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Efficiently operating on relevant data for users in large-scale online social network (OSN) systems is a challenging problem. Storage systems used by popular OSNs often rely on key-value stores, where randomly partitioning the data of users among servers across the data centers is the defacto standard. Although by using DHTs, the random partition scheme is highly scalable for hosting a large number of users, it leads to costly inter-server communications across data centers due to the complexity of interconnection and interaction between OSN users. In this paper, we explore how to reduce the inter-server communications by retaining the simple and robust nature of OSNs. We propose a data placement solution atop OSN systems to divide users among servers according to the interaction-locality-based structure. Our approach exploits a simple, yet powerful principle of OSN interactions, self-similarity, which reveals that the inter-server communication cost is minimized under such intrinsic structure. Our algorithm avoids a significant amount of inter-server traffic as well as achieves load balance among servers across the data centers. We demonstrate the existence of self-similarity in large-scale Facebook traces including 10 million Facebook users and 24 million interaction events. We conduct comprehensive trace-driven simulations to evaluate this design. Results show that our scheme significantly reduces the traffic and latency of OSN systems comparing to existing schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper investigates whether or not the proposition that the second digital generation (or so-called digital natives) is more engaged in social use of the Internet than older generations is tenable. By analysing nationally representative questionnaire-based survey data collected from Finland in 2011 (N = 612), the study shows that rather than social use of the Internet in general, it is the synchronicity of online communication that distinguishes user generations. Results show that, in contrast to asynchronous modes of online communication (e.g. social networking sites, blogs and online discussion forums), synchronous modes (e.g. instant messaging and Internet calls) are clearly generationally differentiated practices. They are more frequently used by the second digital generation than the first digital generation and digital immigrants. Furthermore, the study shows that asynchronous uses of the Internet are clearly gendered in nature. Women are more typically users of social networking sites and blogs than men, whereas men are more often engaged with discussion forums than women. These results are discussed in light of two concepts: privacy and communicative efficacy. The studied forms of synchronous online communication provide more privacy as well as an instant and abundant channel for effective communication, which are all features especially appreciated by the youngest user generation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of network externality on users’ continuance of mobile social network sites (SNS). Design/methodology/approach – Based on the 230 valid responses collected from a survey, structural equation modeling was employed to examine the research model. Findings – The results indicated that network externality, which includes referent network size and perceived complementarity, has a significant effect on perceived usefulness and flow. Privacy concern affects perceived usefulness, flow and privacy risk. These three factors determine continued use. Originality/value – Previous research has focussed on the effects of motivations such as perceived value on user adoption of SNS. The effect of network externality on user continuance has seldom been examined. This research tries to fill the gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the structure and the mechanisms involved in the formation of a hyperlink network of Guangzhou city's 118 homeowner forums in the context of a collective action by the homeowners. It develops a contextual analytical framework contending that the structure of the hyperlink network is influenced by utility values and utilization capability, as well as the media and social environments that shape these values, respectively. The results of the exponential random graph models support this framework. Specifically, hyperlinks are more likely to be created among neighborhood homeowner forums when the neighborhoods are located in the same administrative district, built by the same developers, and managed by the same property management companies. Unfavorable contexts that are prone to violent confrontation hamper the creation of cross-forum hyperlinks, but media visibility increases the odds of other forums hyperlinking to homeowner forums. In addition, high levels of online engagement are positively correlated with hyperlink formation. These findings suggest that although online platforms, such as homeowner forums, play a contributory role in collective action, they have limited power in fostering cross-neighborhood coalitions in urban China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I examine the use of social network website (SNS) as an influential factor for offline protest activities and organizational memberships. The properties of SNSs may help encourage interpersonal interaction, broaden social ties, and provide valuable information about how to become civically and politically involved. I test these hypotheses using data from a survey of attendees fielded at the US Social Forum (USSF) and control for individual factors as well as alternative mobilizing channels. The empirical evidence suggests that attendees who learned of the meeting through SNSs were more likely to engage in offline protest activity and have a broader array of organizational memberships than were those who learned of the USSF through alternative information channels. I conclude by discussing the implications of these findings for social movement mobilization and persistence. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Online tools such as social media provide new opportunities for citizens and stakeholder groups to be informed, identify common interests, express and share opinions and demands, organize, and coordinate interventions. Therefore, the Internet could be expected to increase stakeholder engagement in corporate affairs and facilitate good governance. In order to provide an overview of current findings on the impact of online media on governance and stakeholder engagement, we conduct a systematic literature review. Our analysis reveals five topical categories of inquiry. We analyze studies from the field of business participation and find a strong bias towards consumer engagement and marketing issues. Only few studies are found to critically explore the effect of online media on power and value distribution between corporations and stakeholders. We then turn to the more established field of political and civic participation in order to further analyze antecedents, forms, and outcomes of online engagement in civic affairs, and derive a framework for future research. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there has been much discussion in recent decades on the nature of social capital and its importance in online interactions, it is my contention that these discussions have been dominated by the American Communitarian tradition. In this article, I begin with an overview of American Communitarianism to identify the key elements therein that are found in contemporary theories of social capital. Following this, I expose some of the weaknesses of this tradition and apply Bourdieu’s distinctive theoretical framework to online interactions to demonstrate the fecundity of Bourdieu’s sociological perspective when applied to contemporary online interactions. To do this, I examine interactions online that involve ‘internet memes’, as digital inhabitants themselves colloquially define them. It is my contention that an agonistic model, rather than a communitarian one, best describes the online interactions of digital inhabitants. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The evolution of social media is transforming proximity cyber media, especially the impact these models have on local communities. The evolution of the new media ecosystem over the past ten years has involved the proliferation of proximity cyber media, both born-digital and digitised media. Only time will tell whether these proximity cyber media are sustainable and whether they will manage to adapt themselves to the ongoing transformations of network society. The purpose of this article is to identify the new ways in which proximity cyber media establish bonds with their communities, while highlighting the difference between born-digital and digitised media. The analysis focuses on the channels used by proximity cyber media to enable citizen participation in the product, the strategies they implement in social media, their volume of followers, as well as the socio-cultural initiatives they undertake with community associations and institutions. The study will be based on the analysis of four born-digital news media that stand out as new forms of proximity cyber media: The Spanish websites somosmalasaña.com, granadaimedia.com and elporvenirclm.com; and the Portuguese setubalnarede.com. In addition, the study offers an overview of the local news media owned by Adriano Lucas, one of the most important media groups in Portugal and the most influential in terms of coverage of proximity cyberjournalism. This study shows that only very few media initiatives make the most out of the potentialities of the context of web 2.0 to increase their digital communities and encourage and manage users' feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online platforms are increasingly used as a means to present brand characteristics to key target groups. Within a political context, websites can act as a shop front from which parties or candidates can advertise their policies and personnel. The increasing use of more interactive forms of communication informs visitors about the overall brand character of the host. This article explores the impact on branding of interactivity by analyzing the online activities undertaken by UK parties and their members elected to the House of Commons during the period 2007 to 2010. Through a process of creating narratives for each of the brands analyzed, based upon a content analysis of the websites and other online presences, this article identifies what characteristics the online shop front is designed to project. This article finds overall that interactivity within online environments is becoming one aspect of the branding of parties, though this is in limited forms and linked more to a marketing communication strategy than seeking to involve or understand site visitors. Members of Parliament who use social networking sites or weblogs, in contrast, have a developed i-branding strategy that enables them to present a strongly interactive brand personality to visitors to their online presences, offering impressions of them as accessible and effective representatives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The paper presents research on the potential role of online personal ad platforms, specifically Craigslist, in the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States. It suggests an increase of casual sex partnerships due to an extended social group via the Internet, provides analysis of the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases between 1999-2008 within 33 U.S. states, and nonmarket-related casual sex relations. It concludes that Craigslist site entry may influence HIV transmission trends and offers implications for healthcare industry professionals.

Social networking applications have gained huge popularity. With the widespread use of smart devices (e.g., on-board units, smartphones), these social networks are increasingly going mobile. As a result, a new trend of networking has emerged, referred to as vehicular social networking (VSN), which combines the wireless communications between vehicles with their social relationships. In a broader view, VSNs are social networks formed on roadways by users who have social relationships, interactions, and common interests. The exploitation of vehicular users? social properties provides better networking and social support to innovative applications and services. This article overviews recent achievements in VSN by providing an organized view of existing approaches. Its contribution lies in a taxonomy for content dissemination approaches in the context of VSN. Also, a framework is outlined to tackle a major new challenge: supporting user satisfaction. Finally, this article emphasizes open research and future trends. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Social media are growing in popularity and will play a key role in future sexual health promotion initiatives. We asked 620 survey participants aged 16 to 29 years about their time spent using social media and their comfort in receiving information about sexual health via different channels. Median hours per day spent using social network sites was two; 36% spent more than 2 hours per day using social network sites. In multivariable logistic regression, being aged less than 20 years and living in a major city (compared to rural/regional Australia) were associated with use of social media more than 2 hours per day. Most participants reported being comfortable or very comfortable accessing sexual health information from websites (85%), followed by a doctor (81%), school (73%), and the mainstream media (67%). Fewer reported being comfortable getting information from social media; Facebook (52%), apps (51%), SMS (44%), and Twitter (36%). Several health promotion programmes via social media have demonstrated efficacy; however, we have shown that many young people are not comfortable with accessing sexual health information through these channels. Further research is needed to determine how to best take advantage of these novel opportunities for health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The articles in this special issue focus social network services in digital environments. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Many types of social media metadata come in forms of temporal networks, networks where we have information about not only who is in contact with whom but also when contacts happen. In this paper, we review methods to analyze temporal networks developed in the last few years applied to social media data. These methods seek to identify important spreaders and, in more generality, how the temporal and topological structure of interaction affects spreading processes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Effective organizational leadership and human resource management depend upon efficient communication. However, online social networking is revolutionizing the way this occurs. Contrary to traditional forms of media where communication flows in a linear manner, online social networking ( OSN) platforms enable individuals to interact with each other, thereby making communication a two-way process. Networking platforms are dramatically changing the way in which people communicate especially in global organizations that operate in different time zones and countries. This paper explores how OSN influences the internal communication effectiveness of today's leaders and their reports. A significant stream of research states that communication effectiveness is the foundation of modern organizations.Given that a number of these modern organizations have started to use OSN platforms internally as another channel of communication, it is crucial to identify ways in which today's leaders can communicate effectively in an online setting and what organizational features can facilitate use of new technology. The study shows the importance of leader adjustment to an online setting. However it also cautions that a supportive culture is needed, and there are instances where OSN cannot replace direct face-to-face communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Web applications for social networks with similar objectives are now being used on the web by thousands of people. Concepts such as 'scraps', 'virtual friends', 'communities' and 'groups' are increasingly common among users of these applications. Nowadays, people use social networks as a medium to replicate on the web the kind of social activities they would carry out in the real world. However, in real life, people do not just interact with people, they also interact with refrigerators, microwaves, TVs, cars, cell phones, and the like. But in spite of it all, applications for social networks on the web have yet to successfully reproduce this kind of relationship. And so, this article will present an architecture and prototype for the integration of physical devices through the web of things in a social network, where users and devices interact in a similar fashion to how users interact in social networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior studies in other specialties have shown that social networking and Internet usage has become an increasingly important means of patient communication and referral. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of Internet or social media usage in new patients referred to a major academic orthopedics center and to identify new avenues to optimize patient recruitment and communication. New patients were surveyed (n=752) between December 2012 to January 2013 in a major academic orthopaedic center to complete a 15-item questionnaire including social media and Internet usage information. Data was collected for all orthopaedic sub-specialties and statistical analysis was performed. Fifty percent of patients use social networking sites, such as Facebook. Sports medicine patients tend to be higher social networking users (35.9%) relative to other services (9.8-17.9%) and was statistically higher when compared to the joints/tumor service (P<0.0001). Younger age was the biggest indicator predicting the use of social media. Patients that travelled between 120 to 180 miles from the hospital for their visits were significantly more likely to be social media users, as were patients that did research on their condition prior to their new patient appointment. We conclude that orthopedic patients who use social media/Internet are more likely to be younger, researched their condition prior to their appointment and undergo a longer average day's travel (120-180 miles) to see a physician. In an increasingly competitive market, surgeons with younger patient populations will need to utilize social networking and the Internet to capture new patient referrals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Media, Culture & Public Relations is the property of Croatian Communication Association / Hrvatsko Komunikolosko Drustvo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In signed social networks, users are connected via directional signed links that indicate their opinions about each other. Predicting the signs of such links is crucial for many real-world applications, such as recommendation systems. The authors mine patterns that emerge frequently in the social graph, and show that such patterns possess enough discriminative power to accurately predict the relationships among social network users. They evaluate their approach through an experimental study that comprises three large-scale, real-world datasets and show that it outperforms state-of-the art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reflects on how members of the Brazilian House of Representatives use Twitter as part of their political communications strategy. We examine all the 463 official accounts registered on Twitter in order to understand the factors that lead legislators to invest in microblogging. Such accounts were weekly monitored (between February and July 2012) by using the statistical software "R". The results points out correlations between the use of Twitter and attributes like age and occupation of leadership positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the analysis of the role that social networks play in civic, social mobilization and solidarity of Spanish young people, considering whether social networks are responsible for active social commitment offline or if they just intensify an existing or previous tendency towards social participation. This research was undertaken by online questionnaire --Likert scale and multiple choice questions-- in collaboration with the Spanish social network Tuenti where more than 1,300 young people took part. The results show significant percentages of participation exclusively online although there were more than 80% of young people, in a way or another, involved in actions to which they were called by social networks. The study analyzes the forms of participation in solidarity actions and the influence of factors such as geographical, social or emotional proximity to causes on the degree of participation online and offline. The article shows that social networks have changed the meaning of participation. They are encouraging young people who were mobilized only in social networks, to take action, so it proposes in its conclusions the need to overcome the dichotomy that opposes online and offline activism and passivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ingeniería (0121-750X) is the property of Ingenieria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Numerous studies have shown that college students use computers, the internet, and social networking websites (SNS) at high rates; however, all of these studies have relied on self-report measures of technology use. Research in other areas of human behavior has shown that self-report measures are considerably inaccurate when compared to actual behaviors. This study produces more effective estimates of the time that college students spend on computer and internet activities by using logging software to collect data on actual use. A sample of 45 students installed a computer monitor for two months. The results show that social networking was the most popular computer activity, withFacebookbeing the most popular SNS. Furthermore, the results also suggest that students may be able to somewhat regulate their computer use in ways that could benefit them academically. For instance, students spent significantly more time using the university's learning management system when classes were in session and less time watching videos. Although there are some limitations of monitoring computer usage, such monitoring is an effective method of evaluating frequency of use. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Revista Opara: Ciências Contemporâneas Aplicadas is the property of Revista OPARA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Highlights: [•] Active gang membership reduces the likelihood an individual uses the Internet. [•] Recent criminal offending increases the likelihood of Internet use. [•] Criminal lifestyles had no effect on social network adoption or frequency of use. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This research analyzes the power of the Internet and social networks in the Arab uprisings. We are interested in learning about the contribution of communication technology in low advanced societies in conflict situations and the value of the network as a link between young people who supported the changes from abroad and those who were directly involved in protests. On the importance of technology as a virtual communication tool we have conducted a series of online interviews with 30 young people from Tunisia, Egypt and Libya living in Barcelona, Madrid and Santiago de Compostela during the development of the conflicts and who were involved in the Arab Spring though the network. The research findings in this study prove that virtual support for uprisings were not based on coordinated actions, and that it was simply a confluence of similar acts coinciding in time and on the same platforms. The Internet and social networks served as elements for supporting the process and as a counter-balance to official censorship and to government-supportive media, and were useful for overcoming the isolation of Arab society, in order to make the conflicts visible and to attract relevant support from abroad. But it also showed that the network had constraints in the face of the consolidated propaganda infrastructure which existed in each country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper aims to analyze how certain Facebook settings, model of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), have turned into an infringement of some existing privacy Ethical principles. This totally changed and modern paradigm has its clearest expression in recent Web 2.0, and omnipotent Communication Technology, and implies the reconsideration of each Ethical Principles, especially those related to Intimacy and Image Protection. Our research explains not just how these areas are affected by technological changes but also the way these imperative ethical principles are violated because users ignorance and confidence. This carefree attitude and the increasing communicative relevance have given networking precedence over Intimacy protection. The result of this action has been denominated «Extimacy» according to the author Jacques Lacan, a concept which can be translated as public Intimacy through networking activities, namely, exposed Intimacy. The goal we aim to achieve is to illustrate the different ways our Privacy can be damaged by some Facebook measures (as Privacy Policies Change, collecting tendencies of consumption, the use of private data and revealing users confidence). Likewise these arguments will be endorsed by international researches focused on Facebook privacy violations, which we are going to expose to understand how citizens can carry out different actions to defend our Intimacy and Image Rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to study in depth the changes taking place in the habits of adolescents using online communication, particularly due to the dramatic arrival of social networks in their daily lives, and the sociocultural implications of these processes. The research methodology focuses on a self-administered questionnaire applied nationally. Based on the results of a survey of a representative national sample of 2,077 adolescents (12 to 17-year-olds), this study has sought to update the information about online practices among Spanish adolescents, specifically with regard to the remarkable development of social networks. Similarly, the behavior of both regular users of social networks and of non-regular users has been compared, with the aim of detecting the influence of social network use on general online life, and we have considered the following variables: gender, age, funding type of the educational establishment and social class. Among the main conclusions of the study, we emphasize a more intensive use of the Internet as regards time and activities by those who are more frequent users of social networks, and especially the activities they carry out to keep in touch and share content with their equals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the «black holes» of academic research in Communication is the shallowness of reflections on the classic origins of Communication, its aims and points of entry. In this respect, the study of communicative processes on the Internet becomes particularly relevant (specifically the social networks processes) when observed from the classic rhetorical perspective. We focus on the use of persuasion strategies (ethos, pathos, logos) as well as the abundant use of rhetorical figures. Such parameters, along with the resources that emergent technologies offer, unleash creativity and afford humanist aspects to network communication. These give on-line platforms an extremely persuasive strength. Thus, we may speak of the network user of the 21st century as the new «Rhetorician». Our research on Facebook addresses the presence of rhetoric in online social network communication: the user of these platforms applies communicative strategies described by the Rhetoricians dating back to Greco-Roman antiquity. The methodology in this work (the study of three typified cases and the content analysis of conversations generated on Facebook walls) allows us to intertwine rhetoric and communication today, mediated by the emergence of online networks. We propose the retrieval of certain parameters of deep, critical thought to the benefit of a more human communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a critical review of scientific, peer reviewed, articles on Facebook between 2006 and 2012. The review shows that while there are yet numerous articles on various aspects of the social network site, there are still many gaps to be filled. Also, due to the limited scope of many articles (in sample sizes as well as in the number of countries included in the studies) and frequent changes to Facebook’s design and features, it is not only necessary to revisit many of these articles but also to integrate their research findings. The review ends with a critical discussion and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study employs a secondary analysis of U.S. nationally representative data from the Pew Internet 2008 civic engagement survey ( N = 2251) to examine the degree to which contacting public officials both online and offline is explained by the variables of gender and political connectedness. We find that while women are somewhat less likely to contact public officials through direct means, such as emailing or writing a letter, they are more likely to sign petitions, offline and especially online. Gender gaps in direct forms of contact are smaller in the online context than the offline context. We additionally find that that gender moderates the relationship between political connectedness developed via social networking sites and contacting public officials, such that women gain even further advantage in signing online petitions, but also gain further disadvantage in writing a letter/calling public officials and signing offline petitions. Finally, we find that political connectedness, achieved via social networking sites and offline contexts, is related to contacting public officials through both online and traditional means, suggesting a blurring of offline and online worlds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whanaungatanga (attaining and maintaining relationships) as a concept is a customary Mōori practice enabling kin to strengthen relationships and ties between one another and entrench responsibilities as whōnau (family). Increased use of Internet and social networking sites (SNSs) by Mōori is providing alternative methods for forging and maintaining relationships making this process more accessible for kin and those who do not have genealogical connections but are linked through a common purpose to share, engage and interact with each other. Whanaungatanga is thereby shifting in its sphere of application from physical to virtual spaces, in ways that influence the dynamics, relevance and impacts of its practice. This paper discusses the concept of whanaungatanga from both customary and contemporary perspectives providing analyses into how relationships are attained and maintained through SNSs. Data findings showed that the virtual form of whanaungatanga (that which remained rooted in the underlying principles of face-to-face whanaungatanga) enabled Mōori to (re)connect to existing and new family members, friends, marae (main gathering places), hapũ (sub-tribes) and iwi (tribes) in less formal ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the differences in European and American perspectives on privacy and to question whether most users of web services, such as Facebook, are equipped with the proper level of media literacy skills in order to manage the responsibility for their own privacy. Design/methodology/approach – Discussion of theoretical concepts on privacy, from the perspectives of both law and social sciences. Findings – Promoting government responsibility for the privacy of individual citizens seems problematic in an online context, as it threatens to open the door to censorship. One should wonder whether citizens need protection from what is perceived as infringement to the rights of privacy, while these citizens are actually consumers, using commercially provided services with policies that they have agreed to. The European Commission has been following closely what is happening to personal data online. Several forms of legislation have been brought into force aiming to enhance the protection of personal data of European citizens. This European protectionism often clashes with the privacy policies of, largely American, commercial organisations such as Facebook and Google. Research limitations/implications – Further research should be carried out on whether the general user is media literate enough to be able to mitigate their privacy online. Legislators are focussed on handing responsibilities to the users themselves, however users could benefit from a more paternalistic approach. Originality/value – This paper combines perspectives on online privacy from the multi-disciplinary perspectives of law and social sciences. These two viewpoints are not often combined in critical literature. This paper serves as a discussion piece for future research and media literacy programs in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Aposta is the property of Aposta and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: This study uses social capital theory and social network analysis to explore how relations in an online academic communication network impact the overall structure of that network. Social network analysis is a particularly advantageous methodological tool for linking changes in microlevel choices to macrolevel structural alterations. Results indicate the online communication network’s structure exists independent of changes in communication ties. Specifically degree centrality, betweenness centrality, and clique formation indicated communication ties are initiated and discontinued over a 7-month timeframe. However, the dynamic nature of the microlevel communication choices does not mirror the quasi-stable structure of the online network. Results provide avenues for future research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Teenagers and young adults are increasingly using social networks as a means to interact and participate in constructing a multiple speech. Companies take direct options with followers in networks and use these virtual structures to approach their target. The purpose of this paper is to study, using empirical and observational methodology, how to build «Coca-Cola» brand image in «Tuenti», followed by the network over the public sector. Among other things, we will see how involved the brand and how followers, what are the issues that are introduced on the inputs and through what kind of formats. In conclusion, we noted that the interest in the brand of free speech to let the followers is just a strategy, the actual entries of «Coca-Cola» are very rare but they all have a high effect, a language that challenges the user to activate and resume his speech so directed. Moreover, there is no mechanism differentiating between information, entertainment and advertising, which combined with continued exposure to advertising impacts across different formats, leads us to propose the need for media education to encourage responsible use critic and social networks by young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teenagers and young adults are increasingly using social networks as a means to interact and participate in constructing a multiple speech. Companies take direct options with followers in networks and use these virtual structures to approach their target. The purpose of this paper is to study, using empirical and observational methodology, how to build «Coca-Cola» brand image in «Tuenti», followed by the network over the public sector. Among other things, we will see how involved the brand and how followers, what are the issues that are introduced on the inputs and through what kind of formats. In conclusion, we noted that the interest in the brand of free speech to let the followers is just a strategy, the actual entries of «Coca-Cola» are very rare but they all have a high effect, a language that challenges the user to activate and resume his speech so directed. Moreover, there is no mechanism differentiating between information, entertainment and advertising, which combined with continued exposure to advertising impacts across different formats, leads us to propose the need for media education to encourage responsible use critic and social networks by young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays social networks have a prominent function in human communication. In addition, their use in the context of formal learning can contribute to increase student’s interactions. These interactions can be better supported with the right structure for the messages. This paper presents an investigation on the structure of messages on blogs and microblogs, two different categories of social networks. Usually, blogs are author-based (also called content-based or push-based) social networks while microblogs are reader-based (also called contact-based or pull-based) social networks. This categorization of social networks is explained and some characteristics of messages’ structuring on such social networks are described. Structuring messages is investigated in both categories of social networks in case studies on a collaborative learning context. The results show the importance of using both categories of social networks in learning activities and also provide interesting results on message structuring. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although research findings have been equivocal as to whether the use of social networking sites (SNSs) increases experiences of online risk among children, the affordances of SNS lend support to this possibility, attracting much policy and public concern. The present article examines whether the use of such services increases the risks that children and young people encounter by analyzing data from a random stratified sample of approximately 1000 internet-using children aged 9–16years in each of 25 European countries. Four hypotheses were formulated and tested. The first hypothesis, namely that children who use social networking sites will encounter more risks online than those who do not, is supported by the data. The second hypothesis stated that SNS users with more digital competence will encounter more online risk than those with less competence; this was also supported, despite being counter to common assumptions. Thirdly, we hypothesized that SNS users with more risky SNS practices (e.g. a public profile, displaying identifying information, with a very large number of contacts) will encounter more online risk than those with fewer risky practices: this too was supported by the data; thus what matters for risk is how SNS are used, a useful point for awareness-raising initiatives. The fourth hypothesis stated that SNS users with more digital competence in using the internet will experience less harm associated with online risk. The data did not support this hypothesis, since digital competence did not reduce the probability of children saying that they have been bothered or upset by something on the internet. Finally, the study found that, although this had not been predicted, whether or not risks are experienced as harmful depends on the specific relation between risks and platforms (website, instant messaging, gaming or social networking). We call on future research to explore how particular affordances sustain particular communicative conditions and, in turn, are responded to differently by children. The research and policy implications of the findings are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This research compared technology use among homeless young adults with that of college students as a means of understanding technology use among young adults today; people who have grown up with technology. Specifically, social network site (SNS) usage was assessed for two age-matched young adult samples, one drawn from a large introductory psychology subject pool, and a second from homeless young adults who were approached for participation when they entered metropolitan shelters. Overall, technology use was strikingly similar. These results call for a paradigm shift in researchers’ understanding of technology use and indicate that contemporary young adults sampled across socio-economic class and varying ethnicities are far more similar than prior research would suggest. These results call into question whether the term “digital divide” is useful for describing group differences in technology use as our results suggest the divide has narrowed considerably. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose – The paper's aim is to mine and analyze opinion formation on the basis of consumer dialogs in online forums. Design/methodology/approach – The study identifies opinions, communication relationships, and dialog acts of forum users using different text mining methods. Utilizing this data, social networks can be derived and analyzed to detect influential users and opinion tendencies. The approach is applied to sample online forums discussing the iPhone. Findings – Combining text mining and social network analysis enables the study of opinion formation and yields encouraging results. Out of the four methods employed for text mining, support vector machines performed best. Research limitations/implications – The data set applied here is fairly small. More threads on different products will be considered in future work to improve validation. Practical implications – The approach represents a valuable instrument for online market research. It enables companies to recognize opportunities and risks and to initiate appropriate marketing actions. Originality/value – This work is one of the first studies that combine communication content, relationships and dialog acts for analyzing opinion formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the Internet use of Catholics in Germany, specifically their use of online social network site Facebook. It provides statistical data comparing web-based activities by Catholics with those of other denominations. It also addresses attitudes and expectations regarding Internet services offered by the Catholic Church.

The Internet has opened doors for many people with disabilities. It brings the world to them in ways that were never before possible, from reading newspapers and magazines, to viewing artwork in a museum thousands of miles away, or joining a social network support group. Others have found empowerment by being able to express themselves through a blog or by sharing their artwork. The Internet has become a central component to leisure and life for people with disabilities, much like it is for most people. All the benefits of the Internet, however, cannot happen if the Web environment is not accessible. This article provides a user's perspective on accessibility on the web. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current research investigates the potential of online support groups (OSGs) to foster empowerment and how membership might affect the patient/health professional relationship. Methods: 246 participants across 33 OSGs completed an online questionnaire. Results: All empowerment processes and outcomes identified by van Uden-Kraan et al. were found to be present. All empowerment outcomes were adequately predicted by empowerment processes. The majority (82.2%) of participants had discussed information found online with their health professional and most (74.2%) were satisfied with the response. Around 60% of participants felt membership of an OSG had affected the relationship with their health professional and from qualitative responses the effects were mostly positive. Conclusion: OSGs have the potential to produce empowerment outcomes for those who choose to use them. Furthermore, users report a positive reaction to information found online from their health professionals. Practice implications: Although not all patients will benefit from using OSGs, health professionals suggesting their use could ensure that they reach the maximum receptive audience. Furthermore, this research could be used to encourage a more ‘net friendly’ attitude amongst health professionals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article reports on a study regarding the potential for utilizing social networking sites (SNS) particularly MySpace Inc. to connect youth to sexual health services in California. The study is designed to explore emerging efforts and understand the potential as a model for other youth-serving programs. It concludes that SNS and other technologies have strong potential for reaching diverse youth with critical health information when implemented as part of a comprehensive outreach strategy.

Former residents of the evacuated Gush Katif region, once parts of closely knit and cohesive communities, have been spread across Israel in temporary settlements since the disengagement, in 2005. The goal of this study was to learn how the evacuees interacted with one another online to organize politically and retain their social capital. The study focused on Katif.net, the major Internet site in use by the former residents of Gush Katif. This is an unusual case of a virtual community that continues to thrive online even as its offline predecessor has been evacuated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social science research into online health groups often studies characteristics of Internet communication, such as anonymity and ability to connect individuals across distance, which facilitate unique modes of support between people with similar illnesses. This article compares discussion in an online group for people with a genetic susceptibility for deep vein thrombosis with offline interviews with individuals with the same condition. Active participants in the online group were mostly acutely or chronically ill, and the intense discussion revolved around the use of anticoagulant medications with potentially serious side-effects. Most of the individuals interviewed offline were healthy and described themselves as 'blase' about the condition, even if they were sometimes poorly informed. The findings indicate that online groups do indeed support their members but the support may focus on specific practices, such as the use of drugs. Drawing on multi-sited ethnography this article suggests studying online groups in relation to other possible ways of relating to health. Discerning what kinds of health identities and practices online groups cultivate is particularly important when investigating new 'at risk' conditions, which open up a broad range of possible identities and preventive actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet provides a growing context for online groups, allowing those with ostracized societal beliefs to converge. Among recent groups are those that support a pro-eating disordered lifestyle. Using Bormann's fantasy theme analysis 12 message boards were examined to understand how members of pro-eating disordered groups construct their social reality. The rhetorical vision of these members developed as a result of two conflicting reality types, positive and negative. The positive type reinforced the eating disorder persona and allowed members to view the condition as abnormal and crazy, yet accepted. While the negative type represented settings in which members face societal standards of eating disorders. It is the conflict of the two worlds that form this group's worldview. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]