scholarly journals Conspiracism on social media: An agenda melding of group-mediated deceptions

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philemon Bantimaroudis ◽  
Maria Sideri ◽  
Dimitris Ballas ◽  
Theodore Panagiotidis ◽  
Thanasis Ziogas
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Technological Factors ◽  
News Sources ◽  
European Universities ◽  
Media Group

This study examines students’ social media interactions in relation to their subcultural explorations of a conspiratorial nature. A sample of 476 students from four European universities participated in a survey about conspiracy theories in social media group discussions. In the survey, we examined various social and media factors in relation to students’ beliefs in conspiracy theories. The results of this exploratory study reveal that students treat social media as news sources; furthermore, they trust social media more than traditional mass media. The study reveals demographic, personal and technological factors that encourage a mediated conspiratorial discourse.

scholarly journals An Exploratory Study of Nonsurgical Cosmetic Procedures Consumers

1970 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-96
Author(s):  
Timothy Reisenwitz ◽  
Jie Fowler
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Information Use ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Self Image ◽  
Cognitive Age ◽  
Managerial Implications

This exploratory study investigated the amount of information used byconsumers when engaging in non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Moreover, theprimary purpose of the research is to investigate the linkage between non-surgicalcosmetic procedures and the constructs associated with the “self,” such as attitudetoward social media advertising, attitude toward traditional (mass media) advertising,cognitive age, risk aversion, satisfaction, and self-image or self-concept. T-tests ofthe data yielded significant results for most of the variables. This research willhopefully aid marketers to better focus on important areas of information use bynon-surgical cosmetic procedures consumers. These results are discussed, alongwith managerial implications, limitations and directions for future research.

An Evolutionary Cognitive Approach to Comparative Fascist Studies: Hypermasculinization, Supernormal Stimuli, and Conspirational Beliefs

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-40
Author(s):  
Leonardo Ambasciano
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Cognitive Science ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
Radical Right ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Political Religion ◽  
Dominance Style

Abstract After summarizing Roger Griffin’s Fascism: An Introduction to Comparative Fascist Studies (2018), I describe the academic subfield of Comparative Fascist Studies (CFS). I argue that CFS could be strengthened by integrating it with cognitive science, evolutionary psychol­ogy, and religious studies. That biocultural integration would make it more effective as both a scholarly endeavour and an antifascist vaccine for democratic societies. I explain the role of traditional mass media and digital social media in the rise of dominance-style leadership and radical-right populism, construct a neurosociological revision of the CFS concept of fascism as a “political religion,” and characterize ultranationalism as a set of maladaptive supernormal stimuli. These revisions of CFS aim at providing a cross-disciplinary frame­work able to explain the spread of alt-right conspiracy theories online and offline.

scholarly journals Exploring Social Media Group Use Among Breastfeeding Mothers: Qualitative Analysis (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara Renee Skelton ◽  
Retta Evans ◽  
Jenna LaChenaye ◽  
Jonathan Amsbary ◽  
Martha Wingate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
The United States ◽  
First Year ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Duration Of Breastfeeding ◽  
First Year Of Life ◽  
Media Group

BACKGROUND Breastfeeding is well known as the optimal source of nutrition for the first year of life. However, suboptimal exclusively breastfeeding rates in the United States are still prevalent. Given the extent of social media use and the accessibility of this type of peer-to-peer support, the role of social networking sites in enabling and supporting breastfeeding mothers needs to be further explored. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to leverage mothers’ attitudes and behaviors of social media usage to understand effects on breastfeeding outcomes. METHODS Participants were recruited from 1 probreastfeeding social media group with over 6300 members throughout the United States. Online focus group discussions were conducted with 21 women; interviews were conducted with 12 mothers. Qualitative data were aggregated for thematic analysis. RESULTS Participants indicated that the social media group formed a community of support for breastfeeding, with normalizing breastfeeding, empowerment for breastfeeding, resource for breastfeeding, and shared experiences in breastfeeding as additional themes. CONCLUSIONS According to participants, social media groups can positively influence breastfeeding-related attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors as well as lead to longer duration of breastfeeding. The results of this study should be taken into account when designing interventions for breastfeeding mothers.

Digital Sovereignty of Adolescents

MedienJournal ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-40
Author(s):  
Jane Müller ◽  
Mareike Thumel ◽  
Katrin Potzel ◽  
Rudolf Kammerl
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Eighth Graders ◽  
Social Conditions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Competent Self

This paper takes up the approach of individual Digital Sovereignty and develops a first systematization of the concept. It defines it as all the abilities and opportunities a person possesses to realize his/her own plans and decisions in dealing with or depending on digital media in a competent, self-determined and secure manner and against the background of individual, technical, legal and social conditions. The significance of individual Digital Sovereignty for adolescents is illustrated by the results of an exploratory study in which we conducted group discussions with 106 eighth-graders of different school types. Results show that most adolescents have only a vague notion about their own data traces and the use they are put to. Only a small number of seven pupils – the whizzes – stood out due to their extraordinary understanding and deep reflections on digital media.

How Social Media Impacts Mass Media News Viewership in the Stock Market

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Ren ◽  
Hang Dong ◽  
Gaurav Sabnis ◽  
Jeffrey V. Nickerson
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Stock Market

Fake It “Till You Make It”: Debunking Fake News in a Post-Truth America

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-133
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
First Amendment ◽  
Presidential Election ◽  
Political Discourse ◽  
Cutting Edge ◽  
American People ◽  
Fake News ◽  
News Sources ◽  
The Media ◽  
The U.S

Since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, attacks on the media have been relentless. “Fake news” has become a household term, and repeated attempts to break the trust between reporters and the American people have threatened the validity of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In this article, the authors trace the development of fake news and its impact on contemporary political discourse. They also outline cutting-edge pedagogies designed to assist students in critically evaluating the veracity of various news sources and social media sites.

scholarly journals The COVID‐19 pandemic and the search for structure: Social media and conspiracy theories

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Dow ◽  
Amber L. Johnson ◽  
Cynthia S. Wang ◽  
Jennifer Whitson ◽  
Tanya Menon
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Conspiracy Theories

scholarly journals COVID-19 conspiracy theories

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen M. Douglas
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Intergroup Relations ◽  
Group Processes ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Potential Impact

Conspiracy theories started to appear on social media immediately after the first news about COVID-19. Is the virus a hoax? Is it a bioweapon designed in a Chinese laboratory? These conspiracy theories typically have an intergroup flavour, blaming one group for having some involvement in either manufacturing the virus or controlling public opinion about it. In this article, I will discuss why people are attracted to conspiracy theories in general, and why conspiracy theories seem to have flourished during the pandemic. I will discuss what the consequences of these conspiracy theories are for individuals, groups, and societies. I will then discuss some potential strategies for addressing the negative consequences of conspiracy theories. Finally, I will consider some open questions for research regarding COVID-19 conspiracy theories, in particular focusing on the potential impact of these conspiracy theories for group processes and intergroup relations.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document