The Journal of Social Media in Society
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200 research outputs found
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Effects of Parasocial Interaction with an Instafamous Influencer on Brand Attitudes and Purchase Intentions
No full textSocial media influencers are often seen as independent third-party endorsers who can utilize their blogs, tweets and other type of social media tools to influence the attitudes of their readers and followers. This study tested a model that assesses the effectiveness of an Instafamous influencer in promoting a product and facilitating consumer decision-making. Study participants (N=364) responded to Instagram posts of a social media influencer and measurement items of source credibility, PSI and brand attitudes. Results show that prior brand attitude is positively related to consumer evaluation of influencer credibility. While perceived influencer attractiveness and expertise positively predict PSI with the influencer, a higher level of PSI also significantly predicts greater influencer trustworthiness. Perceived influencer trustworthiness and attractiveness also have a significant impact on post-exposure brand attitude. PSI and post-exposure brand attitude, in turn, are significantly related to purchase intention.
Social Media Use and Health Information Seeking and Sharing among Young Chinese Adults
No full textBy focusing on the differences in media use across four specific traditional media and eight social media outlets in China, the study sets out to investigate who trusts health and fitness-related information on traditional and social media and what influence online engagement with health and fitness. Using the survey method, we classify the eight social media into two types based on their characteristics: whether they are able to offer social support to users easily or not. Ordinary Least Squares regression was applied to predict the perceived media credibility and online engagement with health and fitness. The results show that young adults who are less well educated, who watch television and use social support-oriented platforms Wechat and Qzone with high frequency, and read newspapers and use Baidu Tieba sometimes, are more likely to rate online health and fitness information as credible. Also, being male, better-educated and considering health information on media as credible, as well as using certain media platforms frequently, are associated with frequent engagement with health and fitness. These certain media outlets include magazines and three social support-oriented media: Sina Weibo, Wechat, and Qzone. The implications are discussed, along with limitations of the current study and directions for future research
The Online Social Movement of #NeverAgain: How Social Networks Build a Sense of Membership, Influence, Support and Emotional Connection on Twitter
No full textThe purpose of this research is to better understand the ways in which social media is utilized to further political and social causes. The research focuses on the aftermath of the 2018 shootings at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida and the rise of the #NeverAgain movement. The study takes a social networks approach to look at a social movement that forms on and through the use of social media. As social and political movements develop, social networks form not as monolithic communities but rather operate in the guise of clusters and niches based on particular interests or the situational relevance of the issue. The research, based on an analysis of 100 thousand tweets that utilized the #NeverAgain hashtag, found four categories of tweets that ranged from spreading information to sharing personal stories. A sentiment analysis was conducted that indicated that language was contextual, meaning that an overtly negative term might be utilized in a more positive vein. Data visualizations demonstrate how social networks while lead by elite, non-elite and core moderators, also represent diffused groups that are comprised of weak ties.
Snapchat vs. Instagram: Social Network Sites and Self-Disclosure Differences Before and After Use
No full textEvery year, the number of social media users grows and so too does the use of different platforms. Scholarship continues to examine the impacts these platforms have on users’ behaviors and thought processes. This study examined the impacts social media usage has on one’s self-disclosure behaviors after using different platforms. As much scholarship has focused on Facebook and Twitter, this study attempted to bridge the gap in knowledge by examining the impacts of Instagram versus Snapchat, two platforms with different types of networks. Utilizing an experiment, participants were asked to interact with their respective social media platforms. Results showed that when using a more closed-network like Snapchat, users became more intentional in their sharing behaviors, whereas when using an open-network like Instagram, users became less likely to disclose information. Implications for theory and society are discussed
Examining the Role of Individual Differences & Motivation in Predicting Social TV Viewing Behaviors among Young Adults in the U.S.
No full textSocial TV is the modern media multitasking behavior in which audiences engage in simultaneous social media use while watching linear or streaming television. This emerging trend in media consumption is growing as both the use of social media and integration of social media in television content becomes ubiquitous. An online survey (N = 276) utilized Uses and Gratifications theory as a framework for examining motivations closely associated with television consumption and social media use. Multiple regression results reveal that Passing Time and Personal Innovativeness positively influence the likelihood of using Social TV.
Motivation for Selfie-Posting Mediates the Relationship Between Narcissism and Empathy
No full textRecent times are associated with an unprecedented increase and predicted growth in social media use that can have profound implications for psychosocial behavior. We investigated how a popular social media activity (i.e., selfie-posting) is related with maladaptive personality traits (i.e., narcissism) and a prosocial capacity (i.e., empathy) in the non-clinical population. While social media use can feed narcissistic traits by allowing self-promotion and attention-seeking, such a use can also decrease our empathy. We examined if empathy is predicted by trait narcissism in the context of attention-seeking motivation for selfie-posting. We studied both grandiose with vulnerable narcissistic traits as they differ in strategic use of social media. Previous studies suggest narcissism is positively related with selfie-posting and negatively with empathy, but the relationship between selfie-posting and empathy has largely been unexamined. Using mediation models, we tested whether attention-seeking motivation for selfie-posting provides a mechanism for narcissistic traits to relate with empathy. Results show both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism are positively associated with selfie-posting, but this relationship is stronger for grandiose narcissism. Attention-seeking motivation for selfie-posting mediates the relationship between grandiose narcissism and empathy, but not between vulnerable narcissism and empathy. Our results advance previous findings to a less understood social media activity (selfie-posting), for users of both Facebook and Instagram, and for both grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic traits. They also suggest that some social media use may be positively related with empathic behavior, and narcissistic traits may be malleable
Online Social Media Analytics Software as a Tool for Automating Data Collection: Concurrent Validity and Feasibility Study
No full textBackground: Facebook based research is emerging and social media analytics software may be a tool that could lower the cost of research. Unfortunately, the quality of data it extracts has not be documented or validated. Objectives: To test accessibility and efficiency of social media analytics software in a Facebook based study and to test concurrent validity of Likes extracted. Methods: We conducted a review of accessible online social media analytics software and selected one for a case study comparing it to manual extraction procedures. Thereafter we tested concurrent validity of the social media analyzer as a method for extracting Likes from Facebook pages. The agreement in Likes extracted was tested with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), and Bland and Altman plot. Results: Eighteen software were found with five being completely free. The selected software was used in the completion of a case study at no cost but took a longer time to extract data compared to manual extraction procedures. Exact data points were matched in only a few pages (n=20, 33.9%) but differences between Likes extracted by the software and manual extraction was not statistically different (p=0.471). The software was found to have perfect ICC for half of the studies with the rest having “almost perfect” agreement (ICC = 0.97 and ICC = 0.98, for 3rd and 4th quartile, respectively). Concurrent validity was high (CCC = 0.995) with Bland and Altman plot showing only 5% of measurements outside 95% agreement level. Conclusion: Social media analyzer software are accessible and can be used at no cost. Facebook Likes extracted through software compared to Likes manually extracted may not be exact matches but have strong agreement and validity
Reset: Reclaiming the Internet for Civil Society
No full textReset: Reclaiming the Internet for Civil Society is a book about society and culture, primarily American society and culture. The author’s premise is that the internet is primarily a marketing tool and that is it designed to create a toxic addiction in our minds. He uses the term “surveillance capitalism” often to depict what he sees as the race for our data and ultimately our minds. He makes a good case for this in his first four chapters. His fifth chapter, Retreat, Reform, Restraint, makes the case that we can resist this marketing of our minds if we can show proper restraint
This is the Way the World “Friends”: Social Network Site Usage and Cultivation Effects
No full textSocial network sites (SNSs) such as Facebook and Twitter have become a primary means of communication over the past decade. Prior research (e.g. Gerbner, Gross, Morgan & Signorielli, 1980) has indicated that recurring themes in media can make those themes chronically available in consumers, altering interpersonal attitudes and overall worldview. Previous research demonstrated primarily negative impacts of chronic television consumption, with increased perceptions of the frequency of violent crime, infidelity in romantic relationships, and personal vulnerability to both, dubbed “Mean World Syndrome.” However, if SNS use continually primes users with social connection, then more positive, trusting social attitudes may result instead. An initial study showed a positive correlation between intensity of SNS use and endorsement of trusting social attitudes; a follow-up study demonstrated a causal effect for SNS primes on the same broad attitudes. These findings suggest frequent, intense SNS use may create a “Friendly World Syndrome” that mirrors established cultivation effects for television. Implications for SNS use, potential mechanistic explanations, and future directions of inquiry are discussed
How Strong are our Weak Ties? Examining the Usefulness of Facebook Friendship in Youths' Life from the Social Penetration Theory
No full textStudies show the advantages and disadvantages of Facebook friendship, however, few compare Facebook friends with real-life friends. The present study follows the social penetration theory in exploring the differences in the formation of Facebook and face-to-face friendships and their patterns of support access. An offline survey was done on 253 undergraduate students. Results show that formations of these two are very different in terms of demographics, like- gender, socio-economic status, and siblings. Further, it is found that Facebook friends are counted at the time of emergency and financial need but not considered useful when it comes to emotional support. The present work suggests that though Facebook friendship has few traits of friendship, it not an extension of friendship. From the formation to the outcome there are differences in both kinds of friendship, however, it seems that Facebook friends are able to serve some purpose of friendship