scholarly journals Development of an Offline-Friend Addiction Questionnaire (O-FAQ): Are most people really social addicts?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liam Satchell ◽  
Dean Fido ◽  
Craig A. Harper ◽  
Heather Shaw ◽  
Brittany I Davidson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Social Information ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Media Research ◽  
Social Use ◽  
Use Studies ◽  
Highly Cited

A growing number of self-report measures aim to quantify interactions with social media in a pathological behaviour framework; often using terminology focused on identifying those who are ‘addicted’ to engaging with others online. The measures of social media addiction report focus on motivations for online social information seeking, many of which could be motivations for offline social information seeking. It could be the case that these measures could reveal a pattern of friend addiction in general. The current study develops the Offline-Friend Addiction Questionnaire (O-FAQ) by re-wording items from highly cited pathological social use scales to reflect “spending time with friends” instead of “using Facebook”. Our methodology for validation follows literature precedent in social networking site addiction scales. The O-FAQ had a three-factor solution in an exploratory sample of N=807 and these factors were stable in a four-week retest (r=.72 to .86). The measure was validated against Big Five traits, and risk-taking behaviour, in conceptually plausible directions. Using the same ‘polythetic classification techniques’ as pathological social media use studies, we were able to classify 69% of our sample as addicted to spending time with their friends. The discussion of our satirical research is a critical reflection on the role of measurement and human sociality in social media research. Readers should approach our measure with the skepticism appropriate to the current social addiction measures. We question the extent to which connecting with others can be considered an ‘addiction’ and issues with the validation of new ‘addiction’ measures without relevant medical constructs.

scholarly journals Monitoring, Creeping, or Surveillance? A Synthesis of Online Social Information Seeking Concepts

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1-42
Author(s):  
Jessica R. Frampton ◽  
Jesse Fox ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Social Information ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Asking Questions ◽  
Human Flesh ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors

Affordances of Internet sites and Internet-based applications make personal information about romantic partners, friends, family members, and strangers easy to obtain. People use various techniques to find information about others, capitalizing on online affordances by using search engines to find relevant websites and databases; scouring the target’s social media or social networking site presence; accessing information about the target via their links or network association with others on social media; or asking questions or crowdsourcing information through online channels. Researchers have coined an assortment of terms to describe online social information seeking behaviors, such as interpersonal electronic surveillance, social surveillance, monitoring, patient-targeted Googling, cybervetting, websleuthing, human flesh search, lateral surveillance, Facebook surveillance, and Facebook stalking. Although considerable research has examined these behaviors, there has been little effort to clarify the concepts themselves. As a result, the literature is currently full of inconsistent and overlapping conceptualizations. To synthesize these concepts for future research, this review examines 73 online social information seeking concepts extracted from 186 articles. Specifically, the concepts are reviewed in light of their scope; the information seeker or target of information seeking (e.g., romantic partners, parents, children, employees, criminals); motives for information seeking (e.g., uncertainty, threat, curiosity); and the intensity of the behavior. Recommendations are provided for future research, such as employing clear conceptualizations and incorporating affordances. Finally, we offer a decision tree that researchers can use to help select appropriate terms to use in their work moving forward.

Understanding destination evangelism: a social media viewpoint

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Purvendu Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Role Of Information

PurposeThe present research aims to introduce and understand the promising nature of destination evangelism in the context of social media-based tourism communities (SMTCs). Further, factors that influence evangelism and information-seeking behaviors on SMTCs are examined.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual model is developed that features an interplay of destination distinctiveness, destination evangelism, travel commitment and information-seeking engagement. Data were collected from 215 active users of SMTCs and analyzed using structural equation models.FindingsThe research findings indicate that destination distinctiveness and information-seeking positively lead to destination evangelism. Information-seeking is found to mediate the relationship between (1) destination evangelism and travel commitment and (2) destination evangelism and distinctiveness.Research limitations/implicationsThe research offers meaningful insights into exploring constituents of destination evangelism. The research also understands and highlights the critical role of information-seeking engagement about distinct destinations.Practical implicationsThis research highlights key areas to build, improve and inspire destination evangelism on SMTCs.Originality/valueThis study offers a fresh contribution to tourism literature by investigating destination evangelism and its drivers. This is explained by closely uniting vital research streams of evangelism, tourism and engagement. It further highlights the dual mediating role of information seeking, suggesting that these engagements are critical to evangelizing destinations.

scholarly journals Social Media and the Mediation of Childbirth: So, What for Mothers, Maternity, and Midwifery Practice?

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-79
Author(s):  
Hannah Tizard ◽  
Sally Pezaro
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Cultural Shift ◽  
Midwifery Practice ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
International Audience ◽  
The Media

Social media is fast becoming a global phenomenon with recent research providing insight into the complex inter-weaving relationship between the media and women and families over the childbirth continuum. Additionally, a growing body of evidence demonstrates a major cultural shift in the agency and information-seeking practices of women through social media. This perhaps suggests that services fall short of providing real and lived value to the women navigating through maternity systems in the United Kingdom, due to changes in culture and society. A deeper understanding of this phenomenon may help providers and practitioners offer care which better supports women's needs and enable them to develop innovative new approaches for future service provision. The aim of this article is to examine the literature and develop a deeper understanding of how social media may impact upon women, childbearing and midwifery practice via six domains. In conclusion, informational, experimental, and relational needs of women could be enhanced with funding and investment into the role of new expert tech-midwives using social media initiatives within maternity systems. Thus, supporting the demands of modern technology use by woman to elevate midwifery care provision and satisfaction and protect against the technocratic and patriarchal influence of childbirth. This synthesis of the literature through a western cultural lens may also be relevant to an international audience.

scholarly journals A Trigger or a Muffler? - Examining the Dynamics of Crosscutting Exposure and Political Expression in Online Social Media

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-27
Author(s):  
Soo Young Bae
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Online Social Networking ◽  
Political Expression ◽  
Online Social Media ◽  
Candidate Support

This study explores the potential of online social media to serve as a sphere for political discourse and investigates the extent to which everyday uses of online social networking sites can expose citizens to politically diverse viewpoints.  In addition, this study asks whether such crosscutting exposure in online social networks will act as a trigger or a muffler for political expression – that is, whether exposure political difference will stimulate or discourage political discussions.  With analyses of a sample of online social networking site users in the context of the 2012 presidential election in South Korea, this study explicates the link between crosscutting exposure and citizens’ political expressions in social media.  Results reveal that contrary to the predictions in previous literature, exposure to politically incongruent viewpoints in online social networking sites does not seem to undermine users’ expressive behaviors but instead positively contribute to political expression.  In addition, this study shows the significant role of citizens’ perceptions of candidate support in their own networks, and illustrates that the dynamics of political expression differ significantly depending on the users’ age.

Role of Social Networking for Information Seeking in a Digital Library Environment

2016 ◽  
pp. 272-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ganiyu Ojo Adigun ◽  
Oluwole Akanmu Odunola ◽  
Adewale Joel Sobalaje
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Evolutionary Development ◽  
Other Information ◽  
Information Professionals ◽  
Social Networking Tools

This chapter discusses how to use social networking tools for information seeking in a digital library environment. Social networking is an evolutionary development of online participation, where people of common interest communicate, share and contribute content on the social cyberspace. The role of social networking for information seeking in libraries, most especially digital library is still evolving and cannot be over-emphasized. There is the need for libraries to exploit the advantages presented by these new media in providing better services. Social networking tools enable librarians and other information professionals to communicate, network and share documents with many clients regardless of location, and at little or no expense and viz. The chapter looks at: information seeking / search process; digital libraries; social networking as a concept; relationship between web 2.0, library 2.0, social media and social networking; role of social networking in digital library environment; role of information professionals in using social networking; social media platforms in digital library environment; challenges and prospects of integrating social networking with digital libraries and ways to improve the use of social networking for information seeking and dissemination in the future.

THE USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AS AN ELEMENT OF CREATING THE IMAGE OF A TOURISM COMPANY ON THE INTERNET

2019 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 105-120
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Borodako ◽  
Michał Rudnicki
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
High Tendency ◽  
Media Research ◽  
Cross Tabulation ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose. Analysis of opinions of Polish tourists staying in Krakow regarding the websites of tourist companies offering particular types of services. Method. To collect empirical material, surveys were conducted among Polish tourists staying in Krakow. The analytical part uses methods of analysis of structures and cross-tabulation showing the dependencies of the offer assessment of individual tourism companies on selected characteristics of respondents. Findings. The main conclusions obtained on the basis of the research were confirmation of the dominating role of accommodation and catering facilities in obtaining tourists’ opinions and a high tendency of tourists to share their opinions and memories via social media. Research and conclusions limitations. Among the main limitations that do not allow for the generalisation of results for all tourists in our country we may find the extent of data collection - of local nature. Moreover, the presented results show the online image of Kraków tourism companies perceived only by domestic tourists, which may be important for the objectivity of the obtained results. Practical implications. Among the practical implications, a clear signal should be given to selected tourism providers regarding the need to improve their image (e.g. by improving the visibility and availability of the offer). The obtained research results clearly confirm the necessity to use new technologies in the tourism industry, particularly, social media and mobile technologies, which have become the leading channels of communication and creating the image of companies on the Internet. Originality. Research in the field of evaluation concerning touristy company websites, with such a detailed breakdown into particular types of services, are not encountered in the literature. However, the issue of the image of companies on the Internet is a problem known and developed since the beginning of the 90s of the twentieth century. Type of paper. Research paper.

scholarly journals Understanding Brexit on Facebook: Developing Close-up, Qualitative Methodologies for Social Media Research

2021 ◽  
pp. 136078042110373
Author(s):  
Natalie-Anne Hall
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Political Knowledge ◽  
Contentious Politics ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Media Research ◽  
Qualitative Methodologies ◽  
The Relationship

Facebook has frequently been implicated in the 2016 ‘Brexit’ referendum result, and support for Leave has been linked to wider nativist and populist mobilisations online. However, close-up, qualitative sociological research has not been conducted into the relationship between Brexit and social media use. This is, in part, due to the computational turn in online research, which has led to a disproportionate focus on quantitative big data analysis. This article argues for the value of close-up, qualitative enquiry to facilitate situated understandings of the reality of social media use and what it means to individuals. It outlines one such methodology developed to investigate pro-Leave Facebook users, to demonstrate how challenges posed by such research can be overcome, and the opportunities such enquiry affords for studying the role of social media in contentious politics. Invaluable insights gained include the way Facebook provides an empowering tool for making claims to political knowledge in the context of growing transnational nativist and populist grievances.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Stress and Addictive Social Media Use (SMU): Mediating Role of Active Use and Social Media Flow

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan Zhao ◽  
Guangyu Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Chinese College Students ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Self Report Data

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is likely to enhance the risk of addictive social media use (SMU) as people spend more time online maintaining connectivity when face-to-face communication is limited. Stress is assumed to be a critical predictor of addictive SMU. However, the mechanisms underlying the association between stress and addictive SMU in crises like the current COVID-19 situation remain unclear. The present study aimed to understand the relationship between COVID-19 stress and addictive SMU by examining the mediating role of active use and social media flow (i.e., an intensive, enjoyable experience generated by SMU that perpetuates media use behaviors). A sample of 512 Chinese college students (Mage = 22.12 years, SD = 2.47; 62.5% women) provided self-report data on COVID-19 stress and SMU variables (i.e., time, active use, flow, addictive behavior) via an online survey from March 24 to April 1, 2020. The results showed that COVID-19 stress was positively associated with tendencies toward addictive SMU. Path analyses revealed that this relationship was significantly serially mediated by active use and social media flow, with SMU time being controlled. Our findings suggest that individuals who experience more COVID-19 stress are at increased risk of addictive SMU that may be fostered by active use and flow experience. Specific attention should be paid to these high-risk populations and future interventions to reduce addictive SMU could consider targeting factors of both active use and social media flow.

Role of social media in information-seeking behaviour of international students

2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 643-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suraya Hamid ◽  
Sarah Bukhari ◽  
Sri Devi Ravana ◽  
Azah Anir Norman ◽  
Mohamad Taha Ijab
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
International Students ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
The Social ◽  
Future Direction ◽  
Source Of Information

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the information-seeking behaviour of international students in terms of their information needs and to highlight the role of social media. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, a systematic literature survey was conducted in order to investigate information-seeking trends among international students while using social media. As a result, an exhaustive systematic literature review (SLR) was carried out in order to investigate social media as a source for the observation of the behaviours of international students. For this purpose, 71 articles were selected from various well-known sources after an intensive SLR process of searching, filtering and enforcing the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Findings As an outcome of this study, the information-seeking behaviour of international students was highlighted with respect to social media as a source of information. In addition, this research identifies the information needs of the international students and categorizes them by the roles played by the social media in fulfilling the information needs. Practical implications A comparative study that highlighted the dearth of studies which merge the social media and information-seeking behaviour of international students as well as identify the future direction for the researchers and for benefits of international students. Originality/value A detail SLR which highlights the need of shifting the information seeking behaviour from libraries to social media in regard to the new environment for international students.

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