were included. The relevant studies were ultimately selected with the aid of peer review.Results: The findings showed that gender and age differences influence social networking use. It is worth noting that users often alter their online images and feel worse after comparing themselves to others. Getting fewer likes can make teenagers feel rejected, especially if their peers have victimized them in the past. Besides, the use of social media by adolescents is connected to symptoms of depression, poor sleep, and comparing themselves to others, showing that it can have complex effects on mental health. However, the literature also indicates that social media improves communication, customer management, and engagement, in addition to providing significant learning opportunities.Conclusion: This study emphasizes the need for personal responsibilities, focusing more on core connections rather than hits, likes, and popularity. While social media can be an influential tool for connecting, maintaining relationships, and empowering individuals, an attentive and critical approach is needed to avoid its potential downsides. Excessive use and easy access to social media are more likely to develop an addiction to popularity, self-objectification, and mental illness.

Research focusing on social media usage in sport communication and its related media has made significant strides in the last 2 decades. Researchers have provided key insights into how social media content is created by sport entities and media members, how sport fans and consumers feel about social media content, and how aspects of social media content inform public perception of matters pertaining to race, gender, ethnicity, politics, and other key cultural areas. However, the changing natures of social media technology and user preferences for content have often moved faster than the body of research surrounding them. This commentary highlights a gap in published sport communication studies focusing on dynamic social media content and provides suggestions for addressing a key present, and future, need for scholarly inquiry in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe a middle range theory (MRT) with conceptual and explicative capacity of cause and effect situations of Ineffective social support network in nursing. Data sources: Descriptive study developed through the Lopes, Silva, and Herdman theoretical‐causal validity method, using five steps for theory construction: definition of the approach for constructing the MRT, definition of the main concepts, development of the pictorial diagram, construction of propositions, and establishment of causal relationships and evidence for practice. The foundation of these steps and the development of a predictive nursing theory occurred through Sanicola's Social Network Theory combined with studies from an integrative literature review using the six steps proposed by Whittemore and Knafl. Data synthesis—findings: The theory presents etiological factors and clinical indicators for Ineffective social support network, connecting situations related to the person, the members and the configuration of this network, and external situations. The pictogram, symbolically created, represents the hierarchical classification of proximal, intermediate, and distal etiological factors, and their relationship with clinical indicators. Conclusions: The MRT, predictive for the nursing phenomenon Ineffective social support network, provides understanding of the person from an interpersonal perspective, which interferes with and is affected by a network of virtues and vicissitudes, and has negative influences on health outcomes. Due to its practical vocation, this theory represents an advance in the science and praxis of nursing. Implications for clinical practice: The findings of this study will contribute to the understanding of the nursing phenomenon Ineffective social support network and consequently support the identification of the nursing diagnosis Ineffective social support network, proposed for inclusion in the NANDA‐I classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) has become increasingly important for breast cancer survivors, but clinically relevant declines often persist for many years after treatment. This study aimed to investigate whether social relationships can mitigate or prevent this decline in HRQOL. Methods: Data were used from the German population‐based Mamma Carcinoma Risk Factor Investigation (MARIE) cohort of 2022 breast cancer cases with follow‐up information for more than 15 years after diagnosis. Correlations between social integration, social support, and global health status (GHS) as an overall measure of HRQOL were analyzed, and linear regression analysis was performed with structural equation modeling. Results: The majority of participants reported high levels of social integration and social support and moderate levels of GHS. Social integration 5 years after diagnosis was associated with GHS 5 years after diagnosis (β = 1.12; 95% CI, 0.25–1.99), but no longitudinal effects were found. Social support 5 years after diagnosis was associated with better GHS 5 years (β = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.36–0.48) and 10 years after diagnosis (β = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02–0.22), whereas social support 10 years after diagnosis was associated with GHS 10 years (β = 0.29; 95% CI, 0.20–0.39) and 15 years after diagnosis (β = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.01–0.21). Conclusions: These results confirm that social relationships positively influence HRQOL in long‐term breast cancer survivors and that their association should receive more attention clinically and beyond routine care. After diagnosis, social relationships positively influence health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in long‐term breast cancer survivors. Improving social networks during aftercare is therefore beneficial for the HRQOL of long‐term breast cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Binge eating has adverse health effects and may be 10 times more common in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) than in the general population. Still, binge eating is not consistently addressed in diabetes treatment. People with T2D and binge eating may, therefore, seek guidance on the topic on social media. The study objective was to explore discussions about binge eating among members of a T2D‐specific Facebook group. Method: Interactions among members of the Facebook group were observed over 8 months and supplemented by keyword searches within group content. The data were imported into NVivo12 and analyzed using Interpretive Description. Results: The overarching theme described how group members exchanged guidance concerning co‐existing T2D and binge eating based on personal experiences while trying to resolve co‐members' misapprehensions regarding binge eating. Two subthemes were generated, describing frequently discussed topics relating to binge eating triggers and inhibitors. Triggers were confusion about the health impacts of carbohydrates and encounters with unsupportive clinicians, while inhibitors included the possibility of speaking openly about binge eating with peers and hunger cues being suppressed by glucagon‐like peptide 1 receptor agonists. Discussion: Social media may constitute an important source of support for people with T2D and binge eating, as the topic is typically not addressed in routine care. Besides being aware of the extent of binge eating in people with T2D and the health risks involved, clinicians should keep in mind that people with both conditions may seek information on social media that can affect diabetes management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep visual data analysis from social network has become an increasingly important area of research. In fact, this form of assessment makes it viable to recognize new information on social users which incorporates emotions. In order to recognize users' emotions and other latent attributes, most of the existing approaches have used textual data and have obtained accurate results. However, little attention has been paid to visual data that have become increasingly popular in recent years.This work describes how to develop a conceptual representation model for social network analysis and social emotion analysis based on the integration of fuzzy logic and ontological modeling. The primary aim is to create an ontology that can extract new information about a social user's mood, which can be classified as panic, no-panic, or neutral. Fuzzy logic is necessary to deal with subjective data, as users share imprecise and vague data on their social profiles. Fuzzy logic has been observed as a successful method to capture the expression of emotions due to the fuzzy nature of emotions and the ambiguous definitions of emotion words. The proposed work investigate the role of fuzzy logic in social network analysis. This study simulate a fuzzy deep system integrated with ontology for classifying social visual data (shared images) into panic, no-panic or neutral classes in order to determine the social users' stress intensity. The Social distancing and the huge amount of shared data in Tunisia were calculated to demonstrate this classification. The experiments performed in this paper aim to create not only a novel annotated visual database named visual panic database, but also a new semantic model for modeling users' profiles, in social network, based on the combination between ontology and deep learning techniques. In this context, we will work in the future on the combination between a user's visual and textual data in order to improve the performance of this recognition. The proposed fuzzy system reflected the viral proliferation in stressed users and achieved an accuracy of 87%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the continued focus on online sharing through social media, little consumer research has looked at this behavior as an independent construct or tried to determine how it relates to other consumer behaviors. Consequently, this study aims to explore the concept of social media sharing disposition (SMSD), proposes a measure of the construct, and, in five studies, assesses its reliability and validity and its relationship to other online and offline consumer behaviors. Design/methodology/approach: Five studies using surveys were carried out to assess the SMSD construct. The studies gathered data to assess the properties and validities of SMSD, as well as its ability to assess offline and online sharing behavior. Findings: The results indicate that SMSD is a useful construct that helps to explain people's social media and offline sharing behavior, although its focus is primarily on social media sharing. It also displays convergent, discriminant and predictive validity. These results indicate that SMSD can be used to predict the likelihood of consumers sharing online information. They also confirm that SMSD works effectively in different cultural contexts. SMSD can also be used to assess consumer offline sharing behavior. Research limitations/implications: There was neither an investigation of actual differences in behaviors among consumers in the number of posts or online reviews they undertook, based on SMSD, nor a study of whether individuals are more likely to incorporate brand information into their posts. Future research could explore these behaviors to determine whether they can be explained by SMSD. There was also no focus on a rationale for engaging in social media sharing; that is, there are no proposed antecedents of SMSD. Additional studies could assess antecedents of this construct. Practical implications: Marketers interested in engaging consumers as participants in the dissemination of online (electronic) information can segment and target consumers on the basis of SMSD. Therefore, it can be used to determine who should be targeted with information to disperse to other consumers. It is likely that there is a relationship between SMSD and social media influencer (SMI) activity, so it could also be used to identify SMIs among consumer bases. It can also be adapted and applied to understanding offline sharing behavior. Originality/value: The paper reports on SMSD and establishes that it is an additional construct that can help explain consumer information sharing. The construct relates to a social media context, where it may be increasingly difficult to identify consumers who engage in differential sharing of digital information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the extensive lockdown measures implemented for disease mitigation triggered a surge in round-the-clock social media use, giving rise to widespread concerns regarding its impact on sleep health. This meta-analysis examined the association between social media use and sleep disturbance during the pandemic, along with potential moderators. The dataset included 43 independent samples comprising 68,247 residents of 21 countries across 7 world regions. The three-level mixed-effects meta-analysis revealed a weak, positive overall effect size (r = 0.1296, 95% confidence interval: 0.0764–0.1828, k = 90). The magnitude of the effect size varied by the type of social media use: compulsive use exhibited a moderately strong effect size, whereas information-focused use showed marginal significance. The effect size was more pronounced in countries imposing stricter (vs. less strict) lockdown measures. Lockdown status also moderated this association, with a marginally significant effect size observed during lockdowns but a significant effect size after lockdowns. For demographics, samples involving emerging adults demonstrated moderately strong effect sizes, whereas those involving the general population had modest effect sizes. Notably, the interaction between the type of social media use and lockdown status was significant. Specifically, the positive association with information-focused use was significant only during lockdowns, whereas that with general use was significant after, but not during, lockdowns. However, compulsive use showed a moderately strong effect size both during and after lockdowns. These findings underscored the importance of considering multiple factors—such as the type of social media use, context, and demographics—when studying social media use and sleep health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Social networks consist of a group of individuals connected by family, work, or other interests and facilitated by an online structure or platform. They are also a relatively recent and widely used marketing phenomenon that is constantly evolving. The healthcare field includes professions such as social work, biology, biomedicine, physical education, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, medicine, veterinary medicine, nutrition, dentistry, psychology, and occupational therapy. The present study aimed to analyze the influence of social networks in the process of finding and selecting healthcare professionals. The methodology was a survey using a structured questionnaire created on Google Forms. Descriptive research was carried out with non-probabilistic convenience and snowball sampling, followed by quantitative data analysis. A total of 268 participants who signed the informed consent were included in the study. The findings revealed that the most common way to find healthcare professionals is through recommendations from friends/relatives and other professionals, followed by the use of social networks. The majority of participants used social networks to search for healthcare professionals, with Instagram being the most widely used platform. Sponsored advertisements can be an effective way to reach potential new patients. The most valued characteristics in healthcare content creators were reliability, expertise, and the ability to convey messages, with health-related explanations in an easily understandable manner being the preferred type of content. Therefore, this study revealed that social networks can influence the search for and selection of healthcare professionals.

Artificial intelligence represents the cutting-edge frontier in influencer marketing, offering a novel approach to leveraging social media data. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the recent state and future directions of artificial intelligence-infused influencer marketing through bibliometric analysis. For substantial bibliometric analysis, the study contains 316 documents published in journals indexed in the Scopus database for the period ranging from 2004 to 2023. The yearly publications have risen from 2 in 2004 to 55 in 2023, with an average age of 19.06 years and a citation rate of 22.19 yearly. The number of publications in this domain accelerated in 2020. According to the review findings, Hong Kong is the most productive country in this research domain. The leading affiliation is Hanyang University. The top contributing author is Gatica Perez-D. The most prolific source is the AAAI Spring Symposium Technical Report. Keyword occurrence analysis highlights prevalent terms such as Blogs, Social media networking (online) and Data mining alongside emerging keywords such as Influencer marketing, User-Generated Content, Artificial Intelligence, Sentiment Analysis, and Semantic Analysis in this domain to anticipate future inclinations. Performance analysis, further delves into Collaborative efforts among countries, sources, affiliations and authors have also been done using tools like Biblioshiny and Vos Viewer. The study offers novel contributions to the existing literature in terms of comprehensively providing evidence of the current practices of AI-integrated influencer marketing.

The objective was to analyse the relationships between multidimensional self-esteem (academic, social, emotional, family, and physical), loneliness, the problematic use of social networking sites (PUSNS) and the different roles involved in school violence - non-involved, aggressors, victims and victim-aggressors-, depending on sex. Participants included 1,930 adolescents (50.2% girls) aged 12 to 18 years, schooled in the province of Seville (Spain). A MANOVA (4x2) was performed. Significant relationships were observed between the different school violence roles, loneliness, multidimensional self-esteem, and PUSNS. Specifically, depending on the dependent variables analysed, victims-aggressors presented a more negative profile than the rest of the roles observed, and the non-involved showed the best adjustment. It is also remarkable that the groups with the lowest scores in PUSNS are the two groups of non-involved individuals, both boys and girls, and the group of male victims. To finish, we describe the practical implications of the study.

This study employs a data-driven approach to examine the government's use of data insights and nudges to promote social distancing during the pandemic. Drawing from well-established technology adoption theories, a nationwide online survey was conducted among professionals and postgraduate students adapting to remote work and learning. The study unveils that access to suitable information and communication technology (ICT) significantly influences people's willingness to adhere to social distancing and work from home (WFH). Moreover, respondents' expectations of WFH's impact on job performance emerged as a critical driver for sustained social distancing, with individuals' habits playing a pivotal role in enhancing WFH performance expectancy. Notably, the study pioneers in exploring the psychological effects of government nudges during a pandemic, shedding light on an uncharted aspect of pandemic control strategies.

PurposeDue to heightened anxiety levels, sleep disorders become more prevalent among university students. This study, centered on adaptive capacity in early-year university students, aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms through which anxiety affects sleep quality.MethodsBetween February 2023 and June 2023, a cohort of first- and second-year university students (mean age 18.8 years) from Hunan Province, China, took part in an online survey. Anxiety was assessed using the Self-rating Anxiety Scale; adaptation problems, academic stress, and interpersonal relationships were assessed using the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist; and sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A moderated serial mediation model, based on Hayes’ Model 92, was used to assess the hypothesized model.ResultsThe survey resulted in 3,490 valid responses. Among respondents, 24% exhibited anxiety symptoms and 30.4% showed abnormal sleep patterns (i.e., PSQI score ≥ 8). The most significant path identified based on indirect effects was anxiety (β = 0.109), adaptation problems (β = 0.183), academic stress (β = 0.081), and sleep quality (all p-values < 0.001). Furthermore, interpersonal relationships moderated the effects of adaptation problems (β = −0.015, p

The municipality of Mogpog in the Philippines was one of the severely hit areas during the 1993 mining disaster in the province of Marinduque. After three (3) decades, the aftermath of the disaster still lingers in the municipality and even in the whole province. This study was conducted to assess the relationship between the social demographics of the residents of Mogpog and their knowledge about heavy metal (HM) pollution and its associated health risks. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the 314 residents of Mogpog. Six (6) social demographics were considered, such as age, sex, marital status, highest education attainment, monthly household income, and whether the respondents were government employees or not. Results of the binomial logistic regression analysis showed that the social demographics affecting the respondents’ knowledge about HM pollution were marital status and monthly household income (significant at the 0.05 level). Married individuals may have larger and more diverse social networks, which could expose them to a wider range of information, including environmental issues. On the other hand, those with lower incomes may have limited access to formal education or information resources, which could result in lower environmental awareness. The results underscore the need for specific interventions and educational initiatives to enhance the understanding of the adverse health impacts associated with HM pollution among residents in Mogpog

Dating applications (‘apps’) have become a popular means for men who have sex with men (MSM) to seek sex or relationships. Indeed, dating apps have become popular, in part, because they are perceived as providing LGBTQIA+ people with a safe space to explore their sexuality with a reduced risk of discrimination and violence compared to non-virtual dating. The current study aimed to better understand how Australian MSM experience dating apps, specifically how they perceive that dating apps influence their attitudes about relationships and dating behaviours. Thematic analysis from interviews with 11 MSM adult dating app users identified three themes that were centred around exposure to non-traditional relationship models and conformity to gay dating norms, commodification of dating and safety concerns. Dating apps appear to be a conflicted space for young Australian MSM that may offer some safety for relationship development away from threats of homophobia, but which may facilitate online harassment and predatory behaviours. This paper concludes with recommendations for dating apps to increase security and verification to ensure they offer a safe space for LGBTQIA+ users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This meta-analysis quantified the relationship between the five-factor model of personality and problematic social media use and identified moderators of this relationship. The analysis used a random-effects model to calculate a correlation for each factor and included 113 samples, with a total of 53,913 participants, identified from systematic searches of four databases. Moderator analyses were used to investigate potential causes of heterogeneity. The meta-analysis found that high neuroticism (r =.21, p <.001, 95% CI [.19,.23]), low conscientiousness (r = -.16, p <.001, 95% CI [-.19, -.13]), low agreeableness (r = -.07, p <.001, 95% CI [-.10, -.05]), and low openness (r = -.04, p =.001, 95% CI [-.06, -.02]) were significantly associated with problematic social media use. Several significant moderator effects were found. The meta-analysis contributes to the understanding of the relationship between individual characteristics and problematic social media use and provides information that might be useful in preventing and treating this behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the digital era, there has been a growing focus on seeking online academic help-seeking as an effective factor for success in the virtual learning environment. However, the Social Networking Self-efficacy (SNS) and social presence of students in online learning environments remain underexplored. This study employed a structural model to investigate the relationship between students' SNS, academic help-seeking, and social presence, as well as the mediating role of academic help-seeking between these two factors. The research design was quantitative, using a descriptive and correlational approach. Data were collected from 339 students at an Iranian university in Hamedan and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings indicated that SNS had both direct and indirect influences on social presence, through academic help-seeking. Additionally, academic help-seeking was found to impact social presence, thus mediating the relationship between SNS and social presence. Therefore, educators and policy-makers should consider the role of academic help-seeking and SNS to enhance social presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is a secondary analysis of data collected in a previous study that consisted of 354 older adults, including 226 living in South Korea and 128 South Korean immigrants living in the United States. The aim of this study was to identify the moderating effects of social networks on health-promoting behaviors among Korean older adults with chronic illnesses. Using moderated mediation analyses, we found that the interaction effect between U.S. residency, the number of chronic illnesses, age, and education level accounted for 25% of the social networks. Our findings highlight the importance of social networks in promoting health behaviors and the need to strengthen social networks to improve the health of Korean older adults with chronic illnesses living in the United States. These results also emphasize the need for distinct approaches to health promotion, as health-promoting behaviors vary based on the number of chronic illnesses and country of residence. Plain language summary: Older adult immigrants are at risk of suffering from chronic diseases compared to those born in the country. Health-promoting behavior is a way that could reduce the risk of this chronic disease. Several experts are looking for approaches to enhance health-promoting behavior in immigrants, including the existence of social networks. This study aims to find whether social networks have an effect on health-promoting behavior in Korean older adults with chronic illnesses. The study used data from previous research involving 354 Korean older adults, including 226 living in South Korea, and 128 South Korean immigrants living in the United States. The results of this study indicate that social networks has contribute a 25% interaction effect between living in the United States and the number of chronic illnesses, age, and level of education. Health-promoting behavior varies based on the number of chronic illnesses and the country in which they reside. In this study, it is whether they live in South Korea or in the United States. This difference in residence necessitates a different approach to improving health promotion behavior for Korean older adults in the two countries. Therefore, in our study, we explain the importance of social networks on health-promoting behavior and the need to strengthen social networks to improve the health of Korean older adult immigrants with chronic illnesses in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine research on academic libraries and the social web published from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2023. Design/methodology/approach: The article search and filtering procedures mirrored those of Choi and Harper (2020) and Carlsson (2015), resulting in a total sample size of 93 articles. These articles underwent examination based on the same eight variables (i.e. journal outlet, research theme, publication year, social web type, method, keyword, study participant type and study country) as employed by Choi and Harper (2020) and Carlsson (2015), with the addition of two new variables (i.e. research purpose and the impact of COVID-19). Findings: The research article volume has consistently maintained a stable trend. A notable difference from Choi and Harper (2020) and Carlsson (2015) is the rise of "user perspectives" as the second most prevalent theme. Unlike Choi and Harper (2020), the "survey" method is predominant. Many research purposes, excluding "marketing and promotion," lack attention. Additionally, there's a dearth of studies on the impact of COVID-19. Research limitations/implications: The findings from the study not only offer a snapshot of the current research landscape on academic libraries and their engagement with the social web but also offer insights for future scholarly endeavors. Originality/value: There is a limited effort in exploring the recent literature regarding the role of the social web in academic libraries. This study serves as a valuable guide for contributing to this dynamic research stream and provides various up-to-date implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The positive effect of social networking, particularly social networking sites (SNSs), on improving the process of learning has been acknowledged by many recent types of research. The relationship between features and characteristics of SNSs and the development of students' social networking was of interest to past researchers. As social networking is primarily perceived as intelligent thought and action in both real and virtual environments, there seems to be a need for a qualitative exploration of the influential factors of students' social networking. The study has been conducted using the case study method to look at the identified factors retrieved from previous research. A semi-structured in-depth interview was used to investigate the viewpoints and experiences of socially proactive and successful students at Iranian universities. Findings explain students' social networking due to three factors categorized as central, causal, and contextual. The personal learning system has a critical position among the various factors affecting students' social networking. Therefore, despite the facilitating role of social networking in promoting the learning process, students' social networking would be useless without utilizing a personal learning system. We can see a dynamic and interactive cycle of learning and social networking in the university context. The research has been founded on critical consideration of previously studied factors affecting social networking that were mainly limited to online technologies according to qualitative exploration. As a result of this research, different learning and social networking levels regarding diverse meaning, function, and complexity were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore unpaid carers' experiences of supporting people with dementia to use social media.Methods: Unpaid carers (n = 234) responded to an online survey about their attitudes towards people with dementia using social media and any experiences supporting this usage. Responses to closed questions were analysed using frequency analysis; qualitative data were analysed thematically.Results: Fifty-five carers (23.5%) cared for someone with dementia who used social media. Thematic analysis produced four themes: (1) carers as social media navigators; (2) social media supports care; (3) carers as social media guardians; and (4) labour-intensive work. Carers valued the social connectivity and stimulation social media provided but remained vigilant about online safety. They carefully managed the online experiences of people with dementia, balancing perceived benefits with safety, security, and caring demands.Conclusions: These findings shed light on the complexities of caring in the digital age. Many carers are supporting people with dementia in using social media, but there is little guidance on how best to do this. As older adults continue to embrace social media, carers, support organisations, and policymakers must adapt and work with technology developers to ensure safe and supportive online experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media platforms enable the rapid dissemination and consumption of information. However, users instantly consume such content regardless of the reliability of the shared data. Consequently, the latter crowdsourcing model is exposed to manipulation. This work contributes with an explainable and online classification method to recognize fake news in real-time. The proposed method combines both unsupervised and supervised Machine Learning approaches with online created lexica. The profiling is built using creator-, content- and context-based features using Natural Language Processing techniques. The explainable classification mechanism displays in a dashboard the features selected for classification and the prediction confidence. The performance of the proposed solution has been validated with real data sets from Twitter and the results attain 80% accuracy and macro F-measure. This proposal is the first to jointly provide data stream processing, profiling, classification and explainability. Ultimately, the proposed early detection, isolation and explanation of fake news contribute to increase the quality and trustworthiness of social media contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The municipality of Mogpog in the Philippines was one of the severely hit areas during the 1993 mining disaster in the province of Marinduque. After three (3) decades, the aftermath of the disaster still lingers in the municipality and even in the whole province. This study was conducted to assess the relationship between the social demographics of the residents of Mogpog and their knowledge about heavy metal (HM) pollution and its associated health risks. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the 314 residents of Mogpog. Six (6) social demographics were considered, such as age, sex, marital status, highest education attainment, monthly household income, and whether the respondents were government employees or not. The results of the binomial logistic regression analysis showed that the social demographics affecting the respondents' knowledge about HM pollution were marital status and monthly household income (significant at the 0.05 level). Married individuals may have larger and more diverse social networks, which could expose them to a wider range of information, including environmental issues. On the other hand, those with lower incomes may have limited access to formal education or information resources, which could result in lower environmental awareness. The results underscore the need for specific interventions and educational initiatives to enhance the understanding of the adverse health impacts associated with HM pollution among residents in Mogpog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Effective communication is the heart of any organization. It is associated with employees' job satisfaction and productivity and therefore, is responsible for the institution's continuity and prosperity. In educational institutions, communication has been undergoing swift and significant changes that affected not only instructional strategies, but also administrative dimensions. The need for instant and precise information made digital mediums indispensable for school administration that helps in planning, following up, executing, and evaluating short-term and long-term goals. Since the start of the 21st century, a multitude of smartphone applications have surfaced, all designed to enhance communication. WhatsApp is one of the applications that stands as the most popular medium, which is widely spread and used on personal as well as professional basis. The question at hand is whether employing WhatsApp as a communication tool within educational institutions can effectively contribute to the development of communication competence, encompassing aspects such as communication motivation, communication knowledge, and communication skills. Methods: Based on the indicators used to measure communication competence in institutions, this qualitative study elicited relevant information through semistructured interviews from 14 different government secondary school principals in Jerusalem and the West Bank about the approach principals employ WhatsApp to achieve competence. Results: The results of the study show that indicators of communication competence are achieved through the use of WhatsApp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to dive into ninth-grade students' internet and social networking experiences, examining both intrapersonal and interpersonal components. The study used a mixed-method sequential explanatory design to incorporate quantitative and qualitative methodologies, with a strong emphasis on ethical considerations. In the quantitative phase, data is collected using standardized questionnaires, which were then analyzed and examined statistically to find occurring patterns and trends from the feedback given by the ninth graders. Following that, the qualitative phase includes in-depth interviews to contextualize and explain the quantitative results from the first phase of the study. The findings provide complex insights into the participants' attitudes and behaviors around internet usage and social networking. While most people believe that the internet is mostly entertaining and convenient, there are differing opinions regarding the presence of its impact on academic performance and mental well-being. This study concludes that there is no substantial difference in internal and social networking experiences between male and female students. The findings highlight the complex nature of ninth graders' Internet and social networking experiences, including knowledge acquisition, social communication, and emotional regulation. Recommendations include encouraging responsible and ethical digital citizenship and offering support tools to help students navigate the online environment securely and successfully, while also developing literacy. Overall, this study contributes to a better knowledge of how young individuals engage with and how significant individuals are influenced by the digital landscape, providing valuable information for educational institutions and policymakers looking to create positive internet experiences among night graders students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects a significant and growing proportion of pregnant women each year. The condition entails additional monitoring, self‐management and healthcare use during pregnancy, and some women also join GDM support groups on Facebook. Little is known about the practices inside these groups, but examining them may elucidate support needs, women's experience of healthcare and improve overall outcomes. The aims of this study were to explore motivations for joining GDM Facebook groups and the perceived value and benefits of such spaces. Design: A cross‐sectional design using a web‐based survey collected data from two peer‐led GDM Facebook groups; relevant quantitative and qualitative data were extracted from open and closed questions, and analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Results: A total of 340 women responded to the survey, with 306 (90%) tendering their motivations to join a GDM Facebook group. Their answers were classified into six categories: peer support; information and practical advice; lived experiences; community; a safe place to ask questions and being recommended. The most commonly reported benefits of membership were 'reading about food ideas' and 'finding helpful information and tips'. Respondents reported finding their group strongly sympathetic, sincere, compassionate, heart‐felt, tolerant, sensitive, warm and supportive. Discussion and Conclusions: GDM Facebook groups are valuable for informational and emotional support, and the sharing and perusal of lived experiences; another key benefit for women is feeling belonging to a community. GDM Facebook groups provide women with access to more tailored and readily available support, filling gaps not addressed by healthcare providers. Patient Contribution: This study was led by a person with lived experience of GDM, and the survey was pilot tested with women who had also experienced GDM, which contributed to its development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Effective self‐management of type 2 diabetes requires adequate health literacy (HL) and a supportive network. Diabetes self‐management education and support programmes play a crucial role in improving these factors. However, limited research exists on how such programmes can support health literacy among migrants and facilitate the dissemination of knowledge within their social networks. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the perspectives of Arabic‐speaking informants with a migrant background in relation to how their type 2 diabetes‐related health literacy was acquired, applied and distributed within social networks through participation in a culturally sensitive diabetes self‐management education and support (DSMES) programme. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 12 informants during the programme and three to 7 months later, from September 2019 to May 2020. Abductive analysis was applied using HL and distributed health literacy (DHL) theory as frameworks. Results: The analysis generated three themes: (1) sources of health information and the development of health literacy; (2) changes towards active self‐management; and (3) distributed health literacy. Prior to programme participation, informants faced challenges in navigating conflicting information from family, friends and social media. After participating in the programme, they reported improvements in HL, particularly in knowledge acquisition. Many became more actively engaged in decision‐making and exhibited improved health behaviours, such as dietary choices. Nonetheless, some informants continued to struggle with choosing appropriate prevention and treatment strategies. Notably, certain informants acted as HL mediators, sharing their newly acquired knowledge within their social networks in Denmark and abroad. Conclusion: Culturally sensitive diabetes self‐management education programmes have the potential to enhance HL among migrants, leading to the distribution of relevant diabetes knowledge within their social networks. Future studies should explore how members of migrants' social networks perceive their supportive role in type 2 diabetes management. Programmes can benefit from emphasising critical HL and exploring how participant‐informants effectively communicate diabetes‐related knowledge within their networks to address misinformation and conflicting information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network marketing has seen no shortage of criticism, but its capital gain for corporate owners and top-tier sellers has remained consistent. In this article, we focus attention on the strategies from which this success emerges. Because the discourses which circulate in these spaces serve to uphold multiple oppressive systems at once and do so under the guise of a seemingly progressive feminism, we see import in demystifying their trends. By analysing brand materials of hair care and wellness company, Monat, as well as the prominent social media presence of some of its most affluent 'biz and beauty mentors', we argue that neoliberal feminism and Christian femininity are both demonstrated and reified through the figure of the online influencer we call the 'godly girlboss'. By exploring how the company's top sellers integrate messages of religion, beauty, wealth, and wellness, we argue that their rhetoric functions not only to help them sell shampoo, but also to engender investment in a specific white, Christian, feminine lifestyle. In this way, their social media influence operates not only as a capitalist tool, but a political one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neighbors are an important component of personal social network (PSN) and despite their peripheral role and being considered as familiar strangers, they typically provide instrumental support. For people who is discharged after long-term psychiatric hospitalizations, neighbors would offer other types of social support and play a different role fostering the process of becoming full member of a given community. Aims: To analyze the effects of neighboring on both, those who have had long-term psychiatric hospitalizations and their neighbors. Method: Data was collected between 2020 and 2021, including interviews with formal care staff of three housing support experiences in Argentina, and short testimonies from formerly discharged mental health service users living in the community and their neighbors. We analyzed the data using the Framework Method with a focus on the different aspects of social support and equity and reciprocity theories. Results: Results suggest that emotional support was a frequent function displayed by neighbors toward people with a history of long-term psychiatric hospitalizations, which differs from typical neighboring relationships. Conclusions: Despite reciprocity was observed, users and neighbors displayed an unbalanced helping relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Hearing impairment affects social networks and mental health. Hearing aids (HA) can improve these deficits. However, their effects might be affected by various factors such as economic status (ES). This study aimed to identify how ES could moderate the effects of HA on social networks, depressive mood, and cognition. Methods: A prospective cohort for new HA users was established and classified into two groups based on their ES: a low ES group (LES group) and a medium to high ES group (MHES group). Audiological examination, Lubben social network scale‐18 (LSNS‐18), Short form of Geriatric Depression Score, Mini‐Mental State Examination in the Korean version of the CERAD Assessment Packet, and surveys for satisfaction with HA were conducted before and at six months after wearing HA. Results: Post‐HA application LSNS‐18 scores were not improved in the LES group whereas they revealed significant improvement in the MHES group (p = 0.003). The LES group showed lower LSNS‐18 score (p = 0.020) and its change (p = 0.042) than the MHES group. Additionally, patients with depressive moods in the MHES group showed better improvements than those in the LES group (p = 0.048). The effects of wearing HA on cognition and satisfaction with HA were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: HA did not improve social relationships and depressive moods in the LES group. Comprehensive and multidirectional support as well as hearing rehabilitation may be important for patients with LES. Level of Evidence: 3 (Nonrandomized controlled cohort/follow‐up study) Laryngoscope, 134:2387–2394, 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: People with diabetes require continuous self-monitoring and face numerous decisions in their day-to-day lives. Therefore, on many occasions, they need more support than that provided by health professionals. In this context, peer support in online diabetes communities could be a useful tool. The purpose of the review is to describe, analyze and synthesize the available evidence on the use and health out-comes of online communities for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Searches were performed PubMed, Web of Science, CINHAL, Scopus and Cochrane databases. Recent Findings: From 1821 identified documents, 6 articles were included. These studies explored the characteristics of diabetes online communities and the population features. Besides, the results were classified according to whether they were clinical, psychosocial, or addressed people's experiences with the online community. The analysis underscores their value in facilitating communication, improving diabetes management, and enhancing psychosocial well-being. Future investigations should prioritize longitudinal assessments to elucidate the sustained impact of community engagement and optimize user participation for enhanced patient outcomes. Summary: The growing relevance of new technologies has led to a significant number of individuals with chronic illnesses seeking peer support. Online health communities have emerged as virtual spaces where individuals with shared health interests interact and form relationships. Within these digital spaces, individuals can engage in peer interaction, observe behaviors, and mutually benefit, potentially leading to improved attitudes toward the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Given the limited literature on depression as a contributing factor to compulsive social media use, the present research examines the role of perceived depressive mood (PDM) in developing compulsive social media use behavior. The authors also identify and hypothesize channels such as contingent self-esteem (CSE), social interaction anxiety (SIA) and fear of negative evaluation (FNE), which may explain how PDM affects compulsive social media use. Design/methodology/approach: The research model was empirically tested with a survey of 367 Chinese university students using structural equation modeling by drawing on the escape and self-presentation lenses. Findings: The findings indicate that PDM contributes to compulsive social media use behavior both directly and indirectly through CSE. Furthermore, the impact of CSE on compulsive social media use is mediated by the FNE, whereas SIA fails to mediate this effect. Practical implications: The results can advance the authors' knowledge of the role and process by which depressive mood impacts compulsive social media use. These findings may add insights into psychological treatment and help in, for example, developing counseling programs or coping strategies for depressed people to protect them from using social media excessively. Originality/value: This research identifies the pathway mechanism between PDM and compulsive use of social media. It also increases the understanding of how CSE and social interaction deficiencies contribute to compulsive social media usage (CSMU). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 39th South Brazilian Plastic Surgery Conference, in April 2024, a heated debate arose regarding the promotion of the use of technologies for body contouring surgery on social media. An important question was raised: are they being prematurely promoted on social media before being rigorously evaluated? The quote from Dr. Ian Malcolm, a famous creation of Michael Chrichton, “I’ll tell you the problem with the power you’re using here, it didn’t require any discipline to attain it” applies perfectly to this situation. Promoting techniques on social media should require the same rigorous discipline as scientific research. The absence of research protocols approved by the National Research Ethics Council and high-level evidence publications in peer-reviewed journals raises concerns. The power to enhance our results using these external energy sources is real, and its use represents a significant advancement within plastic surgery. However, it is imperative that plastic surgeons exercise caution when promoting new technologies. Scientific discipline should be the foundation of any advancement, and responsible disclosure should precede popularization. Only then can we ensure that patients benefit from safe and effective treatments without compromising the integrity of our specialty.

The authors develop a multimodal social listening analysis (MSLA) approach as a framework for managers to understand how meaning is constructed in social media posts using both text and other media. The research adds to AI and text analysis approaches by considering the whole meaning of a post rather than an analysis of subsets of information in text and other media. The use of MSLA is validated across the social media platforms of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The findings show that MSLA helps (i) reveal structures in what appear to be unstructured multimodal posts; (ii) identify all the sentiment items in a post; (iii) identify implicit meanings, such as irony, humour and sarcasm; and (iv) further identify emotions and judgements in multimodal communication. Importantly, this paper explains how decisions and opinions are made online and how marketing strategies can be tailored towards meanings derived from multimodal communication in social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A technopreneur's social network is a key factor in the early stages of the entrepreneurial process which includes the stages of searching for ideas, acquiring resources, and gaining legitimacy for the development of his business. It is hoped that a technopreneur's ability to create, manage and maintain social networks can improve the performance of the business he starts. This research aimed to map the social network of technopreneurs in the early stages of their entrepreneurial process and analyze their evolution in the three initial stages. The technopreneur social networks studied were betweenness, centrality, density and diversity. Networks are built using an ego network approach. The egos used were eight new businesses that are members of a business incubator with the criteria of food and non-food agro-industry, business unit age 2 – 5 years, in wall which means having an office in the incubator and out wall which means having an office outside the incubator. The network was analyzed using software. The results of the analysis show that technopreneurs who are on the in wall have a denser network than those on the out wall due to the large number of actors who come from the incubator network. The parameter values of betweenness, centrality, diversity and density change at each stage of the entrepreneurial process. Technopreneurs need diversity and betweenness in the idea search phase to increase the flow of information and ideas. Technopreneurs need centrality and density in the resource acquisition phase to increase resource access. Centrality and density are needed in the legitimacy phase to increase a technopreneur's reputation.

This article aims to provide a concise overview of the latest research concerning social media, with a particular focus on tendencies observed recent year. Furthermore, this study investigates and addresses aspects of social networking and e-commerce. Our study was conducted using bibliometric by using VOSviewer and content analytic methods on a dataset obtained from Scopus. The dataset consisted of 29,667 articles and covered the time span from 2010 to 2022. We explore and analyze biometrics in the scope of this study to identify significant groups and then offer a framework for future research. A brief description and practical standpoint of social media will be presented and accompanied by research recommendations. This research will provide a comprehensive examination of keywords associated with social media, as well as renowned universities that have a substantial volume of content. Furthermore, this study’s findings highlight different trends of research papers with potential keywords, and propose potential options for future research. Additionally, this study makes a practical contribution by assessing the broad range of concerns surrounding the topic of social media and assisting managers in recognizing many facets of social media.