scholarly journals Information Wars and Online Activism During the 2013/2014 Crisis in Ukraine: Examining the Social Structures of Pro- and Anti-Maidan Groups

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anatoliy Gruzd ◽  
Ksenia Tsyganova
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Political Polarization ◽  
Group Level ◽  
Online Groups ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Network Properties ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Online Activism

This article examines how online groups are formed and sustained during crisis periods, especially when political polarization in society is at its highest level. We focus on the use of Vkontakte (VK), a popular social networking site in Ukraine, to understand how it was used by Pro- and Anti-Maidan groups during the 2013/2014 crisis in Ukraine. In particular, we ask whether and to what extent the ideology (or other factors) of a particular group shapes its network structure. We find some support that online social networks are likely to represent local and potentially preexisting social networks, likely due to the dominance of reciprocal (and often close) relationships on VK and opportunities for group members to meet face-to-face during offline protests. We also identify a number of group-level indicators, such as degree centralization, modularity index and average engagement level, that could help to classify groups based on their network properties. Community researchers can start applying these group-level indicators to online communities outside VK; they can also learn from this article how to identify networks of spam and marketing accounts.

scholarly journals Information Wars and Online Activism During the 2013/2014 Crisis in Ukraine: Examining the Social Structures of Pro- and Anti-Maidan Groups

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anatoliy Gruzd ◽  
Ksenia Tsyganova
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Political Polarization ◽  
Group Level ◽  
Online Groups ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Network Properties ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Online Activism

This article examines how online groups are formed and sustained during crisis periods, especially when political polarization in society is at its highest level. We focus on the use of Vkontakte (VK), a popular social networking site in Ukraine, to understand how it was used by Pro- and Anti-Maidan groups during the 2013/2014 crisis in Ukraine. In particular, we ask whether and to what extent the ideology (or other factors) of a particular group shapes its network structure. We find some support that online social networks are likely to represent local and potentially preexisting social networks, likely due to the dominance of reciprocal (and often close) relationships on VK and opportunities for group members to meet face-to-face during offline protests. We also identify a number of group-level indicators, such as degree centralization, modularity index and average engagement level, that could help to classify groups based on their network properties. Community researchers can start applying these group-level indicators to online communities outside VK; they can also learn from this article how to identify networks of spam and marketing accounts.

scholarly journals IMPACT OF OFFLINE AND ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS ON LONELINESS AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG ITALIAN OLDER PEOPLE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S529-S529
Author(s):  
Daniele Zaccaria ◽  
Georgia Casanova ◽  
Antonio Guaita
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Older People ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Social Network Sites ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Causal Impact

Abstract In the last decades the study of older people and social networks has been at the core of gerontology research. The literature underlines the positive health effects of traditional and online social connections and also the social networks’s positive impact on cognitive performance, mental health and quality of life. Aging in a Networked Society is a randomized controlled study aimed at investigating causal impact of traditional face-to-face social networks and online social networks (e.g. Social Network Sites) on older people’ health, cognitive functions and well-being. A social experiment, based on a pre-existing longitudinal study (InveCe - Brain Aging in Abbiategrasso) has involved 180 older people born from 1935 to 1939 living in Abbiategrasso, a municipality near Milan. We analyse effects on health and well-being of smartphones and Facebook use (compared to engagement in a more traditional face-to-face activity), exploiting the research potential of past waves of InveCe study, which collected information concerning physical, cognitive and mental health using international validate scale, blood samples, genetic markers and information on social networks and socio-demographic characteristics of all participants. Results of statistical analysis show that poor social relations and high level of perceived loneliness (measured by Lubben Scale and UCLA Loneliness scale) affect negatively physical and mental outcomes. We also found that gender and marital status mediate the relationship between loneliness and mental wellbeing, while education has not significant effect. Moreover, trial results underline the causal impact of ICT use (smartphones, internet, social network sites) on self-perceived loneliness and cognitive and physical health.

scholarly journals Possibilities of Psychological Intervention on Social Networks

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 35-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Madro
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Personal Contact ◽  
Online Groups ◽  
Field Worker ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Online Disinhibition ◽  
Self Help Groups

AbstractIntroduction: Nowadays we are looking for help and answers to our questions more and more often on the Internet. People use social networks to search for communities or groups whose members experience similar difficulties. These are often online groups that focus on psychological problems, domestic violence, etc. Members receive instant feedback and at the same time, due to the online disinhibition effect, they do not feel the fear, shame or worries they would feel in personal contact (Griffiths, 2005). The content of such self-help groups is not always helpful, but may rather induce pathological behaviour. However, the group administrator can influence the atmosphere in the group and its content itself (Niwa & Mandrusiak, 2012).Purpose: The purpose of this research was to find a space to perform professional psychological interventions inside online self-help groups on social networks. The concept of a field worker was used in this research. The field worker offers helping services to clients in an environment natural to them and where the worker can provide the client with emergency help during the crisis and prevent other clients from offering risk advices (Ambrózová, Vitálošová, & Labáth, 2006).Methods: We have conducted qualitative research using the method of content-frequency analysis. The sample for this study consisted of 10 closed online self-help groups focusing on topics such as depression, anxiety disorder, domestic violence, self-injurious and suicidal thoughts and tendencies, etc. For the purpose of this research we created an online group moderated by professionals, focusing on similar topics of mental disorders.Conclusions: The research results indicated that group members exchanged useful information (35.43%), described their current difficulties they were experiencing (32.33%), shared their own experiences (10.53%), and also published information on what had helped them manage the difficult feelings and situations they had been experiencing (6.39%). However, we also identified risky statements and threatening recommendations in posts and comments. Based on the results, we outlined the possibilities of online field worker interventions and described techniques of interventions that the professional can use for the benefit of group members.

Virtual Research Conferences

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 32-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamna Malik
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Environment Friendly ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Web Tools ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Virtual Conference ◽  
Potential Use

Research conferences provide an important platform for idea exchange and validation as well as for social networking and talent hunt. Online social networks and collaborative web tools can make conferences budget friendly for sponsors, flexible for attendees, and environment friendly for the society without loss of effectiveness. While many conferences have adopted such tools during pre and post conferencing stages, their use during actual meeting hours is very limited. This paper deliberates on the current and potential use of such technologies on various stages of a conference. It then presents the case of a pure virtual conference in comparison with a face to face conference with an aim to analyze the immediate benefits that virtual conferencing brings for organizers and participants. Perceived deterrents and potential benefits for various stakeholders are discussed. Suggestions are made for educational institutions to review their norms for conference sponsorships.

U-Shaped Conformity in Online Social Networks

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monic Sun ◽  
Xiaoquan (Michael) Zhang ◽  
Feng Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Adoption Rate

Conformity toward the majority choice among a user’s friends on a social-networking site first decreases and then increases with the adoption rate of that choice.

Self-Disclosure Patterns among Chinese Users in SNS and Face-to-Face Communication

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yashu Chen
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Social Network Sites ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Disclosure Patterns

This exploratory study focused on Chinese social network sites (SNS) users to determine whether their online self-disclosure differed from offline and whether culture had an impact on the patterns of their self-disclosure. Sixteen active users of Chinese online social networks were interviewed about their self-disclosing experiences. Results of a qualitative analysis suggest that culture was likely to impact the behavior of study participants by modifying the patterns of self-disclosure. Participants tended to disclose themselves indirectly on SNS, strived to make positive impressions, and revealed few intimate issues. In face-to-face communication, the relationships between disclosers and target persons as well as the target persons' status and background influenced the contents of self-disclosure.

Perceived Behaviors of Emergent and Assigned Leaders in Virtual Groups

2008 ◽  
pp. 1096-1110
Author(s):  
Kathryn R. Wickham ◽  
Joseph B. Walther
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Behaviors ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Leadership Theories ◽  
Online Groups ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Virtual Groups ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Group Members ◽  
The Impact

While considerable research has explored perceptions of groups and members in computer-mediated communication (CMC), and leadership behaviors in face-to-face groups, little research has examined how leadership is identified in CMC groups. Contemporary CMC theories alternatively stress the impact of salient, stereotyped roles on CMC groups’ perceptions, or the accretion of exaggerated impressions based on behavioral cues. These perspectives, in turn, coincide with predictions about the predominance of alternative forms of leadership: Assigned versus emergent. This study draws on traditional leadership theories from face-to-face group research and applies them to CMC to examine dynamics related to assigned and emergent leaders in online groups. The results of the study demonstrate that CMC groups may identify more than one leader. When identifying emergent leaders, regardless of whether a leader was assigned or not, group members consider perceived amounts of communication, intelligence, and encouraging and authoritarian behaviors.

scholarly journals Communication in Online Social Networks Fosters Cultural Isolation

Complexity ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marijn A. Keijzer ◽  
Michael Mäs ◽  
Andreas Flache
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Subtle Difference ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Business Partners ◽  
Cultural Dissemination ◽  
Analytical Tools

Online social networks play an increasingly important role in communication between friends, colleagues, business partners, and family members. This development sparked public and scholarly debate about how these new platforms affect dynamics of cultural diversity. Formal models of cultural dissemination are powerful tools to study dynamics of cultural diversity but they are based on assumptions that represent traditional dyadic, face-to-face communication, rather than communication in online social networks. Unlike in models of face-to-face communication, where actors update their cultural traits after being influenced by one of their network contacts, communication in online social networks is often characterized by a one-to-many structure, in that users emit messages directly to a large number of network contacts. Using analytical tools and agent-based simulation, we show that this seemingly subtle difference can have profound implications for emergent dynamics of cultural dissemination. In particular, we show that within the framework of our model online communication fosters cultural diversity to a larger degree than offline communication and it increases chances that individuals and subgroups become culturally isolated from their network contacts.

MCS+ : An Efficient Algorithm for Crawling the Community Structure in Multiplex Networks

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Ricky Laishram ◽  
Jeremy D. Wendt ◽  
Sucheta Soundarajan
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Biological Networks ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Multiplex Networks ◽  
Multiplex Network ◽  
The Face ◽  
Network Properties ◽  
Complete Layer

In this article, we consider the problem of crawling a multiplex network to identify the community structure of a layer-of-interest. A multiplex network is one where there are multiple types of relationships between the nodes. In many multiplex networks, some layers might be easier to explore (in terms of time, money etc.). We propose MCS+ , an algorithm that can use the information from the easier to explore layers to help in the exploration of a layer-of-interest that is expensive to explore. We consider the goal of exploration to be generating a sample that is representative of the communities in the complete layer-of-interest. This work has practical applications in areas such as exploration of dark (e.g., criminal) networks, online social networks, biological networks, and so on. For example, in a terrorist network, relationships such as phone records, e-mail records, and so on are easier to collect; in contrast, data on the face-to-face communications are much harder to collect, but also potentially more valuable. We perform extensive experimental evaluations on real-world networks, and we observe that MCS+ consistently outperforms the best baseline—the similarity of the sample that MCS+ generates to the real network is up to three times that of the best baseline in some networks. We also perform theoretical and experimental evaluations on the scalability of MCS+ to network properties, and find that it scales well with the budget, number of layers in the multiplex network, and the average degree in the original network.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document