The words and actions of elected officials cannot be fully understood without considering their sources of information. This study examines how social media shapes the information members of the US Congress consume and how their partisan media exposure corresponds with legislative behavior. Using Twitter (X) data from those members a partisan media index (PMI) was developed based on the ideological orientation of 35 news outlets, running from extreme left to extreme right. The analysis reveals that most members’ media diets are highly partisan and largely align with party affiliation. Democrats cluster around center-left outlets whereas Republicans show a longer and more right-skewed distribution. PMI scores strongly correlate with member ideology and with subsequent voting behavior. Even when controlling for ideology, partisan media exposure retains a small but significant relationship with voting behavior. The findings indicate that social media following patterns offer meaningful insight into elite polarization and suggest that partisan media ecosystems shape not only public opinion but also the decision-making of political leaders with implications for deliberative democracy.

As social media platforms increasingly monetize user data through targeted advertising, critical questions arise about privacy rights, digital commodification, and platform governance. This study examines how Pinterest users conceptualize and value privacy, ad-free experiences, and alternative platform ownership models, including subscription-based and cooperative structures. Through mixed methods analysis of 1,000 Pinterest users’ responses, we investigate willingness to pay (WTP) for enhanced privacy protections and data sovereignty. Quantitative analysis reveals that revenue-sharing beliefs (β = 1.17, p < .001), privacy concerns (β = 0.29, p < .001), and income (β = 0.27, p < .001) significantly predict WTP, while age shows a negative association (β = -0.45, p < .001). Qualitative findings illuminate the mechanisms underlying these patterns, revealing tensions between users’ stated privacy concerns and their behavioral practices, extending scholarship on the privacy paradox. Although respondents demonstrate awareness of their uncompensated digital labor, structural barriers temper enthusiasm for alternative models. These results advance platform studies and digital sociology by illuminating the complex interplay between surveillance capitalism, user agency, and economic constraints. The study concludes by discussing practical implications for platform design, policy development, and future research on digital rights and platform sustainability.

Building a reputable brand constitutes a priority for hospitals since it improves their relationships with stakeholders. However, these organizations face several challenges: strict legal frameworks, evolving patient needs, and advances in medical technology. This paper analyzes the online content strategies of Spanish hospitals to promote their brands through their websites. We conducted a literature review on digital hospitals and their communication and branding efforts on online platforms. Then, we defined 40 brand indicators to evaluate how Spain’s 100 best hospitals used their websites to reinforce their relationships with stakeholders and promote their brands. Our results revealed that most hospitals had sections on their websites for healthcare professionals (77.50%), patients (86.25%), media companies (93.75%), and shareholders (98.75%); however, they respected, on average, only 13.15 criteria out of 40 applicable criteria. We concluded that Spanish hospitals should professionalize their online content strategies, better integrate their stakeholders into branding processes, and include more emotional, social, and cultural elements.

This study sought to examine the media-related determinants influencing online purchase intentions for fashion clothing. The survey approach was employed to gather data from respondents in Nigeria through an online questionnaire. An empirical application utilizing a model based on uses and gratification theory in online clothing shopping is employed to evaluate and compare several methods for estimating a formative second-order component. The model analyses the factors influencing intents to purchase apparel online, utilizing data from a targeted sample of 388 responses. The collected data were examined using structural equation modelling with smart-partial least squares. Certain determinants exhibit a substantial correlation with online purchasing intention. This research enhances the existing literature on online retailers. The researchers have established a significant necessity to comprehend the dynamics of commitment because of its influence on buying intention. Fashion clothes retailers are advised to satisfy specific consumer motivations to enhance commitment. Among the three variables, interactivity emerged as the most significant predictor of consumer commitment in the social media context.

This study investigates how Japanese horror cinema (J-horror) can strategically adapt to the contemporary digital media landscape while preserving its distinctive cultural and aesthetic identity. Drawing on a systematic literature review of scholarship published between 2000 and 2023, we examine the genre’s evolution from traditional ghost-story roots to its current engagement with streaming platforms, short-form content, and participatory media. Guided by two research questions and corresponding hypotheses, our analysis identifies key opportunities for J-horror to leverage transmedia storytelling, episodic formats, and interactive fan engagement. We propose four strategic priorities for filmmakers and distributors to maintain J-horror’s psychological intensity and folklore-based minimalism while embracing platform-driven viewing habits. This research fills a critical gap in understanding how traditional horror genres can navigate digital transformation without losing their cultural specificity.

As blockchain-based metaverse platforms evolve into mature digital economies, understanding user behavior becomes essential for optimizing engagement and sustaining economic activity. This study introduces the metaverse engagement ladder, a novel behavioral framework designed to map user progression across three distinct tiers: new, established, and veteran participants. Drawing on a dataset of 78,600 blockchain transactions from five global regions, the study applies behavioral analytics to examine login frequency, session duration, and transactional patterns. The results reveal that user engagement follows a predictable lifecycle, with conversion rates reaching 70.2% during the established phase and declining to 0% at the veteran stage as users transition to management activities. Cross-regional comparisons indicate behavioral consistency across continents, with coefficients of variation below 1.6% for key metrics. The study identifies a behavioral sweet spot combining 45-90 minute sessions with 3-5 daily logins that produces 61.1% conversion rates, compared to 30.4% for shorter sessions and 0% for extended sessions. Statistical analysis using one-way analysis of variance confirms significant differences in engagement patterns across user tiers (F = 2847.3, p < 0.001), while correlation analysis reveals strong positive relationships between login frequency and session duration (r = 0.89, p < 0.001). Independent cluster validation confirms the three-tier structure with silhouette coefficient of 0.71. Grounded in theories of digital engagement, technology acceptance, and behavioral economics, this research provides empirical benchmarks for platform design, user experience optimization, and tier-specific security strategies.

The article examines how institutional frameworks influence communication strategies and public engagement across six countries in Southeastern Europe. Findings from focus group discussions reveal that formalized communication rules enhance credibility and consistency, but hinder adaptability, especially when engaging younger audiences who prefer informal and visual communication styles. Communicator literacy fosters clarity, trust, and audience connection, including adapting language and employing rhetorical and emotional intelligence. Leadership amplifies the perceived authority of institutional messages, increasing public responsiveness. Regional complexities, such as multilingual requirements for national minorities, highlight the tension between inclusivity and efficiency. Grounded in the social-fields-approach, the article emphasizes the interplay between institutional structures, sociocultural contexts, and public opinion formation. Institutions must adopt adaptive and inclusive strategies to effectively engage diverse publics and foster trust.

Generative artificial intelligence (Gen-AI) tools have a significant impact on the creation of audiovisual content. Although these tools are still at an early stage in video production, there are tools such as Sora (OpenAI) that demonstrate the great potential of Gen-AI to create advanced audiovisual content. This study evaluates through a comparative analysis the level of realism, attractiveness and composition of the videos generated by Sora compared to real videos. Using a questionnaire validated by experts (n = 12), a quasi-experiment was conducted with college students (n = 62) who were divided into two groups: a control group that visualized real videos from YouTube and an experimental group that visualized videos created with the Sora tool. The results show that attractiveness, particularly the elements of lighting, saturation and color, are key factors in the recognition of a Gen-AI video. The paper concludes that Gen-AI tools should focus on improving the attractive elements to achieve more consistent and natural results.

This study analyzed artificial intelligence (AI) literacy among mass communication students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan, to identified usage of AI applications in the media and communication fields, with highlighting regional differences and institutional challenges. And the research measured AI literacy levels and investigated how AI intersects with digital, information, and media literacy. The study discussed the applications of AI in different sectors, AI in education: challenges and ethical considerations, the need for AI literacy, bridging gaps and promoting inclusivity with AI literacy, and AI literacy in Asian and Arab countries. This is done by using the AI literacy scale. The study considered a quantitative research study based on a cross-sectional survey method that evaluates AI literacy levels among 536 students studying mass communication in UAE and Pakistan and examined some hypotheses. Findings highlighted regional differences, with UAE students demonstrating higher AI adoption due to better digital infrastructure and educational policies, while Pakistani students face barriers such as limited access to AI tools, inadequate training, and slower internet connectivity. Also, results indicated that both groups recognized AI’s potential benefits, they differ in usage intensity, skill perception, and satisfaction. The study emphasized the need for AI literacy integration in media curricula, faculty training, and policy development to bridge these gaps. This research served as a basis for future studies exploring the impact of AI on the quality of media education, such as analyzing content produced by students using these tools.

This study investigates the impact of social media platforms on Jordanian women’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors concerning human rights issues, recognizing the growing influence of digital platforms in shaping public awareness and advocacy. The study employed a questionnaire to a purposive sample of 400 Jordanian women aged 18 and older, focusing on their reliance on social media to obtain human rights information. The results demonstrate varying degrees of reliance, with Facebook identified as the most frequently utilized platform due to its accessibility and credibility. The analysis revealed that social media has notable cognitive impacts, such as informing women about their rights and human rights developments, as well as emotional and behavioral impacts, including fostering empathy for victims and encouraging active participation in discussions and activities related to human rights. Significant positive correlations were observed between cognitive and behavioral impacts (r = 0.612, p = 0.000) and emotional and behavioral impacts (r = 0.691, p = 0.000). However, no statistically significant correlation was found between reliance on social media and the formation of attitudes toward human rights issues (r = 0.094, p = 0.060). The study specifically highlights justice, freedom of expression, and fair trial as the primary human rights concerns among Jordanian women. The prominence of these issues emphasizes the critical role social media can play in influencing human rights advocacy and shaping policy discussions. Practical implications suggest that civil society organizations and policymakers should strategically use social media platforms, particularly Facebook and Instagram, to target advocacy campaigns, enhance civic engagement, and foster deeper attitudinal change among Jordanian women. These findings highlight the dual role of social media as an informational and mobilizing tool for human rights advocacy, while also indicating its limitations in influencing deeper attitudinal shifts. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for strategic use of social media to bridge these gaps and enhance its efficacy in fostering comprehensive human rights awareness.