Investigation of information sharing via multiple social media platforms: a comparison of Facebook and WeChat adoption

Author(s):  
Muhammad Riaz ◽  
Sherani
Information ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Nagaya ◽  
Teruaki Hayashi ◽  
Hiroyuki A. Torii ◽  
Yukio Ohsawa

In recent disaster situations, social media platforms, such as Twitter, played a major role in information sharing and widespread communication. These situations require efficient information sharing; therefore, it is important to understand the trends in popular topics and the underlying dynamics of information flow on social media better. Developing new methods to help us in these situations, and testing their effectiveness so that they can be used in future disasters is an important research problem. In this study, we proposed a new model, “topic jerk detector.” This model is ideal for identifying topic bursts. The main advantage of this method is that it is better fitted to sudden bursts, and accurately detects the timing of the bursts of topics compared to the existing method, topic dynamics. Our model helps capture important topics that have rapidly risen to the top of the agenda in respect of time in the study of specific social issues. It is also useful to track the transition of topics more effectively and to monitor tweets related to specific events, such as disasters. We attempted three experiments that verified its effectiveness. First, we presented a case study applied to the tweet dataset related to the Fukushima disaster to show the outcomes of the proposed method. Next, we performed a comparison experiment with the existing method. We showed that the proposed method is better fitted to sudden burst accurately detects the timing of the bursts of the topic. Finally, we received expert feedback on the validity of the results and the practicality of the methodology.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sawsan Abdel-Razig ◽  
Pascale Anglade ◽  
Halah Ibrahim

BACKGROUND Social media has emerged as an effective means of information sharing and community building amongst health professionals. The utility of these platforms is likely heightened during times of health system crises and global uncertainty. Studies have demonstrated that physicians’ social media platforms serve to bridge the gap of information between on-the-ground experiences of health care workers and emerging knowledge. OBJECTIVE The primary aim of this study was to characterize the use of a physician WhatsApp group chat during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Through the lens of the Social Network Theory, the authors performed a qualitative content analysis of posts of a women physician WhatsApp group located in the United Arab Emirates between February 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020 during the initial surge of COVID-19 cases. RESULTS The were 6101 posts during the study period, reflecting a 2.6-fold increase in platform utilization when compared with the year prior. Eight themes and nine subthemes are described. The top 3 uses of the platform were requests for information, member support/promotion, and information sharing (46%, 16%, and 15% respectively). A significant proportion of posts were related to COVID-19 (43.5%) with the most popular theme being requests for logistical (non-medical) information. Among COVID-19 related medical information, it is notable that two thirds of these posts (571 of 868) were from public, mass media or unverified sources. CONCLUSIONS Health crises can potentiate the use of social media platforms amongst physicians, reflecting their tendency to turn to these platforms for information sharing and community building purposes. However, important questions remain regarding the accuracy and credibility of the information shared. These findings suggest that training of physicians in social media practices and information dissemination may be needed. CLINICALTRIAL Not applicable


2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brinda Sampat ◽  
Sahil Raj

Purpose“Fake news” or misinformation sharing using social media sites into public discourse or politics has increased dramatically, over the last few years, especially in the current COVID-19 pandemic causing concern. However, this phenomenon is inadequately researched. This study examines fake news sharing with the lens of stimulus-organism-response (SOR) theory, uses and gratification theory (UGT) and big five personality traits (BFPT) theory to understand the motivations for sharing fake news and the personality traits that do so. The stimuli in the model comprise gratifications (pass time, entertainment, socialization, information sharing and information seeking) and personality traits (agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, openness and neuroticism). The feeling of authenticating or instantly sharing news is the organism leading to sharing fake news, which forms the response in the study.Design/methodology/approachThe conceptual model was tested by the data collected from a sample of 221 social media users in India. The data were analyzed with partial least squares structural equation modeling to determine the effects of UGT and personality traits on fake news sharing. The moderating role of the platform WhatsApp or Facebook was studied.Findings The results suggest that pass time, information sharing and socialization gratifications lead to instant sharing news on social media platforms. Individuals who exhibit extraversion, neuroticism and openness share news on social media platforms instantly. In contrast, agreeableness and conscientiousness personality traits lead to authentication news before sharing on the social media platform.Originality/value This study contributes to social media literature by identifying the user gratifications and personality traits that lead to sharing fake news on social media platforms. Furthermore, the study also sheds light on the moderating influence of the choice of the social media platform for fake news sharing.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Lucy Yan ◽  
Xiangbin Yan ◽  
Yong Tan ◽  
Sherry X. Sun

Author(s):  
Ngozi P. Osuchukwu ◽  
Oluchi Nguzoro

The global trend on the use of social mediahas enhanced professional information sharing andnetworking. This development has created spaces forgroupsthat determine who gets informed, updated, inspiredand connectedas members. The librarians in Nigeria are not left out in this strategic phenomenon. This paper evaluated the different social media platformsused by librarians in Nigeria, thebenefits and the challenges. It was an expository researchthat employedfocus group discussion. A total of 12librarians from different institutionsparticipated in the discussion.Interview was also used to elicit data.The findings revealed that WhatsAppwas rated 100% as the number one social media platform used by librarians, followed by Facebookwith 80%, twitter 50%, Instagramand LinkedIn41.7%, respectively while Skype rated 33% and blog 25%. It was also discovered that 50% of the respondents belonged to 6-10 professional groups while 33% and 25% belonged to over 11 professional groups on WhatsAppand Facebook, respectively. Benefits that werederived through the social media platforms are awards, sponsorships, collaboration, updates, networking,supports,exchange of ideas and professional relationship.However,unwanted copy and paste,inactive participation,personal and business advertisements, information explosion anddisregardsto rules and regulations of the platformsaffect their use ofthe social mediagroups.It was therefore, recommended that strict sanctions should be placed on unwanted posts as well as punishment onmembers that err. The implication is that if decorum was not placed on social media platforms, there would be nomeaningful sharing of information and full participation of members.


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