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We set out to explore the unintended effects of human-machine moderation in mitigating harassment within online communities. We examine communities that use a block-list type bot to prevent harassment from the source of harassment. Drawing from social categorization and selective exposure theories, we theorize that employing a machine alongside humans for community moderation will create unintended adverse effects. Specifically, within the moderated focal community, we hypothesize an emboldening effect characterized by an increase in harassment among community members directed at their outgroup members. Additionally, we expect a disengaging effect, that is, a downward trend in the focal community's membership. Finally, in neighboring communities that share the same topic of discussion, we expect a spillover effect, that is, an increase in harassment. Employing Detoxify, a Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT)-based model, we evaluate harassment scores in the focal community by analyzing 4 million Reddit comments across various communities. These scores serve as inputs for Bayesian Structural Time Series analysis, revealing evidence for both disengaging and spillover effects. For the emboldening effect, we use community-specific keywords in a predefined computer-assisted document classification approach, Keyword Assisted Topic Model (keyATM), to identify the target of harassment. We use mean comparison and regression discontinuity to assess the change in the level of harassment targeting outgroup members before and after the human-machine moderation implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly fringe and violent far-right ideologies have become a significant threat to national security in Western countries in the twenty-first century. Accelerationism is growing in far-right narratives while populism and ethnocentrism garnered public attention. This study presents an empirical study of Stormfront, the largest and oldest online white nationalist community in the world, to identify accelerationist themes in the ideological narratives used to discuss white nationalist philosophy over time. The study applied a Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithm and a supervised learning AI model to a corpus of more than 66 m words collected from 367,000 posts across a 20-year period. This analysis identified two kinds of accelerationist sentiment in the dataset, an offensive form, which portrays violence as both an inevitable and desirable mechanism to pursue political change, and a defensive form, which portrays violence as a reactionary and protective means to prevent undesirable social changes. The study then used a thematic analysis on a subset of the data to support its findings that both offensive and defensive accelerationism are embedded in ideological narratives on Stormfront. This is an important consideration for further research on ways that accelerationism may be influencing popular white nationalist ideology, particularly fringe and violent narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many older adults living with HIV face unique challenges, including comorbidities, loneliness, and isolation. This community-academic partnered study elicited viewpoints from older adults living with HIV about the characteristics of a digital environment ("Virtual Village") to combat against loneliness and isolation. We utilized Choice-Based Conjoint Analyses to determine preferred attributes of a Virtual Village. We also conducted focus groups and interviews with older adults living with HIV and used an iterative, data-driven approach to systematically identify emergent themes. Participants (N = 82) were aged 50–82 years and racially/ethnically diverse. The majority were men (78%), gay (66%), and lived with HIV for ≥15 years (83%). Cost was the factor that most drove participants' preference for joining a Virtual Village. Thematic concerns included lack of technological confidence, internet access, potential for harassment in digital environments, privacy, and preference for in-person interactions. Praises centered on convenience and making connections across geographic distances. Participants emphasized the need for purposive strategies to form a cohesive and supportive community for older adults living with HIV. A moderated environment was recommneded to create a safe, structured, and comfortable digital environment for older adults living with HIV. A Virtual Village should be viewed as a bridge to in-person interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nursing education has shifted to online learning environments due to rapid advancements in technology and the COVID-19 pandemic. Some nursing educators and students misunderstand that online learning is isolating and lonely. Method: This literature review explores the impact of online learning on students' emotional well-being and challenges the belief that it is inherently lonely. It examines global events, the growth of online nursing programs, and the myth of online nursing education as isolating and depressing. Results: Online learning is a popular and effective education method that caters to diverse learners and contexts. The instructor's role is crucial in ensuring student satisfaction and engagement, fostering community and interaction among online learners. Conclusion: Online learning is a rich and rewarding experience, with supportive instructors. This series will explore ways to break the myth of loneliness and foster community in the online environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Majority opinions are often observed in online environments. Previous studies have demonstrated that majority opinions are constructed because people with minority opinions have fear of isolation, which forces them to be silent. However, we often observe that online users with different minority opinions fight each other, even though there are only a few. To explain this phenomenon, we developed a new theoretical model and examined it through the analysis of Reddit data. The results show that users in small communities expressed relatively homogeneous and less negative opinions, and constructed majority opinions that were not as strong as those in large communities. Contrarily, users in large communities showed relatively heterogeneous and more negative opinions, and built majority opinions more strongly than those in small communities. This implies that the model can properly explain why and how majority-opinion users are silent and why minority-opinion users are loud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on a feminist critical discourse analysis, this study reveals the mechanism of the continuous reproduction of hegemonic masculinity in a Chinese manosphere, Hupu, the biggest sports fandom platform in China. As an ideological foundation on Hupu, hegemonic masculinity directs misogynistic practices (e.g. sexualization of women and misogynistic lexicon development) and shapes an imagined community of toxic brotherhood. In turn, the misogynistic practices and this community of brotherhood also reproduce hegemonic masculinity, ensuring a cycle of the maintenance of a toxic manosphere. We further consider the socio-political context in contemporary China to criticize how state power, platform affordances, and hegemonic masculinity are intertwined and jeopardize Chinese feminism both online and offline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasingly emerging human–artificial intelligence (AI) romantic relationships throughout the world, it is important to understand its meaning from the perspective of users who are dating virtual lovers. This study uses relational dialectics theory 2.0 and its corresponding method of contrapuntal analysis to examine the discursive tensions of what it means to have an AI partner. Specifically, this study focused on users of the social chatbot Replika and analyzed posts shared by Replika users in an online community. Findings revealed two discourses: the discourse of idealization (DI) and the discourse of realism (DR) that interplayed through both contractive and expansive practices. This study contributes to the field by introducing the DI and the DR discourse framework, which lays the groundwork for future research on human–AI relationships. Additionally, the pivotal role of communication is highlighted, which serves as the cornerstone for constructing, framing, and negotiating the meaning of human–AI romantic relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different from the group formation approaches led by teachers, learners' generative learning objectives and the independent choice of collaborative partners are important in the Internet learning environment. This study takes the cMOOC (connectivist massive open online course) 5.0 "Internet + education: dialogue between theory and practice" as a case course. Data on learners' interactive behaviours, generative texts, and personal attributes were collected through the course platform and questionnaires. Social network analysis and natural language processing were adopted to build a variety of collaborator relationship networks, and the quadratic assignment procedure was used to reveal the impact of the social, topic and attribute relationships of learners before collaboration on the collaborative relationship. The results show that individuals with close social relations, similar topics, similar age and learning experiences before collaboration are more likely to establish collaborative relationships; among them, close social relations and close ages are the key driving factors affecting the choice of partners. In addition, topic similarity can further promote the establishment of collaborative relationships among individuals with close social relations. The findings will help community-based courses optimise partner recommendation strategies and promote collaborative problem-solving and collective knowledge creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a distinct lack of criminological research examining victimisation experiences in emerging cryptocurrency frauds. At the same time, online cryptocurrency communities have become a key part of the social milieu of the cryptocurrency ecosystem where scams are commonplace. Using Reddit forum data from the subreddit r/ CryptoCurrency, this exploratory qualitative study investigates how users in an online cryptocurrency community share knowledge and experiences of cryptocurrency scams. Thematic analysis revealed how online cryptocurrency communities discuss scams by (1) arming the community (e.g. newcomer guides, personal disclosures of scam victimisation, and reflections on the technological affordances in scams); and (2) establishing community norms in response to cryptocurrency scams (e.g. protecting the community, 'scambaiting' practices, normalising scams as an outcome of 'decentralisation'). Gaining a deeper understanding of cryptocurrency scam experiences provides timely insights into the intersections between victims/offenders in digital environments, how we can respond to the recent growth in cryptocurrency scams, and the variegated ways that victims seek assistance following experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study explores the dynamics of online community entrepreneurship, using a rural grocery store as a case study. I examine the role of social media in community entrepreneurship, revealing insights into the interplay between social interactions, spatial factors, and the entrepreneurial process. The case account outlines a process where online communities turn ideas into actions and shape local environments. Social media acts as a platform for collective effort, resource allocation, and coordination, challenging traditional notions of localized entrepreneurship. Three key themes emerge: social media facilitates communication and collaboration; collective agency empowers online communities for change; and the dynamic nature of context blurs the boundaries between local and online. I introduce the concept of 'online community entrepreneurship', which connects participants based on shared interests, promoting social goals and asynchronous engagement. This research enriches an understanding of community entrepreneurship by highlighting the transformative impact of online communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of social media has transformed how people engage in communication and community building, with platforms like Facebook becoming central to connecting individuals with shared interests. Despite the extensive formation of tourism-oriented online communities on these platforms, there is a notable lack of comprehensive studies examining their structural and managerial dynamics. This study addresses this gap by systematically analyzing fifty international tourism-focused Facebook communities to develop a novel typology based on the nature and type of information shared. The research identifies significant variations in community sizes, engagement levels, and management structures, highlighting that only 6% of these communities qualify as large, with membership exceeding one million. Contrary to common assumptions, a direct link between community size and engagement was not found, with qualitative factors like community purpose and content type being more influential. A notable correlation was observed between the number of administrators and moderators and the member count, emphasizing the importance of effective community governance. The study's findings contribute to a deeper theoretical understanding of online community dynamics and offer practical implications for tourism marketers and community managers aiming to optimize engagement strategies on social media platforms. The research sets a foundation for future exploration of the interplay between virtual community management and tourism-related discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of social media has transformed how people engage in communication and community building, with platforms like Facebook becoming central to connecting individuals with shared interests. Despite the extensive formation of tourism-oriented online communities on these platforms, there is a notable lack of comprehensive studies examining their structural and managerial dynamics. This study addresses this gap by systematically analyzing fifty international tourism-focused Facebook communities to develop a novel typology based on the nature and type of information shared. The research identifies significant variations in community sizes, engagement levels, and management structures, highlighting that only 6% of these communities qualify as large, with membership exceeding one million. Contrary to common assumptions, a direct link between community size and engagement was not found, with qualitative factors like community purpose and content type being more influential. A notable correlation was observed between the number of administrators and moderators and the member count, emphasizing the importance of effective community governance. The study’s findings contribute to a deeper theoretical understanding of online community dynamics and offer practical implications for tourism marketers and community managers aiming to optimize engagement strategies on social media platforms. The research sets a foundation for future exploration of the interplay between virtual community management and tourism-related discourse.

Institutions of higher education are interested in supporting the academic success of their students in the most effective ways possible. Increasingly, this means engaging students in a blend of both online and in-person learning activities as well as connecting students with supportive communities in both modalities. This research explores the efforts of an institution that is trying to create positive post-secondary learning experiences for thousands of adults who have experienced significant barriers to accessing higher education through traditional routes. Students around the world are supported through both online and local, in-person communities created to support their academic engagement. In this study we used social network analysis to examine and compare the influence of both in-person and online support communities on student affective and cognitive engagement. We also compared the strength of engagement support from peers, teachers, and personal family/friend networks. We found significant differences in the strength, frequency, and type of support offered by the online and in-person aspects of the program as well as in the students' self-reported engagement and enjoyment between the two modalities. While in-person communities in this context had the greatest impact on both blended and in-person student engagement, the online community also had a significant effect on student engagement. This research adds to the blended learning literature by illustrating that course communities are not only distinguished based on time and actors, but also by modality. Support communities that occur in blended and online contexts affect student engagement in different, and often complementary, ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether or not online community activities in the inbound tourism industry in Japan, which emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, provided social capital (SC) to its members and whether or not this led to increased business resilience for individual members. By analyzing data obtained from a questionnaire survey, this study found that approximately 30% of respondents felt that they had formed SC through these activities, which in turn enhanced their resilience. This study shows that the crisis fostered transboundary networks that spanned sectors and scales within the tourism industry, and those who actively engaged in these networks acquired SC, thereby driving their resilience. In addition to supporting prior research that SC is beneficial for crisis responses, this study suggests that crises can, conversely, generate SC and thus drive resilience.

Online communities play an important role in spreading public discontent and could contribute to polarization. This study focuses on anti-vaccination views in the Netherlands, which have intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the structure and development of five Dutch anti-vaccination Telegram groups and studied their interactivity and posting behaviour. Using group-based trajectory modelling, we examined the development of users' posting behaviour in these groups. We find four posting trajectories across all five groups. A small group of users contributes the majority of posts. Overall, posting frequency declines over time and our results do not show evidence for a group of users whose posting frequency increases. This is taken to indicate that only a small group of users spread their anti-vaccination views through Telegram groups. While social media can reach a broad audience, most users are not necessarily engaged to also actively contribute to the online anti-vaccination community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent scholarship has suggested the presence of website-delineated social identities within social media platforms, couched within the social identity model of deindividuation effects, and evidenced by distinct commenting patterns between networks. This study experimentally evaluated the possibility that Imgur users self-categorize and identify with an Imgur social identity, testing this hypothesis through the lens of in-group argumentation and attitudinal conformity. Specifically, this study presented persuasive messages to individuals reporting varying levels of Imgur identification and measured resulting attitudes, manipulating message context and the presence of message-reinforcing user comments. Findings support the proposition that users identify with the Imgur community, as high-identifiers exhibited greater message processing and normative attitude change when exposed to a persuasive message from an in-group source (i.e. another Imgur user) than low identifiers. These results further our understanding of contemporary social media use, contributing to a growing body of literature exploring online social identification and persuasive message processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incels are men who are members of an online community that experiences an unmet desire for sex and blame women for their struggle. Since 2019 there have been several violent mass murder attacks committed by Incels motivated by Incel ideology creating a threat of future violence. While the vast majority of Incels do not commit violent mass murder attacks, researchers have begun to study Incels to prevent future violence and uncover the true nature of the Incel community. Because the study of Incels is an emergent academic field, knowledge about Incels remains nascent with need for research about Incels as well as interventions to address the struggles of involuntary celibacy. In 2022, Stijelja and Mishara called for a life-course theory analysis of Incels. The author of this paper responds to that call and applies life-course theory to the Incel community placing emphasis on the masculinity strain experienced by Incels attempting to perform hegemonic masculinity as part of the transition to adulthood but falling short because of their lack of sexual activity. The implications of this work include a proposal for the creation and implementation of Incel-specific, online therapeutic interventions and continued research directly with the Incel community to uncover the complexities of the Incel experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ+) people are experiencing increasingly varied visibility on social media due to ongoing digitalization. In this paper, I draw on social epistemology and phenomenological accounts of the digital (Frost-Arnold in: Lackey (ed) The epistemic dangers of context collapse online, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2021; Krueger and Osler in Philos Topics 47(2):205–231, 2019; Hine in: Ethnography for the internet: embedded, embodied and everyday, Bloomsbury, London, 2015), and argue that, for LGBTQ+ individuals, social media provides a space for connecting with people with shared lived experiences. This, in turn, makes it possible for social media to enable feelings of belonging. By interacting with other LGBTQ+ people online, LGBTQ+ individuals are enabled to imagine their own being in the world and to feel like they belong. This is especially important when we consider that, for LGBTQ+ identities, it may be more complicated to feel connected due to marginalization and (fear of) discrimination. This paper not only draws on literature from phenomenology and social epistemology on the digital, but also presents and analyzes interviews that were conducted in order to explore the social media experiences of LGBTQ+ people through a phenomenology and social epistemology informed framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation z in Indonesia has a high interest in joining online communities or groups. Through online communities, Generation Z can interact via digital media or directly with people who have similar interests. So, it will be easier for them to show their identity. However, several irresponsible parties take advantage of Generation Z's enthusiasm by exploiting their creative ideas. In this way, there is a potential that the identity that one wants to show and develop cannot be achieved. Therefore, a community needs to support Generation Z in forming the identity that its members want. This research aims to analyze the communication identity of Generation Z who are members of the Novo Club online community. The research method used is a qualitative approach using interviews and observation as data collection methods. The research results show that the communication identity that Novo Club members want to show is very diverse, including being an innovator, and the positive characteristics of Generation Z. They show their identity through social media or in person, through their style of speaking and dressing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NeuroToolKit Data Hackathon brought together researchers, biostatisticians, data scientists, and clinicians to collaborate on Alzheimer's disease research. Using the NeuroToolKit Application (NTKApp) and other statistical analysis tools, participants explored datasets and identified modifiable risk factors associated with biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. The NTKApp is a collaborative analytics tool that allows users to upload, curate, analyze, and compare biomarker datasets and results. It aims to improve collaboration and interpretation of neurologically relevant immunoassay data and has the potential to inform the development of biomarkers for diagnostic tests and aid in clinical trials and practice. The app is continuously updated based on user feedback and will expand to include additional biomarkers and diseases. [Extracted from the article]

Misuse of prescription and non-prescription stimulants and related overdose deaths represent a growing public health crisis that warrants immediate intervention. We examined 100 posts and their respective comments from a public, recovery-oriented Reddit community in January 2021 to explore content related to DSM-V stimulant use disorder symptoms, access and barriers to recovery, and peer support. Using inductive and deductive methods, a codebook was developed with the following primary themes: 1) DSM-V Symptoms and Risk Factors, 2) Stigma/Shame, 3) Seeking Advice or Information, 4) Supportive or Unsupportive Comments. In 37% of posts community members reported taking high doses and engaging in prolonged misuse of stimulants. Nearly half of posts in the sample (46%) were seeking advice for recovery, but 42% noted fear of withdrawal symptoms or a loss of productivity (18%) as barriers to abstinence or a reduction in use. Concerns related to stigma, shame, hiding use from others (30%), and comorbid mental health conditions (34%) were also noted. Social media content analysis allows for insight into information about lived experiences of individuals struggling with substance use disorders. Future online interventions should address recovery barriers related to stigma and shame as well as fears associated with the physical and psychological impact of quitting stimulant misuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public perception of witches is problematic on many levels: people tend to blend witchcraft with Satanism and the entertainment industry illustrates a false picture of people of this faith, not to mention the historical persecution of witches. This paper presents and examines a specific online subculture, a religious/spiritual community existing on the TikTok video-sharing platform. In this article, I shortly introduce the pagan religion of witchcraft – its roots and modern practice –, summarize researchers’ 124 observations on the topic, and discuss my findings based on the literature and my brief research on the relevant content of the mentioned platform, drawing attention to the individualistic nature of witchcraft and the qualities and cohesive power of this community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital campaigns promoting halal ecotourism in mosques are crucial for advancing sustainability and environmental awareness among Muslims. This study explores the role of the Instagram account @saviorangers digital campaigns in promoting sustainability and environmental conservation at Salman Mosque ITB within the context of halal ecotourism. This study used a qualitative netnographic approach and analyzed 44 posts from 2022-2023 to identify dominant themes and measure user engagement. Tools like NVivo 12 Plus and Phlanx.com were employed for word cloud analysis and engagement rate calculation, respectively. This study identified key themes, which include "garbage alms," "Earth Day," "sacrificial container alms," and "waste sorting." The "garbage alms" theme garnered the highest engagement, indicating strong user interest. The engagement rate of 16.83% reflects significant user interaction, with an average of 126 likes and 6 comments per post. The findings highlight the effectiveness of @saviorangers in raising awareness and encouraging participation in sustainability practices. This study provides valuable insights for other mosques aiming to adopt similar digital campaigns to enhance their role in halal tourism and environmental conservation. The results underscore the potential of social media in fostering community involvement and promoting sustainable practices in religious settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholarship on #MeToo has examined the feminist underpinnings of the movement and affordances of digital platforms to create space for telling stories of sexual harassment and violence. This essay makes a different contribution, in that we seek to understand the impact of the viral version of #MeToo on the established primarily Black community developed by Tarana Burke. In this essay, we use the framework of intersectionality and organizational paradox to examine the differences in the social construction of the two versions of the movement. The framework of intersectionality allows us to examine how the viral version of #MeToo perpetuated by Alyssa Milano reified the social construction of inequalities and interlocking systems of oppression for Black and other women of color. The article examines the effects of Milano's entrance into the "me too" space on the community built through Burke's "me too" movement. We identify an illumination/occlusion paradox that creates the illusion of inclusivity, creates difficulty in community boundary management, and allows for outsider gaze into a previously safe space. We argue for moving beyond the considerations of assigning credit for the movement and instead consider the impacts of the paradox of the original community experiencing erasure through the abrupt and swift increased visibility of the hashtag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the article is to determine the most significant causes of population decline in the regions of the Russian Arctic. The object of the study was the urban population of the subjects of the Russian Arctic. The concept of a shrinking city, which has received various interpretations both in foreign and domestic scientific thought, was chosen as a theoretical framework for understanding the problem. In this article, the shrinkage of cities is understood as a cumulative result of economic and demographic factors that cause population decline in the form of natural loss and migration outflow. On the basis of statistical data, a steady demographic decline was recorded in the cities of the subjects of the Russian Arctic. This made it possible to confirm the validity of the use of this concept in relation to these territories. Based on the materials of domestic and foreign studies, the most general, systemic factors of population decline in the regions of the Russian Arctic were identified, such as: the historical context and the policy of Soviet industrialization, the specifics of the local (regional) identity of the inhabitants of the northern territories, global demographic trends. At the empirical level, a more detailed analysis of the subjective perception of the reasons for the outflow of the population from the Murmansk Oblast, reflected in the public discourse of the participants of the online community of the city of Murmansk in the social network VKontakte, was carried out. The initial analysis base included posts and comments of the community for 20212022 (a total of 23.817 posts and 926.583 comments), the target sample included 268 posts and 2621 comments. Open and axial coding techniques were used to identify three groups of urban development issues as causes of the outflow of population from the region: 1) natural and climatic conditions, 2) quality of life, 3) prospects for the development of the city. Quantitative analysis of the number of comments (under posts) and likes (under comments) allowed us to identify the most significant and persistent problems, which, of course, are of increased interest to representatives of municipal and regional authorities.

The purpose of this study is to determine how much of an impact The Female Daily Community (FD Talk), a reference group, has on customers' intentions to buy cosmetic items. Online communities are crucial in influencing customer behavior in today's digital environment, especially in the competitive and ever-changing beauty market. This study investigates how much FD Talk influences consumers' attitudes, preferences, and buy intentions in the beauty sector through qualitative interviews. The results highlight the significant influence of FD Talk as an online community, offering insightful information to marketers looking to use online communities for tactical marketing campaigns. Comprehending the interplay between virtual reference groups and customer behavior is crucial for enterprises seeking to effectively interact with their intended market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals suffering from social anxiety disorder (SAD) are increasingly turning to online support communities for self-disclosure and social support. Despite the extensive body of research on online mental health discourses, the cultural nuances within SAD-related discussions remain underexplored. In this study, we examine the cultural differences in online expression of social anxiety by analyzing individuals' self-disclosure and support-seeking behaviors in social media posts. Using two-week data (n = 1,681) from two SAD support communities on the Reddit and Douban groups, we used both qualitative thematic analysis and quantitative semantic analysis to discern prevalent themes and linguistic attributes characterizing these online expressions. Our findings not only uncover common themes such as sharing personal experiences and seeking mutual validations in both communities but also identify their divergences, as Western users primarily sought advice and information in posts, whereas Chinese users were more inclined toward networking. Cultural variations in language use were evident, particularly in individuals' affect and their expression of personal and social concerns. Western users were more likely to convey negative emotions and delve into personal matters related to SAD, whereas Chinese users tended to grapple more with workplace anxieties. This study contributes to the cultural understanding of online mental health discourses and offers insights for crafting culturally sensitive interventions and supports for people with SAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to introduce and define the concept of phygital brand community (PBC). It discusses the potential conflicts that can arise from engaging in multiple PBCs and propose an enriched netnographic methodological approach to explore the role of PBC engagement overlap and its influence on the phygital experience. Design/methodology/approach: Following a critical analysis of the inherent limitations of netnographic methodological approaches in the context of PBCs, this study develops an enriched netnographic research protocol that accounts for the challenges of engagement overlap among PBCs. Findings: This study proposes two methods of analysis, namely, "participatory netnography" and "witness netnography," which are derived from a mixed-methodology approach that integrates elements of netnography. Research limitations/implications: The findings of this study underscore the requisite methodological refinements imperative for enhancing netnographic analysis, particularly in its application for a better comprehension of individual behaviors within the realm of PBCs. In pursuit of this objective, the identified adjustments encompass ethical considerations, evaluation methods and their application in a digital milieu, where intricate mechanics and technologies frequently elude conventional methodologies. Originality/value: In this study, the authors present a novel conceptualization of PBCs, highlighting their role and development, as well as the challenges they pose. To adequately capture the impact of PBC engagement overlap, the authors propose the need for an enriched mixed-methodological approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: With gaining popularity, online communities are increasing. It is leading to the data and information overflow. So, there are some challenges like cyber frauds, cyberbullying, etc. while engaging with online communities. Not only this, anonymity of the participants, stress and racism are also big challenges in online communities' interaction. Online harassers' attack tactics have changed over time. In addition, there are challenges like quality of discussion, inequality in participation of the users, etc. may scale online communities towards incitement and activism. Therefore, this study will try to analyse these challenges for overall benefit of the society. Design/methodology/approach: The underlying fuzzy set theory is employed to handle the fuzziness of users' perceptions since the attributes are expressed in linguistic preferences. Through exhaustive literature review, the authors have identified 15 challenges. These challenges are further categorised as cause and effect by using DEMATEL (Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) approach. Findings: Lack of strategic planning and uninspired discussions between users has emerged as a major challenge in cause category. This study further demonstrates how individual challenge can be managed and developed to navigate the online communities to maintain a healthy environment in society. Research limitations/implications: Results are based on limited dataset. Therefore, findings cannot be generalised for all online communities. Originality/value: The research findings offer a suitable direction to policymakers to formulate and design policies, laws and regulations to increase user engagement in the online community. The study is beneficial to firms and researchers in understanding the factors influencing effective management of online communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper purpose is to explore the feelings of exclusion and anger expressed on digital platforms by a community of women identifying within the Femcel subculture. The term "Femcel" is a portmanteau of "female" and "incel" (involuntary celibate), referred to women unable to obtain romantic or sexual relationships despite their desires and efforts. This sense of frustration, within the realm of digital communications, is heightened by the architecture of platforms, which reinforces and perpetuates existing power hierarchies, confining individuals within echo chambers. This paper analyses the most important online Femcel communities on Reddit, named "Vindicta", through digital ethnography facilitated by the NVivo software. The body of academic literature addressing women's distress to sexual inadequacy is insufficient; conversely, male Incels have garnered scholarly and journalistic attention for their lack of sexual capital. The study has underscored that despite Incel women being considered unattractive and "undesirable", they lament the lack of authorization to lay claim to an identity based on this state of abjection. This is due to the presumption that any woman could seduce a man if she really wanted to, consequently disregarding the recognition of the Femcel figure as a legitimate identity, in contrast to the treatment of male Incels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chapter will present the results of the study of customization of the system of formation of network communicative culture of the subjects of the educational process. As well as digital etiquette as a tool to optimize the integration of participants in the "on-line community". The aim of the study is to determine the scientific and methodological foundations for the formation of network communicative culture and digital etiquette of teachers and students in the digital space of the "on-line community" of the university. Virtual behavioral interactions of teachers and students regarding network communicative culture and digital etiquette in online communities will be monitored. This research is funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (BR21882318 "Customization of the system for forming a network communicative culture, digital etiquette of teachers and students in the "online-community" of the university". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiracial people are a rapidly growing group who may still lack social support from similar others in their offline lives. This study aimed to understand the user experiences in online groups for multiracial individuals. In a cross‐sectional online survey, 300 multiracial emerging adults (79% women; mean age = 23; most common ethnic identity components: 86% White/European, 44% Chinese, 17% Japanese, 16% Southeast Asian, and 13% Filipino) answered open‐ended questions about their experiences in Facebook groups for multiracial people. Participants described aspects of the groups they liked and disliked most, as well as their identity‐related experiences in the groups. We used reflexive thematic analysis to generate four themes within participants responses: (1) online groups as a gateway into connections with other multiracial individuals, (2) deriving a sense of belonging and community, (3) an opportunity for exploration and validation of racial identity, and (4) negative intrusions such as negative content (e.g., trolling, repetitive posting) and racism. For racial and ethnic minorities such as multiracial individuals, Facebook groups provide a space for community‐building and identity‐related experiences. Although online groups can foster a strong sense of community, validation, and belonging, findings also highlight potential challenges and limitations (e.g., how to delineate group boundaries, difficulty forming close relationships). Online group users and researchers should explore novel ways of maximizing these positive experiences while addressing users' concerns and negative experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic online communities have shown potential for aiding weight loss, but few adults use them. We sought to test strategies to encourage adults to select and engage in online communities for weight loss. 4-week single-arm, mixed-methods pilot. Quantitative and qualitative data on selection of online community, engagement with community, and engagement and satisfaction with tasks. On average, participants (n = 25) were female (80.0%) and white (68.0%), 45.2 ± 18.1 years old, with a BMI of 36.2 ± 6.5 kg/m2. Selection of online community varied across participants (13 MyFitnessPal, 5 Facebook, 5 Reddit). In qualitative analyses, reasons for selection included experience with community, privacy considerations, and seeking people similar to them. Most tasks were fully or partially completed by a majority of participants (>80.0%). For most tasks, ∼50% of participants felt the task helped them with weight loss support. Variability in response was observed, especially between tasks that requested reading compared to posting/commenting in the community. Frequent reading of community content throughout the study was reported by >70.0% of participants, though posting/commenting was less frequent. Barriers to further engagement included concerns about privacy, judgement, and misinformation. This study provides insights about strategies for engaging individuals in online health communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about how people decide to use psychedelics to self-treat depression and anxiety, though the practice is growing. We explored online community discussions of members' decisions around self-treatment with psychedelics for depression or anxiety. We used constructivist grounded theory to select and analyze 98 members' posts across 95 discussion threads (99, 552 words) and identified a four-stage decision-making model. In stage one, decision-making began after dissatisfaction with standard mental health treatment. In stage two, members considered various psychedelic self-treatment options but explained that information was limited. In stage three, they engaged in trial and error when making decisions, despite uncertainties around safety. In stage four, they continued or discontinued self-treatment. Those who continued adapted their practice to their evolving treatment needs. Firsthand and peers' experiences informed decisions. Available scientific evidence initially validated the psychedelic self-treatment but were not instructive. Many avoided healthcare and official information sources due to stigma and legal concerns. Research and knowledge translation efforts are needed to identify general concerns with self-treatment and provide user-informed decisional support to reduce harm and maximize benefit. Services supporting psychedelic self-treatment decisions can leverage our findings to create resources based on people's lived experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurs can benefit from the communities they build. Therefore, many entrepreneurs create online communities that allow self-selected stakeholders, such as customers, crowd investors, or enthusiasts, to interact with the venture and other like-minded individuals. However, research on how entrepreneurs can successfully engage community members and grow such online communities is only slowly emerging. In particular, it is unclear if, how much, and which content entrepreneurs should contribute to foster engagement in different types of communities and which role these community types play in the community's overall growth. Based on a longitudinal case study in the video game industry, we first theorize and show that—depending on the community type—both too much and too little entrepreneur-provided content fails to leverage community engagement potential and that different communities require more or less diverging content. We then theorize and show that community growth is largely driven by engagement in open communities, such as those hosted on social media. We outline the implications this has for entrepreneurs, our understanding of online communities, and entrepreneurial communities more generally. Plain English Summary: How can entrepreneurs engage and grow different types of online communities? Managing online communities is crucial for many entrepreneurs. However, different community types, open and core, play different roles and require different content and growth strategies. Core communities, such as those hosted on online forums, respond well to less but more diverse content, whereas open communities on social media drive overall community growth with more but less diverse content. Entrepreneurs need to find the right balance and pay attention to the tipping point of content provision, as too much content might endanger community member engagement. By understanding the dynamics of online communities, entrepreneurs can effectively nurture engagement and optimize their efforts for long-term success. Investing resources wisely in content production, considering the costs involved, can be beneficial for new ventures seeking sustainable community growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effect of online community's recognition on continued participation in idea competitions, and how personal winning record moderates such an influence. We reason that the motivating role of community recognition might either be reinforced or substituted by personal winning record, depending upon whether relational motives (psychological and social bonding) or individualistic motives (personal benefits, such as status and career enhancement) are the primary behavior driver. Through an event history analysis of data obtained from a platform of creative design contests, we find that although community recognition exerts a positive effect on the rate of continued participation for designers who are yet to win any competitions, this effect increasingly turns negative for designers who have won. Such findings indicate that the motivating role of community recognition might be substituted instead of reinforced by personal winning record, lending support to the individualistic view while rejecting the relational view. Although virtual social spaces represent an important means for modern competition platforms to attract and motivate participants, our study informs practitioners about online community's limitation in retaining "star" participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aimed to identify the role of social networking in online communities to improve health literacy. We searched used electronic databases, namely Pubmed, EBSCO, Cochrane, Proquest, and Embase, from January 2012 to January 2022. Identification and screening were independent according to selection criteria. The electronic searches turned to 1.811 articles, nine of which met the inclusion criteria and were selected for study analysis. The findings showed that the roles of social networking in online community programs are Accessible avenues for information and experience sharing, self-managed care, social, emotional, psychosocial, and technical support. This scoping review concludes that social networking in online community programs can improve health literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent attention to the non-monogamous identity known as the "unicorn" has increased the visibility of a poorly understood sexual minority. Conflicting definitions in popular media, heightened social stigma, and reports of inequitable, and even abusive, relationship dynamics justify attention to unicorns. With very few academic studies to date on unicorn identity, an exploratory study was conducted to address a gap in sexuality research. Discourse analysis of an online polyamorous community offered a definition of unicorns and revealed that those interested in unicorn dynamics are treated as an "out-group" in polyamorous spaces. Further, evidence of community gatekeeping revealed that unicorns threaten polyamorous identity security and trigger identity negotiations that may be impeding queer feminist efforts to undo relational and sexual hierarchies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online support communities are gaining attention among child-attracted persons (CAPs). Though research has largely focused on the negative consequences these environments create for potential offending, they may also provide a beneficial alternative to more formal treatment settings. To assess the utility for clinical and therapeutic purposes, this analysis focused on subcultural dynamics to examine self-reported wellbeing outcomes of participation in a Dutch forum for CAPs. A total of 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted with moderators, members and mental health professionals involved in the community. Thematic analyses demonstrated that by means of informal social control, bonds of trust and social relational education, the network aims to regulate the behavior and enhance the wellbeing of its marginalized participants. Key outcomes include a decreased sense of loneliness and better coping with stigma, to the point that participants experience less suicidal thoughts. Association with prosocial peers also helps to set moral boundaries regarding behavior towards children, although we cannot fully rule out potential adverse influences. Online support networks offer a stepping stone to professional care that fits individual needs of CAPs, while also providing an informal environment that overcomes limitations of physical therapy and that extents principles of existing prevention and desistance approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online communities (OCs) have historically focused on building knowledge repositories, but as OCs add more synchronous communication, it is important to understand how different communication capabilities influence user commitment, individual growth, and knowledge contribution. We studied 452 members of a popular OC in Taiwan and found that both connectivity (direct user-to-user interaction) and communality (knowledge repositories) influence member commitment, but connectivity has a stronger influence than communality on knowledge contribution and individual growth. We also found that four media capabilities (transmission velocity, parallelism, symbol sets, and reprocessability) have strong influence on both connectivity and communality. These findings suggest that managers of OCs should add software capabilities that help OC members find like-minded members, enable instant messaging among members, and provide richer communication beyond simple text messages. Online communities (OCs) have become common, both in work settings and in the personal lives of individuals. Communication among members of OCs is similar in many ways to communication among members of work and nonwork teams (e.g., both synchronous and asynchronous communication are possible). Historically, knowledge repositories have been the focus of OCs, but as OCs add more synchronous communication, it is important to understand how different communication capabilities influence user commitment, individual growth, and knowledge contribution. We developed a theoretical model that argues that the five media capabilities of media synchronicity theory influence the two information technology (IT)-enabled public goods of communality (in the form of knowledge repositories) and connectivity (in the form of direct user-to-user interactions) and that these two in turn affect task outcomes such as community commitment, individual growth, and knowledge contribution. We tested this model using three waves of data collection (two surveys and one set of archival behavioral data) from the same 452 members of a popular OC. Our results show that four of the five media capabilities have strong influences on connectivity and communality and through them on task outcomes. Connectivity (direct user-to-user interaction) has a stronger influence on knowledge contribution than communality (knowledge repositories). Our model explains large effect sizes for connectivity and communality and medium to large sizes for task outcomes, suggesting its value to OC theory and practice. History: Suprateek Sarker, Senior Editor; J. J. Po-An Hsieh, Associate Editor. Funding: This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan [Grants MOST 106-2410-H-182-005-MY3 and MOST 111-2410-H-182-010-MY3]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2023.1225. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distrust of vaccines is one of the key problems of modern healthcare both in Russia and abroad. Mass vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 provoked a large number of social media narratives. Online communities play an important role in the formation and dissemination of narratives. The complex system of numerous online platforms for discussing the topic of vaccination on a social network deserves a special description. The purpose of the study is to construct a typology of all significant communities of the popular Russian social network “VKontakte” that publish content on the topic of vaccination against COVID-19 (01/01/2020 – 03/01/2023) and describe it in terms of lobbied narratives. Big data collection and analysis methods were used, as well as narrative analysis. Of the 131,119 communities that published at least one vaccination message during the study period, 691 were selected based on self-positioning criteria (name, description) and/or the number of SARS‑CoV-2 vaccination messages above the established threshold. 14 thematic categories of communities have been identified, the self-positioning of which allows reconstructing narratives about forced vaccination and the right to choose; health care and debate about the benefits/effectiveness of vaccination; conspiracy theories; beneficiaries and trust in the authorities; pseudoscience, vaccination myths and scientific knowledge; childcare and parental rights; contrasting medical science with religious beliefs. Narratives formed by online communities signify a pronounced polarization of opinions in the digital society regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The “pro-waxer” and “anti-vaxxer” narratives are reconstructed. Quantitatively “anti-vaxxer” communities significantly predominate over “pro-waxer” ones.

Institutions and cultures usually evolve in response to environmental incentives. However, sometimes institutional change occurs due to stochastic drivers beyond current fitness, including drift, path dependency, blind imitation, and complementary cooperation in fluctuating environments. Disentangling the selective and stochastic components of social system change enables us to identify the key features of long-term organizational development. Evolutionary approaches provide organizational science with abundant theories to demonstrate organizational evolution by tracking beneficial or harmful features. In this study, focusing on 20,000 Minecraft communities, we measure these drivers empirically using two of the most widely applied evolutionary models: the Price equation and the bet-hedging model. As a result, we find strong selection pressure on administrative and information rules, suggesting that their positive correlation with community fitness is the main reason for their frequency change. We also find that stochastic drivers decrease the average frequency of administrative rules. The result makes sense when viewed in the context of evolutionary bet-hedging. We show through the bet-hedging result that institutional diversity contributes to the growth and stability of rules related to information, communication, and economic behaviors.