Facebook Research Articles

Text-augmented Multi-Modality contrastive learning for unsupervised visible-infrared person re-identification

Visible-infrared person re-identification holds significant implications for intelligent security. Unsupervised methods can reduce the gap of different modalities without labels. Most previous unsupervised methods only train their models with image information, so that the model cannot obtain powerful deep semantic information. In this paper, we leverage CLIP to extract deep text information. We propose a Text-Image Alignment (TIA) module to align the image and text information and effectively bridge the gap between visible and infrared modality. We produce a Local-Global Image Match (LGIM) module to find homogeneous information. Specifically, we employ the Hungarian algorithm and Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm to attain original information from image features while mitigating the interference of heterogeneous information. Additionally, we design a Changeable Cross-modality Alignment Loss (CCAL) to enable the model to learn modality-specific features during different training stages. Our method performs well and attains powerful robustness by targeted learning. Extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, our method achieves a rank-1 accuracy that exceeds state-of-the-art approaches by approximately 10% on the RegDB.

The Identity of a Storyteller in Teachers’ Facebook Status Updates

This paper explores how teachers discursively construct the identity of a storyteller when posting Status updates on Facebook Timelines. Data were generated using participant observation where 29 Timelines belonging to Malaysian secondary school English language teachers were observed throughout a six-month period. A total of 178 teaching-related Status updates were recorded and then analyzed using a discursive analytical approach combining ‘broad discourse analysis’ and Edwards and Potter's (1992) discursive psychology. The analysis shows that most of the Status updates fit the structure of a narrative genre and the teachers use various storytelling and discursive psychology strategies to engage readers. This paper argues that teachers' Status updates are more than just an account of mundane teaching-related experiences but serve as a mechanism for them to construct desirable identities.

When do tourists prefer to continue using online travel agencies? An empirical study from Vietnam

Online travel agencies have profoundly influenced the travel industry by offering numerous essential advantages to both consumers and service providers. This paper aims to examine the factors that influence the intention to continue using online travel agencies in Vietnam, while also assessing the moderating effect of e-loyalty on the relationship between perceived usefulness and continuance intention. An integrated research framework was constructed using the Technology Acceptance Model as its foundational basis. The study utilized the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling approach to analyze the data. The survey data were obtained through an online survey administered to a valid sample of 301 Facebook users with prior experience using online travel agencies. Compared to conventional approaches such as telephone or mail surveys, utilizing Facebook for data collection offers a more cost-efficient alternative. This platform also enables researchers to reach a broad and diverse population of potential respondents, representing a wide range of demographics, geographic locations, and backgrounds. The results reveal that perceived compatibility, perceived ease of use, innovativeness, electronic word-of-mouth, and subjective norms all positively influenced perceived usefulness. Additionally, perceived usefulness is found to have a significant impact on the intention to continue using online travel agencies, while e-loyalty positively moderates the relationship between perceived usefulness and continuance intention to use online travel agencies. These findings extend the Technology Acceptance Model within the context of online travel agencies and provide practical insights for enhancing strategies among online travel agencies in Vietnam. AcknowledgmentThe author would like to thank the International University, Vietnam National University (VNU), HCMC, for providing research assistance.

Icelandic on Facebook: Linguistic practices in an informal communication space

Abstract This article is based on a PhD project that addressed the multilingual digital practices of native Icelandic speakers in so-called “computer-mediated communication” (CMC) and more specifically on Facebook. The research draws on new literacy studies as well as linguistic research on multilingualism in the context of digital environments to investigate the digital practices of Icelandic Facebook users. By applying both quantitative and qualitative research methods, the article argues for a mixed-method approach that allows for a more holistic analysis of digital discourse data. It is especially interested in the formal characteristics of Icelandic digital writing and tries to explore what linguistic resources users draw upon and how different communicative functions and contextual factors influence the users’ digital practices. Icelandic forms an interesting test case for the study of digital practices as Facebook constitutes an important communication space for Icelanders. However, the digital practices that can be observed on this social network site are characterised by informality and linguistic forms that may contrast with language regard and language ideology in Iceland.

A study of Facebook comments regarding amber teething necklaces: insights into public perception.

To qualitatively analyse English-language Facebook comments pertaining to amber necklaces, aiming to explore user experiences, perceptions, and beliefs. A sample of 1000 comments, totalling 2309 sentences, was collected via CrowdTangle. Sociodemographic details and the time elapsed since comment were also recorded. Using QDAMiner software, a single investigator manually performed deductivecontent analysis, categorising each sentence based on a predefined list from the "Seeking Health-Related Information Online" model. WordStat software was employed to assess word clouds and cluster analyses. The majority of comments originated from white users (88.5%), females (92%), and residents of the United Kingdom (35.8%). Key terms included "teething," "amber," "baby," and "love," with "teething" central in four identified clusters on the main map. Predominantly, sentences were categorised as "information is useful or potentially useful" (25.29%) and "positive experiences from using the amber necklace" (17.11%). Over time, there was an increase in comments categorised as "receiver's doubts related to information" and "acquisition or intention to acquire the necklace." Conversely, comments related to safety concerns, fear of accidents, dentist contraindication, and information quality decreased. Facebook users actively engage with amber necklace content, frequently sharing positive experiences and recommending its use to other parents. Notably, concerns about associated risks appeared to diminish over time.

Language Codes, Topic Preferences and Identity Construction: The Case of Gendered Language on Social Media

This study on exploring the use of gendered language on social media is a qualitative-quantitative analysis of the male and female differences in the language codes, topic preferences, and identity construction. In-depth understanding of the gendered use of language in Facebook was investigated with a purposive sampling of 90 status updates taken from the posts of respondents who are enrolled in one of the premier public high schools in Cagayan Valley. Anchored on Thematic Analysis by Braun and Clarke (2006), the language codes, topic preferences and gender-based identity construction were explored. Findings reveal that both male and female who are active users of Facebook are multilingual whenever they go online. The discussion on the variety of topics speaks of the diversity of the interest of those involved in the communication platform. The interactivity that Facebook provides makes it a medium through which people define themselves by sharing what is going on in their lives or how they are feeling. This makes Facebook a forum where extension of a person’s real-life identity radiates. Moreover, the use of language by male and female are influenced by their social network in Facebook. Through Facebook status updates, male and female do not only express their emotions but also share details about their daily life activities as to what they were doing or what was going on in their lives at that moment. Thus, trainings and seminars among students and teachers on upholding preservation of culture and language must be part of the curriculum to promote youth empowerment, gender fair language and awareness of cyber-bullying, are hereby recommended to develop communicative competence leading to deeper understanding of one another.

Reaching the Voters: Parties’ Use of Google Ads in the 2021 German Federal Election

Election campaigns during the pandemic showcased the increased use of costly digital campaigning by parties. While many studies focus on the use of Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and other social networking sites during elections, parties’ use of Google Ads remains widely unstudied. This is surprising given that parties spend a substantial proportion of their budget on Google Ads and Google reports on this spending and other details of the ads in its <em>Transparency Report</em>. Based on the equalisation vs. normalisation thesis, we identify party factors (size, age, government/opposition status, and electoral strongholds) that affect parties’ use of this instrument to a different degree in their campaigns. We aim to highlight parties’ use of Google Ads during the campaigns for the 2021 German Bundestag election, relying on the official data provided via Google’s Ad Library. We discuss both empirical work on the factors that determine the use of Google Ads and conceptual work on the merit and perils of such ads in democratic elections, and we present descriptive and exploratory findings of our deep dive into the archive of Google Ads.

Posting to impress? Organizational impression management tactics multinational firms employ to showcase innovations supporting SDGs

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) play a significant role in promoting innovation and implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). MNEs have embraced social media use not only to promote themselves, but also to engage with various stakeholders. Using mixed methods such as Python programming scripts, big data analysis, text analysis and coding, this study explores Facebook (FB) communications specific to innovation and SDGs (ISDG). The study's findings suggest that only approximately 2.7% of the overall communications are about ISDGs. The frequency of ISDG communications varies by industry category and region, but public engagement only varies by industry. Additionally, the study found that MNEs predominantly use assertive organizational impression management (OIM) tactics in their ISDG communications. Our analysis also suggests that ISDG communications tend to focus on SDGs that impact positive externalities rather than negative ones. Overall, our findings indicate that slowly but surely most MNES are laying down the foundation for possibly adopting innovations related to the implementation of SDGs.

The Influence of Social Media on Teen Consumer Behavior: Analyzing the Effects of Engagement through Likes, Shares, and Purchases

This study explores the impact of social media on teenagers' purchasing behavior and self-esteem. It reveals that celebrity endorsements and targeted ads significantly influence teens to make impulsive purchases on platforms like Integra and Face book. Additionally, excessive social media use is linked to lower body satisfaction and self-esteem. The research highlights how social media interactions, such as likes and shares, blur the line between social engagement and consumerism. It also raises ethical concerns about targeting minors with marketing strategies, emphasizing the need to promote responsible online behavior and awareness of social media's potential harm to teens.

The Evolution of Real Estate: Digital Marketing's Influence

Digital marketing has become an essential trend for real estate firms in India, driven by improved network infrastructure and the widespread use of smart phones. This research examines the various digital marketing strategies employed by real estate companies and evaluates their effectiveness. With potential clients increasingly conducting their own research online, digital marketing has become a vital component of overall marketing efforts. Enhancing brand image and facilitating efficient customer communication are imperative for real estate organizations, and this requires fortifying their online presence on search engines, corporate websites, and social media platforms. Digital marketing, particularly through social media platforms, has a significant influence on the real estate industry, just like it does on many other sectors. In today's real estate marketing, websites, Face book, Integra, and YouTube have become indispensable resources. There is little study that focuses especially on social media management within India's real estate business, despite the fact that economic growth and population increase are the driving forces behind Indonesia's real estate market. Major segments in the real estate market include land, residential, commercial, and industrial properties, as well as real estate investment trusts, undeveloped land, and vacation homes. In the fiercely competitive real estate landscape, agents must do more than merely acquire a license—they need to embrace the digital innovations reshaping property transactions. Integrating digital marketing fully into real estate services is imperative. To meet the increasing demand for sustainability, real estate firms must develop digital expertise and skills to deliver impactful and efficient digital marketing solutions.

Text-Enhanced Graph Attention Hashing for Cross-Modal Retrieval

Deep hashing technology, known for its low-cost storage and rapid retrieval, has become a focal point in cross-modal retrieval research as multimodal data continue to grow. However, existing supervised methods often overlook noisy labels and multiscale features in different modal datasets, leading to higher information entropy in the generated hash codes and features, which reduces retrieval performance. The variation in text annotation information across datasets further increases the information entropy during text feature extraction, resulting in suboptimal outcomes. Consequently, reducing the information entropy in text feature extraction, supplementing text feature information, and enhancing the retrieval efficiency of large-scale media data are critical challenges in cross-modal retrieval research. To tackle these, this paper introduces the Text-Enhanced Graph Attention Hashing for Cross-Modal Retrieval (TEGAH) framework. TEGAH incorporates a deep text feature extraction network and a multiscale label region fusion network to minimize information entropy and optimize feature extraction. Additionally, a Graph-Attention-based modal feature fusion network is designed to efficiently integrate multimodal information, enhance the affinity of the network for different modes, and retain more semantic information. Extensive experiments on three multilabel datasets demonstrate that the TEGAH framework significantly outperforms state-of-the-art cross-modal hashing methods.

Predicting user behavior on s-commerce platforms: a novel model

PurposeThis study investigates the influence of the wisdom of the crowd (WSC), trust and perceived value on consumer purchase intentions within social commerce (s-commerce) platforms. By constructing a novel theoretical model, the research aims to delineate the interrelationships among these variables, addressing an emerging area in social interactions and information technology.Design/methodology/approachTo empirically test and validate the proposed model, the study collected data from 442 Facebook users familiar with online shopping. The analysis employed Structural Equation Modeling – Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to test the hypotheses and examine the relationships between WSC, trust, perceived value and purchase intentions.FindingsThe findings confirm that WSC significantly influences trust, perceived value and the intention to purchase on s-commerce platforms. Both perceived value and trust are substantial determinants of purchase intentions. Notably, the PLS analysis revealed that WSC accounts for 36.8% of the variance in trust and 33.1% of the variance in perceived value related to purchasing decisions on s-commerce platforms.Originality/valueThis research contributes uniquely to the ongoing discourse on s-commerce adoption by integrating WSC as a pivotal factor in understanding perceived value and consumer adoption intentions. It provides a fresh perspective on how collective intelligence affects consumer behavior in digital marketplaces, enriching the theoretical and practical understanding of s-commerce dynamics.

How does the consent model in Australia’s Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) undermine our human right to privacy?

ABSTRACT Cambridge Analytica was a political consulting business that became known for its use of personal data obtained from social media platform Facebook, to drive election campaigns on behalf of its clients. Their most famous client was the winner of the 2016 US Presidential election. When it was realised that Cambridge Analytica had acquired Australian Facebook users’ data, the Australian privacy regulator started litigation against Facebook to enforce the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). This article examines how the Facebook litigation and subsequent law reform activities shed light on the central, yet fictitious role of the consent model. A historical and cultural analysis reveals how consent to surrender private information is a symptom of social conditions in which we take it for granted that individuals, rather than business, will bear the costs of poor privacy outcomes. Our collective ‘consent realism’ not only constrains the imagination of policy makers but interferes with a person’s autonomy in forming and developing opinions. However, a right to privacy can be more viably re-asserted, at least in response to the Cambridge Analytica incident, within the framework of Australia’s implied freedom of political communication. Consent realism can thus potentially be overcome in favour of human rights principles.

The Framing of Climate Change Discourse by Greenpeace Africa

The issue of climate change has been at the forefront of a number of nongovernmental environmental organisations, such as Greenpeace and its national branches, for instance, Greenpeace Africa (Pandey, 2015). Located in Johannesburg in South Africa, Greenpeace Africa (further – GA) aims “to bring forth the solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future” (Greenpeace Africa, 2024). One of the major foci of GA’s environmental campaigns for a green future involves the issue of climate change. To-date, however, little is known about how GA frames its climate change communication, especially on Social Networking Sites (SNSs), such as Facebook. The present study seeks to fill the current gap in scholarship by collecting and analysing a corpus of GA’s Facebook status updates on climate change in order to shed light onto this under-researched issue. In the study, the corpus is analysed qualitatively by means of applying framing methodology (Entman, 1993, 2004, 2007, 2010). The results of the corpus analysis have revealed that GA frames its climate change communication on Facebook by a number of frames that are further discussed in the article.

Why People Procrastinate on Facebook: Case Study from Employed and Unemployed Facebook Users in Sri Lanka

Procrastination is the intentional postponing of a necessary or devoted task, which can have a number of adverse impacts, including distress, physiological health issues, poor work performance, and subpar academic success. The study aims to analyze and compare procrastination levels among employed and unemployed Facebook users, exploring the reasons behind their procrastination, which is crucial from both an economic and informational perspective. Additionally, it seeks to investigate the association between procrastination on Facebook and the users' education levels. The study also examines how procrastination on Facebook differs between males and females. Positivistic research Philosophy, deductive approach and explanatory research design were deployed for this study. The study used convenience sampling technique and, 300 employed and unemployed Facebook users were taken for analysis of Independent sample test, Anova test and post hoc-tukeys test. Accordingly, five factors namely notification features, immersive decision features, surveillance of presence, identification features, and interaction features were utilized to gauge the degree of procrastination. The findings of this study outlined the causes of procrastination and revealed a substantial difference between employed and unemployed Facebook users in terms of procrastination levels on social media sites. Additionally, results showed that there is a considerable variation between males and females too. The findings will provide a deep knowledge for marketers, psychologists and for academics as well.

Who’s the Winner? A Comparative Study of Like, Comment and Share Functions in Consumers’ Purchase Intention between Facebook and Instagram

In the past few years, there has been a significant focus on investigating the impact of social media engagement. Although previous studies recognize the importance of social media engagement, there is still a lack of in-depth analysis regarding the specific influences of likes, comments, and shares on consumer behaviour, especially concerning how these engagements affect different platforms. This study aims to examine the relationship between social media engagement metrics (likes, comments, and shares) and consumer purchase intention on two prominent platforms, Facebook and Instagram. By adopting a cross-sectional design, this study employed purposive sampling to gather data from Malaysian university students who have engaged in purchasing activities on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. The analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) based on 265 completed responses, comprising 131 from Facebook users and 134 from Instagram users. The results reveal a significant positive relationship between likes and shares with consumer purchase intention on both Facebook and Instagram. However, comments were not found to be associated with consumer purchase intention on either platform. Furthermore, the study conducted a comparative analysis between Facebook and Instagram and found no significant differences in the relationships between engagement metrics and purchase intention. These findings have practical implications for marketers, emphasizing the importance of fostering engagement through likes and shares to drive consumer purchasing behaviour on social media platforms.

A Structured Social Media Health Support Program after Bariatric Surgery.

Social media networks have been found to provide emotional, instrumental, and social support, which may contribute to improved adherence to postbariatric surgery care recommendations. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an online social media-based, health care professional-led, educational and support program on patients' long-term engagement with and adherence to follow-up guidelines, self-care recommendations, and weight management after bariatric surgery. An observational cohort study, employing mixed methods, accompanied a 12-week interactive, structured, social media psychoeducational intervention program delivered on Facebook. Program participants, who had undergone one bariatric surgery within the past 1 to 7 years and were at least 18 years old at the time of surgery, were invited to join the program via posts online. Interested individuals were provided information about the program and the accompanying evaluation study, and those who met requirements completed study questionnaires before and after the program. Questionnaires included demographic and anthropometric information; postoperative recommendations received and their clarity and implementation; attitudes toward recommendation adherence; and well-being. Daily system data on program engagement were collected from the Facebook website. Of the 214 participants enrolled in the program, 101 (80.2% female, mean age 43.8 ± 9.1 years and mean body mass index 30.2 ± 6.8 kg/m2, 1-7 years after bariatric surgery) completed both baseline and end-of-program questionnaires and were included in the analysis. Following the program, improvements were observed in most aspects of participants' adherence to postoperative recommendations and well-being. Close to half of the participants (44.6%) reported reaching their postoperative target weight at the end of the program or maintaining it throughout the program. Video posts drew higher participant engagement than other media, and content about proteins received the highest number of reactions. However, participants' active engagement gradually declined over time. Interactive health support on social media can positively enhance patient engagement, adherence to treatment recommendations, health outcomes, and overall well-being.

Privacy Awareness and Social Media: Personal Data Protection among Facebook** and Instagram** Users

This study investigated the level of awareness of personal data protection among Facebook** and Instagram** users. The research evaluated the number of Facebook and Instagram users who have taken precautions to secure their personal data, why they did so, and the identification of regulatory authorities responsible for data protection in Nigeria. The Privacy Calculus Theory was used as the theoretical framework. The survey research design was used for this study, with the web-based questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. A sample size of 396 was drawn from the student population at the University of Port Harcourt. The data were analyzed in tables using frequency and percentage. The results indicated that users are strongly aware of the significance of safeguarding personal data on Facebook and Instagram. The users acknowledged implementing precautionary steps to safeguard their personal data. However, they still need to determine the specific agencies and regulatory entities accountable for ensuring the safety of personal data. In order to tackle this problem, the study recommended that the University management and student bodies should organize specific educational workshops to promote understanding of the pertinence of safeguarding personal data on social media platforms (Solove, 2021), create easily accessible materials and guidelines on the University of Port Harcourt portal designed for social media users, outlining the best methods for protecting personal data, including personal data protection awareness in its orientation programs and student events and also set up a system for reporting potential data breaches and offer assistance to affected users. ** – A social network owned by “Meta”, which is recognized as extremist in Russia

Efficacy-focused and autonomy-supportive messaging in social media vaccine campaigns: insights from a Facebook split test

ABSTRACT Background In the context of social media vaccine campaigns, understanding the impact of message framing on audience engagement is crucial. This study examines the efficacy of messages centered on efficacy versus autonomy, informed by theoretical frameworks: the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) and Self Determination Theory (SDT). Methods Utilizing the Facebook A/B Split Test (FBST) feature, an online experiment was conducted to compare the response to two different messages: one emphasizing vaccine efficacy (EPPM-informed) and the other focusing on individual autonomy in making vaccine decisions (SDT-informed). The primary measure of interest was the number of clicks on a link directing to a pro-vaccine website. Results The findings indicated that the autonomy-centered (SDT-informed) message resulted in a significantly higher click-through rate to the pro-vaccine website, particularly among users aged 65 and above. Furthermore, analysis of comments from Facebook users identified factors potentially contributing to vaccine hesitancy, with mistrust being the most dominant. Conclusions The study underscores the importance of tailoring social media vaccine campaigns to address the autonomy needs of the target audience while considering trust-related issues to mitigate vaccine hesitancy. Emphasizing individual autonomy in vaccine decision-making processes can enhance engagement with pro-vaccine content, especially in older demographics.

Relational Processes and Social Projections in Facebook Selfie-Quotation Juxtaposition: An Exploratory Study

Abstract The juxtaposition between selfie and quotation is an emerging user-generated Facebook content. This exploratory study is the first to show how Facebook users self-represent themselves through Relational Processes, based on the intertextuality between these verbal and visual modes. Relational Processes refer to the process of characterizing, identifying or describing a person or entity. In this study, 132 Facebook quotations were categorized into three types of Relational Processes based on the users’ selfies. The clauses were restated into I-expressions to center the users’ multimodal experiential and egocentric positioning. The findings revealed that Attributive Relational Processes, such as “I am happy,” predominated in the self-quotation juxtaposition. These relational processes are then discussed based on the potential social projections within the Philippine cultural circuit, namely: the Filipino culture of “inggit” (envy); crab mentality; being social climbers; and the neoliberal and neocolonial status of the Philippines as channeled through the Western-driven quotations. Overall, we argue that the juxtaposition of these two semiotic modes can lead to the creation of a new persona of the Facebook users, enhancing their digital self-remodeling and self-representation.