‘Dazed and Confused!’ Context and Social Disconnect in the Time of Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-348
Author(s):  
Olivier Piguet
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Social Mechanisms ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Animals ◽  
Place Of Origin ◽  
The Impact

AbstractHumans are social animals. Our sense of identity and ‘self’ is defined in part by the roles we perform in the social groups to which we belong. This article discusses some of the variables that contribute to our sense of self, including language, place of origin, education and shared social norms. It also outlines some of the general mechanisms that underpin our various social networks. In its final part, this article reviews the impact of social isolation, such as that happened during the COVID pandemic, on these social mechanisms and the resulted disruption of psychological wellbeing in individuals diagnosed with dementia.

Enhancing the social networks of adults with ASD: a low level community intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy McConkey ◽  
Marie-Therese Cassin ◽  
Rosie McNaughton ◽  
Elaine Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Level ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to design and evaluate an innovative community-based service for adults with autism in a rural region of Northern Ireland. The goal was to reduce their social isolation through gaining social skills and building social networks. Design/methodology/approach Over three years, 54 persons with a median age of 21 years received 12 months of one-to-one, personalised support and opportunities to participate in peer groups and social activities which are detailed in the paper. Quantitative and qualitative information about the impact of the service was obtained from its users, their relatives, as well as service personnel. Findings Service users rated themselves to have changed in more ways than did their relatives and staff although there was a consensus that the changes were most marked in terms of spending more time out of the house, engaging in more community activities, being more independent and increased confidence. The main benefits they perceived from participation in the project were socialising, new experiences and learning new things. Research limitations/implications As with many service projects, a longer term follow-up of service users was not possible due to resource constraints. Practical implications The service could be replicated with suitable staff although current constraints on social care budgets have limited its expansion to more users and extension to other areas in Northern Ireland. Social implications Reducing the social isolation of adult persons with autism spectrum disorders needs to be personalised to the person, their living circumstances and the community in which they live. Family carers also stand to gain from community support services. Originality/value This low level, low cost service was implemented in a predominantly rural area with a majority of users from socially deprived areas.

scholarly journals The phenomenon of "digital" death: formation and genesis of the attitude to death in social networks of students

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 1262-1275
Author(s):  
Vera B. Nikishina ◽  
Marina V. Sokolskaya ◽  
Oksana A. Musatova ◽  
Irina M. Loskutova ◽  
Irina Zapesotskaya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Reality ◽  
Fear Of Death ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Attitude To Death ◽  
User Attitudes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Attitudes Towards Death ◽  
The Impact

In this paper, we study the phenomenon of “digital” death, its genesis and the attitudes towards death in the context of social networks of students. As a result of the investigation we have discovered different forms of “digital death and the ways students react to it in social networks. We further investigate the origins of different user attitudes towards “digital death” and the impact of manipulative relation to death in social networks on the social reality. Some students stage their own death on social networks by posting images on their homepage, which has the intentions (i) to attract public attention, (ii) to express their auto aggression (iii) to make fun of death and (iv) to reduce their own anxiety of death by "sharing" the fear with other students. Our analysis shows that the main purpose of staging one’s death on social networks is to reduce the fear of death by creating plans, playing. Keywords: Students, cyberspace, social networks, death, "digital" death, attitude to the death in the social networks.

scholarly journals LIFE ON DISPLAY: WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXPOSE YOUR ACTIONS ON THE SOCIAL NETWORK

2021 ◽  
Vol 6(72) (4) ◽  
pp. 41-48
Author(s):  
A. E. Starchenko ◽  
M. V. Semina
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Sociological Study ◽  
The Social ◽  
Personal Accounts ◽  
The Impact ◽  
To Receive

Social networks have emerged relatively recently in human life, but have already become an integral part of it. Companies tell about themselves, their activities, innovations, promotions and events in their profiles. This helps increase audience coverage, tell more about your brand, products, services. People in personal accounts have the opportunity to share their lives and creativity through photos, videos and texts. Now it is not necessary to receive higher education to become an operator, director or actor whose talent is recognized by society. It is enough to start a page on the social network and start sharing your knowledge and creativity. To find out why people post photos, videos and write texts on their social networks, a pilot sociological study was carried out. The method of deep interview with active users of social networks was chosen to carry out the study. The interview allowed getting unique information, to learn the opinion of users about social networks, the impact of the new way of communication on their life, to identify the reasons why users start and maintain profiles. The respondents were 20 users of social networks between the ages of 19 and 22. Interviewees have profiles on the most popular Instagram and Vkontakte networks. As a result of the analysis of the interview, a tendency was revealed to differ in the perception of users of their actions on the social network and similar actions of other users. Their content is perceived by them as opportunities to be in sight, as a resource to form their social status and an element of influence on their reference group. And the same content published by others is perceived as boasting.

The Impact of Social Networks on Science Students' Academic Performance in Ondo State Senior Secondary Schools, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
pp. 50-63
Author(s):  
Jethro Oludare OLOJO
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Science Students ◽  
The Social ◽  
Ondo State ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Senior Secondary Schools ◽  
Senior Secondary ◽  
The Impact

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of social network usage on science students’ academic achievements in Ondo State’s senior secondary schools. The study was also to find the extent to which students under investigation used the social network platforms and the frequencies of their visits. In order to achieve this, a structured questionnaire was designed and administered to students from the three senatorial districts that made up the state. A multistage; which involved simple random and purposive sampling approaches was used to select the sample for the study. 150 copies of the questionnaire were distributed; out of which, 148 (98.78%) copies were returned. For the study, four research questions and two research hypotheses were developed. The hypotheses were assessed using the student's - t statistic at 0.05 significant level; using SPSS version 20 while the research questions formulated were evaluated using frequency counts and percentages. The study revealed that Ondo State senior secondary school science students can efficiently use the social network platforms for academic activities with male students being more proficient than their female counterparts. The study also revealed that the usage of social networks has assisted students to improve their academic performance; irrespective of their classes. Besides, the study showed that Facebook was the most popular of all the social network platforms. To this end, the researcher recommended that teachers, parents, and guidance should monitor the activities of their wards on the social network sites so that they can use the platforms to benefit their lots. Teachers should also use the advantage of students’ exposure to social networking to change their teaching methods from traditional one to online teaching.

Social Media, Interfacing Brands in Relation to the Social Media Ecosystem

2017 ◽  
pp. 132-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ze Zook ◽  
Ben Salmon
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Relational Model ◽  
Marketing Environment ◽  
The Social ◽  
Inherent Structure ◽  
Interactive Nature ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Media Ecosystem ◽  
The Impact

Much of the existing research in social media has been directed at examining the consequences of the interactive nature of the evolving medium and communication issues, with little to say about the impact of this medium on brands. Drawing on Fiske's relational model, this current chapter examines the interface between social media and brands, particularly on the breadth and the dimensions of the level of engagement. Social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, are revolutionising the way companies market their products. New means of interaction and dialogue are used in part because of the inherent structure and features of these social media platforms. The chapter concludes by discussing the implications of the analysis for understanding of new terminology in the evolving marketing environment.

Insights into the Impact of Social Networks on Evolutionary Games

2008 ◽  
pp. 306-323
Author(s):  
Katia Sycara ◽  
Paul Scerri ◽  
Anton Chechetka
Keyword(s):  
Game Theory ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Evolutionary Game Theory ◽  
Information Diffusion ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Evolutionary Game ◽  
Evolutionary Games ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact

In this chapter, we explore the use of evolutionary game theory (EGT) (Weibull, 1995; Taylor & Jonker, 1978; Nowak & May, 1993) to model the dynamics of adaptive opponent strategies for large population of players. In particular, we explore effects of information propagation through social networks in Evolutionary Games. The key underlying phenomenon that the information diffusion aims to capture is that reasoning about the experiences of acquaintances can dramatically impact the dynamics of a society. We present experimental results from agent-based simulations that show the impact of diffusion through social networks on the player strategies of an evolutionary game and the sensitivity of the dynamics to features of the social network.

Social Inequalities

2019 ◽  
pp. 646-652
Author(s):  
Raj Kollmorgen
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
Social Inequality ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Relative Deprivation ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Social Transformations ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact

Social inequality means the existence of social status groups and, therefore, a normatively embedded structure of social stratification. This chapter deals with social inequalities and their dynamics as conditional and causal factors and as results of processes of radical change. Concerning the first aspect, the chapter discusses social class inequalities and dynamics of (absolute) impoverishment, relative deprivation, and rising expectations among certain social groups that may determine ‘transformative’ pressure or even revolutionary situations. Regarding the impact of social transformations on social inequalities, the chapter suggests that the more radical and complex the social transformations, the greater are their effects on social structures and regimes of social inequality. This thesis is underpinned by providing empirical findings on social mobility and income inequality in different historical waves and (sub-)types of transformation. Finally, the chapter identifies seven crucial bundles of factors determining the extent of income inequality as an outcome of current societal transformations and their characteristics.

Social Media, Interfacing Brands in Relation to the Social Media Ecosystem

2021 ◽  
pp. 1271-1301
Author(s):  
Ze Zook ◽  
Ben Salmon
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Relational Model ◽  
Marketing Environment ◽  
The Social ◽  
Inherent Structure ◽  
Interactive Nature ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Media Ecosystem ◽  
The Impact

Much of the existing research in social media has been directed at examining the consequences of the interactive nature of the evolving medium and communication issues, with little to say about the impact of this medium on brands. Drawing on Fiske's relational model, this current chapter examines the interface between social media and brands, particularly on the breadth and the dimensions of the level of engagement. Social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, are revolutionising the way companies market their products. New means of interaction and dialogue are used in part because of the inherent structure and features of these social media platforms. The chapter concludes by discussing the implications of the analysis for understanding of new terminology in the evolving marketing environment.

On the Privacy and Utility of Anonymized Social Networks

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Song ◽  
Xuesong Lu ◽  
Sadegh Nobari ◽  
Stéphane Bressan ◽  
Panagiotis Karras
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Media ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Private Lives ◽  
The Social ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Do So

One is either on Facebook or not. Of course, this assessment is controversial and its rationale arguable. It is nevertheless not far, for many, from the reason behind joining social media and publishing and sharing details of their professional and private lives. Not only the personal details that may be revealed, but also the structure of the networks are sources of invaluable information for any organization wanting to understand and learn about social groups, their dynamics and members. These organizations may or may not be benevolent. It is important to devise, design and evaluate solutions that guarantee some privacy. One approach that reconciles the different stakeholders’ requirement is the publication of a modified graph. The perturbation is hoped to be sufficient to protect members’ privacy while it maintains sufficient utility for analysts wanting to study the social media as a whole. In this paper, the authors try to empirically quantify the inevitable trade-off between utility and privacy. They do so for two state-of-the-art graph anonymization algorithms that protect against most structural attacks, the k-automorphism algorithm and the k-degree anonymity algorithm. The authors measure several metrics for a series of real graphs from various social media before and after their anonymization under various settings.

Social distancing in a social therapy environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 113-127
Author(s):  
Geraldine Ann Akerman ◽  
Emily Jones ◽  
Harry Talbot ◽  
Gemma Grahame-Wright
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Social Therapy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Emotional Environment ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a prison-based therapeutic community (TC). Design/methodology/approach The paper takes the form of a case study where the authors reflect on their current practice, using the findings of research on social isolation and the overarching TC principles to explore the effect of the pandemic on the TC at HMP Grendon. The authors consider how the residents and staff adjusted to the change as the parameters changed when the social distancing rules were imposed and how they adapted to the prolonged break to therapy. Sections in the paper were written by a resident and an operational member of staff. The authors conclude with their thoughts on how to manage the consequences the lockdown has brought and start to think about what returning to “normality” might mean. Findings The paper describes the adjustments made by the residents and staff as the UK Government imposed the lockdown. The authors, including a resident and an operational member of staff comment on the psychological and practical impact these adjustments had. The thought is given to the idea of “recovery”, returning to “normality” and how this study can be best managed once restrictions are lifted. Research limitations/implications At the time of writing, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at HMP Grendon. The measures and commitment from all staff and residents in the prison to keep the prison environment safe may in part account for this. This paper explores the effects of lockdown on the emotional environment in a TC and highlights the consequences that social isolation can have on any individual. To the authors’ knowledge, there is currently no research undertaken on the impact of lockdown/social isolation on a TC. This research would be useful, as the authors postulate from reflections on current practice that the effects of the lockdown will be greater in a social therapy environment. Originality/value HMP Grendon started in 1962, as this time there have been no significant events that have meant the suspension of therapy for such a sustained period. It is, therefore, important that the impact of such is considered and reflected upon.

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