"You're my best friend."

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-69
Author(s):  
Kathryn E. Ringland ◽  
Christine T. Wolf

The COVID-19 pandemic was a time of unexpected isolation for many, as well as a time fraught with uncertainty. In this article, we explore how many turned to playful online communities across a number of social media platforms as a place of connection and support.

Author(s):  
Sudipta Kiran Sarkar ◽  
Norman Au ◽  
Rob Law

This study, which is based on social exchange theory (SET), focuses on the capacities of social media to provide such means by examining the effect of value in online communities (VOC) in social media platforms on satisfying ecotourists' online socialisation and knowledge sharing. Based on the data obtained from 543 ecotourists and analysed by structural equation modelling (SEM), the results of this study confirmed that VOC, which embeds the SET factors of cooperation, reputation, trust and altruism, significantly influenced ecotourists' satisfaction in socialisation and knowledge-sharing intentions through social media. Furthermore, VOC served as a higher-/second-order factor reflected by the indicators of cooperation, reputation, trust and altruism. Finally, ecotourists' satisfaction in socialisation exerted a significant mediating effect between VOC and knowledge sharing.


Author(s):  
Zheng Wang ◽  
Guang Yu ◽  
Xianyun Tian

People with suicidal ideation (PSI) are increasingly using social media to express suicidal feelings. Researchers have found that their internet-based communication may lead to the spread of suicidal ideation, which presents a set of challenges for suicide prevention. To develop effective prevention and intervention strategies that can be efficiently applied in online communities, we need to understand the behavior of PSI in internet-based communities. However, to date there have been no studies that specifically focus on the behavior of PSI in Chinese online communities. A total of 4489 postings in which users explicitly expressed their suicidal ideation were labeled from 560,000 postings in an internet-based suicidal community on Weibo (one of the biggest social media platforms in China) to explore their behavior. The results reveal that PSI are significantly more active than other users in the community. With the use of social network analysis, we also found that the more frequently users communicate with PSI, the more likely that users would become suicidal. In addition, Chinese women may be more likely to be at risk of suicide than men in the community. This study enriches our knowledge of PSI’s behavior in online communities, which may contribute to detecting and assisting PSI on social media.


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Kaylor

A key part of today’s polarized society is the polarized and polarizing world of social media. Although social media platforms bring the potential of more democratic involvement, greater public dialogue, and faster flow of news and information, the dark side of such Web 2.0 platforms also should concern church leaders and theologians. Already-existing polarization in society leads to a polarized use of social media as individuals seek like-minded online communities. Social media, however, also adds to that polarization by providing echo chambers, and features of social media encourage speed over accuracy and more aggressive communication. Three ways in which social media both represents and adds to polarization in politics, society, and churches are balkanization, as people separate into homogenous, polarized communities, the speeding nature of communication that allows inaccurate and overly emotional information to spread, and the flaming that occurs as anonymity and depersonalization of these communication platforms encourage aggressive and even violent rhetoric.


In metamodern culture, digital citizens are required to make multitudinous decisions about consuming and producing information around the clock. Technology surrounds us at home, at work, in our communities, in our schools and libraries with increased expectations of instant global communication. In networked society, our responsibilities for digital citizenship have become essential. Metaliteracy is key to digital citizenship and critical to education as learners acquire, produce, and share knowledge in collaborative online communities and social media platforms. As both physical citizens of local communities and virtual citizens of global communities, the oscillation between physical and virtual space epitomizes metamodernism, laying a foundation for the future. This chapter concludes with a look at future trends for the metamodern metaliterate learner.


2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (02) ◽  
pp. 197-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajeev C. Saxena ◽  
Ashton E. Lehmann ◽  
A. Ed Hight ◽  
Keith Darrow ◽  
Aaron Remenschneider ◽  
...  

Background: More than 200,000 individuals worldwide have received a cochlear implant (CI). Social media Websites may provide a paramedical community for those who possess or are interested in a CI. The utilization patterns of social media by the CI community, however, have not been thoroughly investigated. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate participation of the CI community in social media Websites. Research Design: We conducted a systematic survey of online CI-related social media sources. Using standard search engines, the search terms cochlear implant, auditory implant, forum, and blog identified relevant social media platforms and Websites. Social media participation was quantified by indices of membership and posts. Study Sample: Social media sources included Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, and online forums. Each source was assigned one of six functional categories based on its description. Intervention: No intervention was performed. Data Collection and Analysis: We conducted all online searches in February 2014. Total counts of each CI-related social media source were summed, and descriptive statistics were calculated. Results: More than 350 sources were identified, including 60 Facebook groups, 36 Facebook pages, 48 Twitter accounts, 121 YouTube videos, 13 forums, and 95 blogs. The most active online communities were Twitter accounts, which totaled 35,577 members, and Facebook groups, which totaled 17,971 members. CI users participated in Facebook groups primarily for general information/support (68%). Online forums were the next most active online communities by membership. The largest forum contained approximately 9,500 topics with roughly 127,000 posts. CI users primarily shared personal stories through blogs (92%), Twitter (71%), and YouTube (62%). Conclusions: The CI community engages in the use of a wide range of online social media sources. The CI community uses social media for support, advocacy, rehabilitation information, research endeavors, and sharing of personal experiences. Future studies are needed to investigate how social media Websites may be harnessed to improve patient-provider relationships and potentially used to augment patient education.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 154-172
Author(s):  
Ellen Yeh ◽  
Nicholas Swinehart

Many learners, even those studying at universities in regions where the target language is spoken, lack opportunities for meaningful language use outside of the classroom. One avenue for learners to increase authentic target-language communication is online affinity spaces within social media platforms, where interactions with other users are formed around shared interests rather than personal connections. International students at an arts and media college in the Midwestern United States were asked to read a discussion thread within a social media platform, summarize what they found useful, and respond to pre- and posttask questionnaires. The platform used, Reddit, features anonymous user-generated content in a wide range of discussion forums based around specific interests and geographic locations. This study used qualitative data to investigate the extent to which international students participate in online communities like these and the factors or barriers that keep them from achieving full participation. The findings are then used to present learner training strategies that can help reduce or remove those barriers, enabling language learners to increase their participation in target-language online communities.      Plusieurs apprenantes et apprenants, même parmi celles et ceux qui étudient dans une université située dans une région où la langue cible est parlée, n’ont pas suffisamment d’occasions de pratiquer avantageusement leur nouvelle langue en dehors de la salle de classe. Une avenue qui s’ouvre à elles et à eux pour augmenter leurs chances de s’adonner à des communications authentiques dans leur langue cible est l’espace d’affinité en ligne sur les réseaux sociaux, endroit où les interactions sont davantage basées sur le partage d’intérêts communs que sur des relations personnelles. Des étudiantes et étudiants internationaux d’un collège des arts et des médias du Midwest des États-Unis ont été invités à lire un fil de discussion sur une plateforme de réseau social, à en résumer les éléments jugés utiles et à répondre à un questionnaire avant et après l’exercice. La plateforme utilisée, Reddit, présente des contenus qui sont générés anonymement par les utilisateurs dans un large éventail de forums de discussion et qui sont regroupés autour d’intérêts et de secteurs géographiques particuliers. Cette étude utilise des données qualitatives permettant d’évaluer dans quelle mesure les étudiantes et étudiants internationaux participent à la vie de communautés en ligne de ce genre et de déterminer quels sont les facteurs ou obstacles qui les empêchent de le faire pleinement. Les constatations sont ensuite utilisées pour présenter des stratégies de formation des apprenantes et apprenants qui sont susceptibles d’aider à réduire ou aplanir ces obstacles et à aider par le fait même les participants à s’impliquer davantage dans la vie de communautés en ligne s’exprimant dans leur langue cible.


2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 658-665
Author(s):  
Philip H Coombes ◽  
Scott Jones

The purpose of this article is to offer an argument for a wider acceptance and adoption of online auto-ethnography—or auto-netnography as an alternative social media research method to online ethnography—or netnography—when undertaking consumer research. As an online research method, netnographies have attracted increasing attention from researchers in various inter-disciplinary studies during recent years, but the method is still not considered mainstream. While the proliferation of online communities using various social media platforms is increasingly supporting consumers when making product/service choices, the adoption of netnographies appears to leave room for an extension toward the consideration by consumer researchers of how auto-netnography could highlight these researchers’ own personal experiences in online communities. Auto-netnography allows the researcher to capture their own online experiences as a consumer would through social observation, reflexive note-taking, and other forms of data. Contemporary technology can also provide a more innovative approach with artificial intelligence offering an alternative dimension. We contend there is a need for consumer researchers—both academic and practitioner—to further reflect on and discuss the deployment of auto-netnography to contribute to further exploration of online communities through the qualitative lens.


Author(s):  
PHILIP ADEBO

The emergence of mobile connectivity is revolutionizing the way people live, work, interact, and socialize. Mobile social media is the heart of this social revolution. It is becoming a global phenomenon as it enables IP-connectivity for people on the move. Popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace have made mobile apps for their users to have instant access from anywhere at any time. This paper provides a brief introduction into mobile social media, their benefits, and challenges.


Koneksi ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 338
Author(s):  
Faiz Zulia Maharany ◽  
Ahmad Junaidi

'Nightmare' is the title of a video clip belonging to a singer and singer called Halsey, in which the video clip is explained about the figure of women who struggle against patriarchal culture which has been a barrier wall for women to get their rights, welfare and the equality needed they get. This research uses descriptive qualitative research methods. Data collection techniques are done through documentation, observation and study of literature. Then, analyzed using Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotics technique. The results of this study show the fact that signs, symbols or messages representing feminism in the video, 'Nightmare' clips are presented through scenes that present women's actions in opposing domination over men and sarcastic sentences contained in the lyrics of the song to discuss with patriarchy. Youtube as one of the social media platforms where the 'Nightmare' video clip is uploaded is very effective for mass communication and for conveying the message contained in the video clip to the viewing public.‘Nightmare’ adalah judul video klip milik musisi sekaligus penyanyi yang bernama Halsey, dimana pada Video klipnya tersebut menceritakan tentang figur perempuan-perempuan yang berusaha melawan budaya patriarki yang selama ini telah menjadi dinding penghalang bagi perempuan untuk mendapatkan hak-haknya, keadilan dan kesetaraan yang seharusnya mereka dapatkan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif deskriptif. Teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui dokumentasi, observasi dan studi kepustakaan. Kemudian, dianalisis menggunakan teknik semiotika milik Charles Sanders Peirce. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa terdapat tanda-tanda, simbol atau pesan yang merepresentasikan feminisme di dalam video klip ‘Nightmare’ yang dihadirkan melalui adegan-adegan yang menyajikan aksi perempuan dalam menolak dominasi atas laki-laki dan kalimat-kalimat sarkas yang terkandung dalam lirik lagunya untuk ditujukan kepada patriarki. Youtube sebagai salah satu platform media sosial dimana video klip ‘Nightmare’ diunggah sangat efektif untuk melakukan komunikasi massa dan untuk menyampaikan pesan yang terkandung di dalam video klip tersebut kepada masyarakat yang menonton.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laila Fariha Zein ◽  
Adib Rifqi Setiawan

In today’s world, it is easier and easier to stay connected with people who are halfway across the world. Social media and a globalizing economy have created new methods of business, trade and socialization resulting in vast amounts of communication and effecting global commerce. Like her or hate her, Kimberly Noel Kardashian West as known as Kim Kardashian has capitalized on social media platforms and the globalizing economy. Kim is known for two things: famous for doing nothing and infamous for a sex tape. But Kim has not let those things define her. With over 105 million Instagram followers and 57 million Twitter followers, Kim has become a major global influence. Kim has travelled around the world, utilizing the success she has had on social media to teach make-up master classes with professional make-up artist, Mario Dedivanovic. She owns or has licensed several different businesses including: an emoji app, a personal app, a gaming app, a cosmetics line, and a fragrance line. Not to be forgotten, the Kardashian family show, ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ has been on the air for ten years with Kim at the forefront. Kim also has three books: ‘Kardashian Konfidential’, ‘Dollhouse’, and ‘Selfish’. With her rising social media following, Kim has used the platforms to show her support for politicians and causes, particularly, recognition of the Armenian genocide. Kim also recently spoke at the Forbes’ women’s summit. Following the summit, Kim tweeted out her support for a recent movement on Twitter, #freeCyntoiaBrown which advocated for a young woman who claimed to have shot and killed the man who held her captive as a teenage sex slave in self-defense. Kim had her own personal lawyers help out Cyntoia on her case. Kim has also moved beyond advocating for issues within the confines of the United States. As mentioned earlier, she is known for advocating for recognition of the Armenian genocide. In the last two years, her show has made it a point to address the Armenian situation as it was then and as it is now. Kim has been recognized as a global influencer by others across the wordl. We believe Kim has become the same as political leaders when it comes to influencing the public. Kim’s story reveals that the new reality creates a perfect opportunity for mass disturbances or for initiating mass support or mass disapproval. Although Kim is typically viewed for her significance to pop culture, Kim’s business and social media following have placed her deep into the mix of international commerce. As her businesses continue to grow and thrive, we may see more of her influence on international issues and an increase in the commerce from which her businesses benefit.


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