Abstract
Research-isolation is a common problem affecting many researchers who are disconnected from their research communities. It can be caused by a number of factors, including physical isolation, unfamiliar research topics, diversity, and the nature of the supervisory relationship. All of these aspects can have an impact on both work and the mental health of researchers. Increasingly, researchers are turning to social media for support, by both looking for communities and for increasing the impact of their work. In this paper, we set out a brief introduction to a range of social media platforms used by researchers and present a discussion of the networks within those platforms aimed at reducing research-isolation. These examples highlight just a few of the number of small communities that have grown online to meet the needs of those seeking support through social media. We conclude with some recommendations for those affected by research-isolation and highlight the need for more research into the role of social media on mental health in academics.
Highlights
Social Media PlatformsThe growth in social media in the past decades has generated numerous services, all of which have varying methods for social interaction
Research-isolation is a common problem affecting many researchers who are disconnected from their research communities
It can be caused by a number of factors, including physical isolation, unfamiliar research topics, diversity, and the nature of the supervisory relationship
Summary
The growth in social media in the past decades has generated numerous services, all of which have varying methods for social interaction. They are constantly changing and evolving; services that were built with a narrow focus and structure have often changed beyond all recognition. We present a number of the currently available platforms as a summary of the state-of-the-art in social media. We examine the use of these services in a research context, and how they might be used to prevent or confront research-isolation
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