Online Communication Research Articles

Understanding the mediator and moderator role of digital citizenship on cyber harassment

PurposeDrawing on two competing theories, the online disinhibition effect and communication privacy management, this study explores the antecedents of cyber harassment and the mediating and moderating role of digital citizenship on cyber harassment among adults.Design/methodology/approachTo ensure the quality of the data collected, participant recruitment was conducted using two panels: Qualtrics and Cloud Research. The sample comprised 262 participants who were USA residents aged between 18 and 87 years who use the Internet regularly. Additionally, the survey required a balance of participants across racial and educational levels. The survey was drawn from items for which reliability and validity indexes have been tested and confirmed in prior disparate studies.FindingsResults show that digital citizenship is a significant moderator in the relationships between disposition to value web privacy, perceived online disinhibition and cyber harassment. Digital citizenship behavior mediates the relationship between perceived online disinhibition and cyber harassment but does not mediate the relationship between disposition to value privacy and cyber harassment.Originality/valueThe results of this study broaden the understanding of digital citizenship as a behavior modification for cyber harassment, specifically among adult Internet users. Further, we seek to bring together two streams of research that have previously been studied separately: the literature on the antecedents of perceived online disinhibition and disposition to value web privacy concerns.

The impact of mandatory disclosure on rewarding online reviews based on S-O-R theory

PurposeUp to 89.1% of consumers have changed their decisions due to the influence of online reviews. In order to increase the number of reviews, some websites and platforms have adopted feedback incentives. Research shows that offering review incentives does increase the likelihood of consumers writing reviews. However, the review reward system also brings some problems. Consumers may doubt the authenticity of product reviews that are incentivized by rewards, believing that reviewers are only writing reviews for personal gain, which has a negative impact on the credibility of the reviews. To address this issue, this study proposes a mechanism for mandatory disclosure of review incentives as research demonstrates that transparent online communication of a platform’s efforts can substantially boost review helpfulness restore trust in online platforms, and even improve purchase intentions.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies the S-O-R (Stimulus-Organism-Response) theoretical framework and utilizes a simulated situational questionnaire to investigate the impact of online reviews on consumers' emotional and behavioral responses within the context of a mandatory disclosure review reward system. The model identifies four key constructs: review quality as the Stimulus, review credibility and review usefulness as the Organism, and purchase intention as the Response. Data were collected through the questionnaire and subsequently analyzed to understand these relationships.FindingsThe results show that review quality has a significant positive impact on review credibility, review usefulness and purchase intention. Similarly, review credibility and review usefulness also have significant positive impacts on purchase intention.Originality/valueTo mitigate the potential negative effects of review reward systems, this study introduces a mandatory disclosure of the review reward and examines its impact using a simulated situational questionnaire. The study hypothesizes that mandatory disclosure of rewarded reviews enables consumers to identify these reviews, which may, in turn, enhance their purchase intentions.

Scrolling, sharing, shaping: cognitive and behavioral effects of SNS communication on Japan’s national image in China

National images today are shaped not only by state-led narratives but also through daily interactions on social networking sites, where passive consumption and active expression converge to influence public perceptions. This study investigates how message reception and expression affect Chinese audiences’ image of Japan. We examine how cognitive responses mediate the influence of SNS engagement on behavioral intentions by integrating a communication mediation framework with the bidirectional message effects model. Our findings indicate a dichotomy: while message reception fosters a positive evaluation of Japan, message expression elicits skepticism and cautious intentions toward Japan. It is thus imperative to expand beyond reception-oriented models to encompass the reciprocal nature of online communication, contesting the prevailing perspective that excessively highlights the role of digital communication in augmenting soft power. The study’s implications are noteworthy for digital and public diplomacy endeavors, suggesting practitioners should consider the interaction between passive and active engagement on SNS.

Health Interventions for Health Promotion in Sub-Saharan Africa: Assessing Impact on Health Literacy and Comparative Analysis of Online Communication Channels

Introduction: Considering the increased incidence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the need for novel approaches to health promotion, this study investigates the feasibility of cross-country mHealth interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study, which focuses on using digital platforms for health communication, intends to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of cross-country mhealth interventions aimed at disseminating health promotion materials in Sub-Saharan Africa across various platforms. The study is based on the NCDs 365 project, a year-long health promotion initiative in five nations aimed at promoting NCD literacy. Methodology: The study utilized a multi-stage sample technique, including an intentional selection of five nations (Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe) with active local partner organizations conducting the initiative. The following stage was convenience sampling of members of these organizations who participated in the NCD365 project activities. Data gathering included the distribution of questionnaires via local partners, followed by thorough analysis using descriptive techniques and comparison tests such as ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The extensive methodology ensured a broad and representative sample, which increased the findings' validity and generalizability. Results: The findings demonstrated the potential of mHealth interventions to close health literacy gaps and promote positive health behaviors throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. According to an analysis of online communication platform usage, WhatsApp was the most popular (58.6%), followed by X (20.8%) and Facebook (6.8%). The study also found significant trends in platform preference across all five countries. Furthermore, gender-specific study indicated comparable literacy rates, with males slightly outperforming females. The Kruskal-Wallis test found no significant difference in the efficacy of various online communication channels for health promotion, confirming the viability of cross-country mHealth programs. Conclusions: This study highlights the significant potential of cross-country mHealth interventions for health promotion in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study's strong methodology, agreement with current research, and gender-specific analysis add to its dependability and credibility. The findings of this analysis provide significant recommendations to policymakers seeking to optimize platform-specific policies and stimulate cross-country collaborations in health promotion. Finally, these findings expand the discussion on health literacy promotion and establish the groundwork for evidence-based recommendations that might drive effective health communication initiatives in the region and beyond.

Effect of internet shutdown on postgraduate trainees in Manipur: A qualitative study

Background & objectives Internet shutdowns, although rare can be imposed by governments or affiliated entities and can intentionally disrupt online information and communication systems. While justified for maintaining public order, these shutdowns cause substantial economic losses, public suffering, and reputational damage. The internet shutdown in Manipur, initiated on May 3, 2023, due to civil unrest, has affected various sectors. The impact on doctors, amidst an era where internet access is considered as an integral part of practice, warrants deeper exploration of the challenges faced during such a prolonged shutdown period. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the impact of internet shutdown among postgraduate trainees from two tertiary care hospitals in Manipur. Methods A study was conducted in two tertiary healthcare centers in Manipur from July to August 2023 among medical postgraduate trainees. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Twenty-two in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted, recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was done to identify codes, categories and themes. Results This qualitative study was undertaken among postgraduate trainees in two different academic institutes. A total of 21 IDIs were carried out. The major themes emerged from the study, namely, impact on professional life, impact on personal life, social consequences and coping. Internet shutdown affected patient care such as seeking timely opinions from consultants, delays in sharing patient reports and inconveniences in the hand-off process and the academic performance of postgraduate trainees like unavailability of study materials or keeping up with recent advancements. On a personal level, it negatively affected communication with family and friends, mental well-being and caused inconvenience in shopping and transactions. The study also found some positive impacts, such as less screen time leading to better sleep and increased physical activities. Interpretation & conclusions The findings of this study suggest that the internet shutdown significantly affected both the professional and personal aspects of postgraduate trainees’ lives in Manipur. The implementation of a targeted ban on social media platforms and the establishment of designated internet access points are proposed as potential alternatives.

A study on multimodal metaphor of emotions in emojis

ABSTRACT This study explores the construction and function of emotional metaphors in emojis across Chinese social media platforms. Through multimodal metaphor analysis, 500 emojis are categorised into positive, neutral, and negative emotional metaphors. The findings show that positive metaphors, like those for happiness and love, are most common, while negative metaphors for emotions such as anger and fear are more complex. These metaphors are grounded in physiological and physical responses, in accordance with cognitive theories of metaphor. The research concludes that emotional metaphors in emojis enhance narrative expression and facilitate social interaction by compensating for the lack of non-verbal cues in digital communication. An innovative aspect of this study is its comprehensive analysis of how these multimodal metaphors bridge linguistic and emotional gaps, enriching communication in digital interactions. This research underscores the importance of effective emotional expression in the evolving landscape of online communication.

Effects of group communication norms on daily steps in a team-based financial incentive mobile phone intervention in Shanghai, China

BackgroundMobile technology offers great potential for physical activity promotion, especially by facilitating online communication, however, the impact of group communication norms on intervention effectiveness remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effect on daily steps of a team-based social norms-related intervention using a mobile application.MethodsThe 13-week quasi-experimental study was conducted in Shanghai, China, from September to November 2019, involving 2,985 employees from 32 worksites. For the intervention group (n = 2,049), participants set a goal of 10,000 steps per day. The teams and individual members would receive points for meeting the daily goal, contributing to team-based rankings and financial rewards for the teams and their members. In addition, the intervention teams created dedicated WeChat groups to facilitate communication, which were also used to collect group chat messages. The communication type in these groups was classified into four types: (1) nudging – encouraging team members to be more active, (2) sharing – exchanging the completion of daily step goals, (3) feedback – providing responses or suggestions to team members, and (4) other -diverse topics that could not be classified otherwise. The control group only tracked their steps online.ResultsThe weekly average steps of the intervention group increased by 2,523 steps, while the control group increased by 470 steps. In the first 3 weeks of follow-up, the frequency of nudging of 7–18 times/week had a positive cumulative effect on the step counts. Sharing more than 3 times/week had a positive cumulative effect. Over 6 and 13 weeks of follow-up, nudging 19 times/week or more had a positive cumulative effect while sharing and feedback at any frequency negatively affected average weekly steps.ConclusionsCommunication types within a team affected team-based step counts in a financial incentive intervention. The team-level social norms related to communications might have different cumulative effects on team-level physical activity. ‘nudging’ messages had a significant association with the change in individual-level step counts in the medium or long term.Trial registrationPilot Project of the application of walking incentive technology in occupational groups, 2019, ChiCTR1900023813. Registered 13 June 2019, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=39858.

Selection and evaluation of a set of attributes appropriate for detection of antisocial behaviour in online media

Abstract Nowadays the world of modern technologies brings new ways of communication and interaction between people. Online communication becomes faster and more convenient, but it also enables an exchange of more dangerous information. Antisocial behaviour in online web discussions becomes one of the most serious problems. This paper is focused on the analysis and identification of the most typical attributes of antisocial behaviour in the online space. Our research attempts to distinguish the most characteristic features of suspicious contributors to identify attributes that can define antisocial behaviour in the best way. The main objective is to evaluate the success of these attributes in the automatic detection of the suspicious contributors—trolls using classification methods of machine learning such as naïve Bayes, decision trees, random forest, logistic regression, and support vector machine. The methods were selected from the point of view of evaluation of suitability of individual attributes and evaluation of selected sets of attributes. The results of test of models learned using mentioned methods are discussed from this point of view and lead to a selection of a small set of attributes from all considered attributes.

Dependence on the Internet Intensifies the Social Division of Emotional Expression

As the Internet continues to expand, social media has progressively integrated into daily life, leading to a growing reliance on the emotional articulation and social interactions it facilitates. However, this over-reliance has led to issues in authentic emotional expression among groups and deep social interactions between individuals, forming social divisions. This study, utilizing a comprehensive literature review, data analysis, and additional methodologies, concludes that Internet dependency significantly influences emotional expression across diverse age demographics, genders, and professional backgrounds. The analysis reveals that individuals tend to express emotions more on the Internet than in real life, leading to a decline in face-to-face interaction skills, especially among adolescents. This study concludes that Internet dependence can lead to self-isolation, where individuals prefer online communication, thereby reinforcing dependence on the Internet. Over time, communities that depend on emotional expression in digital environments expand, leading to a decline in emotional articulation and empathy in face-to-face interactions. As this demographic increases, a greater segment favors social media platforms, thereby exacerbating social fragmentation. While emphasizing the development of social media, this paper also stresses the importance of authentic social interaction.

Intersubjectivity and co-constructed framings: students' role-play talks in online English-speaking sessions.

This study investigates how lower-level English language learners achieve and maintain intersubjectivity and navigate through co-constructed framings during context-embedded tasks such as improvised role-play. In language education settings, activities associated with interactions often reflect multi-layered participant orientations beyond mere linguistic execution. From the perspectives of ethnomethodology and conversation analysis, linguistic actions are effective only when they are intersubjectively understood: the complexity of an activity necessitates corresponding levels of intersubjectivity for smooth progression. A close examination of sequence development in role-play activities shows how intersubjectivity is preserved as interlocutors engage in aligning and affiliative moves to avoid potential disruptions and maximize mutual contributions. Interlocutors' progressive inputs are integrated as intersubjectively sustained elements of ongoing interaction framings only when collaboratively developed by the participating parties. The analysis also addresses the impact of online communication tools, acknowledging their increasingly essential role in online teaching. The results suggest the need for a dynamic concept of 'framing,' replacing 'frame,' and recommend that conversation analysis should account for the multi-layered contexts of surrounding activities.

How to facilitate peer support - learnings from the development of a peer support program for people with T2DM via instant messaging service to improve diabetes self-management.

This study explores the use of Instant Messaging Services (IMS) for peer support among individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Leveraging the popularity of IMS within the affected age group, the DiabPeerS study implemented a peer support intervention aimed at improving long-term blood glucose levels (HbA1c) in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). This article describes the development and acceptance of the IMS intervention used in the DiabPeerS study. The intervention included a communication strategy and content designed for lay moderators to facilitate group interaction among people with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (PWT2D). The intervention's acceptance was determined by conducting participant interviews, moderator meetings, and analysis of IMS chat protocols. Results indicate that the intervention was well-received, with participants engaging in meaningful exchange about diabetes self-management (DSM). However, those less familiar with online communication may benefit from preparational training and initial face-to-face meetings could enhance group cohesion. This research offers insights into the practical application of IMS for diabetes peer support, highlighting both its benefits and room for improvement.

Exploring Temporal Similarity for Joint Computation and Communication in Online Distributed Optimization

Exploring Temporal Similarity for Joint Computation and Communication in Online Distributed Optimization

RESPECT: A framework for promoting inclusive and respectful conversations in online communications

RESPECT: A framework for promoting inclusive and respectful conversations in online communications

The impact of shelter-in-place during the COVID-19 pandemic on social support for mental health recovery: A prescribing-oriented qualitative study of patient perspectives.

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for social connectivity and mental health, especially during mandated shelter-in-place periods. For patients engaged in mental health treatment, the social impact of their shelter-in-place experience remains an area of active investigation. This is particularly relevant in the context of social prescribing, a growing area of clinical intervention where healthcare providers actively refer patients to local social resources or activities to enhance mental health and wellbeing. Here, we investigated patient perspectives on their social supports during shelter-in-place, with an eye toward informing future social prescribing and counseling steps that mental health clinicians can take to foster social resiliency of patients. We conducted semi-structured phone interviews with 12 participants receiving mental health treatment at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Adult Psychiatry clinics. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for themes. The sample consisted of 8 female and 4 male participants between the ages of 21 to 44, who received services including outpatient medication management, outpatient therapy, and/or outpatient group therapy. Analysis revealed two thematic categories that participants identified: (A) Specific ways that shelter-in-place impacted their social experience and (B) specific types of social relationships that participants felt were important to their mental health and wellbeing. In the first category, thematic factors that affected the social experience included (1) COVID-19-related health concerns, (2) participants' baseline socialization patterns (degree of introversion/extroversion) and (3) the use of online and social media communication channels. For the second category of themes, specific functions of social relationships identified included those centered around (a) instrumental support, (b) emotional support, (c) community connection. Many relationships served more than one function during shelter-in-place, and many participants cited perceived community connection as a particularly important element in their mental health recovery. These themes highlight key contributors to the social experience of the shelter-in-place period for individuals in mental health recovery and inform future ways that clinicians can structure social prescribing practices to better assist the needs of patients.

Impact of Eye Contact on Communication during Online Medication Counseling: An Analysis Using the Roter Interaction Analysis System.

We have previously used the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS) to analyze differences between online and face-to-face medication counseling. In our previous research, students have commented that the built-in camera on their laptops makes it difficult to make eye contact and communicate effectively. Furthermore, there is a lack of research on the impact of eye contact in online medical communication. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of eye contact on online medication counseling. Two simulated patients (SPs) and 10 pharmacy students acting as pharmacists were enrolled in this clinical study (ID:2022-001). Participants were divided into 2 groups: one using cameras designed to naturally align eye contact and another using standard device cameras. The dialogues were segmented into meaningful minimal units (utterances), categorized using RIAS according to their nature, and analyzed. Scenarios with aligned eye contact significantly increased the total number of SP utterances and the occurrence and proportion of "Check" utterances by students, confirming their understanding. The increase in the total utterance count of SPs was associated with a corresponding increase in the number of "Agree" utterances indicating agreement and understanding. Thus, eye contact enhances the clarity of patient responses and proactively confirms patient understanding, thereby mitigating the difficulty of assessing comprehension and conducting bidirectional communication online. This study's findings quantitatively suggested that eye contact in online medication counseling enhances proactive engagement in communication for pharmacy students and SPs.

Revealing schoolchildren's key situations in the use of digital media inside and outside school: A media diary study.

Digital media have become integral to schoolchildren's lives, both within educational and non-educational settings. Educators emphasize the importance of bridging the gap between school learning and children's out-of-school activities. To identify potential variations and commonalities, we investigated key situations with digital media among lower secondary schoolchildren in Germany, aiming to determine which themes are especially relevant in different settings. We analyzed the media usage of German schoolchildren (ages 10 to 17) in class and outside of school using a mixed-method approach with a focus on the qualitative facets of key situations. For this purpose, 49 schoolchildren from seven schools were asked to complete media diaries. Over a six-week period, they documented key situations with details on setting, emotional experiences, post-communication, social support, and self-reflection. We analyzed the key situations using content and frequency analyses. The schoolchildren reported 145 key situations, from which we developed a categorization system comprising 15 distinct categories. The most reported key situations involved "playing video games", "digital learning or homework", and "online communication or content sharing". Most key situations (115) took place outside of school, while 30 occurring in class. Schoolchildren mostly reported key situations that involved feelings of happiness and low levels of arousal. They discussed key situations more often and in greater depth with family members and school friends, and less often with school staff or non-school friends. Key situations were discussed more often face-to-face than online. Notably, schoolchildren engaged in self-reflection on their key situations, including concerns about excessive media use. Overall, the study provides comprehensive insights into the digital media behaviors of schoolchildren, highlighting individual differences and preferences. The discussion offers valuable implications for both educational practice and future research, particularly regarding the integration of digital media into formal educational settings.

NEW AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA AS TOOLS OF INFLUENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ELECTION PROCESS

The article demonstrates the role of traditional and new media, as well as other forms of Internet communications as means of influencing the course of the election process in Ukraine and the formation of public opinion. We focused attention on the fact that in the conditions of transformational processes and political shifts, the level of trust in the latest online means of information dissemination, as well as the intensity of their influence on public opinion, are steadily growing. In this context, the main means and varieties of online communication are characterized, the reasons for their social attractiveness for the politically active part of society are highlighted. The study considered both: positive and negative consequences of the influence of mass media on political processes. The study proved that the positive aspect correlates with the role of communication media, especially online media, as an effective platform for political discussions, active discussion of issues relevant to society, and prompt dissemination of information. The negative aspect is related to the fact that a high level of trust in social networks and messengers can intensify the mechanisms of manipulation and the spread of disinformation.Using the example of the presidential and parliamentary elections in the USA and in Ukraine, we found that the influence of manipulative tools in the media on the course of the election process and the opinion of the electorate has recently been decisive. The study established that further in-depth research on this topic will have significant scientific and practical value, as it will contribute to the effective regulation of mass media activities during elections, as well as make it possible to minimize the risks of media manipulation and engaged coverage of political processes in mass media.Normative and legal regulation of media (in particular, new media and social networks) during elections will create favorable conditions for the development of effective strategies of state-public communication and improvement of interaction between authorities and institutions of civil society.

РОЛЬ ЦИФРОВИХ ІНСТРУМЕНТІВ ТА ЕЛЕКТРОННИХ РЕСУРСІВ В РОЗВИТКУ КОМУНІКАТИВНИХ НАВИЧОК УЧНІВ СТАРШИХ КЛАСІВ

This article explores the role of digital technologies in foreign language learning for high school students. It emphasizes how modern tools and resources can make the learning process more effective, engaging, and interactive. The authors highlight that the use of digital technologies in education is not just a trend but a necessity. They provide new opportunities for organizing the learning process, making it more flexible and individualized. The article emphasizes that the main goal of using digital tools is to develop students' communication skills. This is achieved through various means, such as online communication platforms, language portfolios, and projects. The article argues that digital technologies contribute to the development of a multicultural and multilingual personality. They allow students to not only learn the language but also immerse themselves in the culture of other countries.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE LEVEL OF DIGITAL COMPETENCES OF FUTURE TEACHERS IN POLAND AND UKRAINE

Digital transformation requires continuous development from the individual, including the development of media competences. Effective education of the young generation requires teachers to have digital competences. On the other hand, teachers are prepared to work in the era of new technologies at universities, where students gain important knowledge and skills. Therefore, the author focused on the digital/media competences of pedagogy students. According to the Digital Competence of Educators [1], these include information and data skills, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, safety, and problem-solving. The article presents the results of its own research, which showed the level of media competence of pedagogy students in Poland and Ukraine and possible differences in this area noticeable in future teachers from the two European countries. 84 students from Ukraine and 102 from Poland participated took part in the survey. The questionnaire was developed on the basis of relevant sources and tools for examining the level of digital competence of teachers: Digital Competence of Educators [1], Simons, Meeus, Sas [2], Selfie for Teachers [3]. The questionnaire covered three areas: media use, media understanding and use, and media creation and transmission. A Likert scale from 1 to 5 was used. In the analysis of the collected data, the following tests were used: Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney U. Statistical analysis of the obtained data allowed to confirm the hypothesis regarding the lack of statistically significant differences in the level of digital competences of future teachers. The results of the research indicated certain tendencies - a slightly higher level of media competence of students from Ukraine in terms of, m.in knowledge, knowledge of online communication tools with students, netiquette of the use of tools to communicate with colleagues. Therefore, future teachers from both countries are prepared for rational and selective use of media in their didactic and educational work. It is important to constantly supplement the study programs with content corresponding to technological, economic and socio-cultural development.

An Online Team Interactive Communication Platform for Undergraduate Design Students

The purpose of the present project is to design a virtual platform for team members to communicate with each other. It targets the design undergraduate students to facilitate communication. It has proposed various activities and functions in this platform which could facilitate the team working. The design concept has been employed for this project. The outcome of this project is a platform which helps undergraduate design students to move from the storming stage to norming and performing stage in an easier manner. The evaluation of the project has been done through interview and it is concluded that it is a feasible project which can solve the pain point of the group members working online. It provides a platform for continuous interaction and developing bonding with online members.