Popular Social Networking Research Articles

Comparative analysis of the availability of popular social networking sites

In the era of growing number of Internet users and the importance of social media, ensuring the accessibility of these platforms for all audiences has become a crucial aspect of digital inclusion. This article presents a study on the accessibility of Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok using Google Lighthouse and eye tracking. Two hypotheses were analyzed: H1, assuming a relationship between accessibility scores and the time to the first eye fixation on key elements of social networks, and H2, suggesting a relationship between accessibility and performance. Eye tracking research on a sample of 15 people showed that high accessibility does not always translate to ease of use, and no significant correlation between accessibility and platform performance was found.

Этническое мифотворчество в киберпространстве как фактор репрезентации этничности чувашей

The article is devoted to the study of Chuvash ethnic myth-making in cyberspace. The aim of the work is to determine its role as one of the factors of ethnicity representation. The study is based on the analysis of the relevant content presented on popular web platforms and social networks YouTube, Rutube, Zen, VKontakte, Odnoklassniki. The study identifies a certain section of content offered by search algorithms as the most viewed and included in thematic collections and playlists. The author examines the myth-making components of the Internet space, characterizes formats and plots, identifies their authors, and studies the audience's reaction to the content. Data analysis showed that ethnic myth-making has a positive effect on the representation of the Chuvash culture. Despite some inaccuracies in the information, such material generally evokes positive emotions in users. Information in video and text format is published on popular Russian platforms, making ethno-myth-creating content accessible to a wide audience. The myths created by the authors reflect their desire to show the antiquity and significance of the Chuvash people, which helps the Chuvash people to understand their identity, place and role in the world. Ethno-myth-creating content on the Internet increases interest in the Chuvash culture, promoting its popularization and representation.

Optimum control model of Malicious news spread on Social networks having Hidden accounts

Extremists are increasingly using social media to recruit and radicalize other users and increase their money. Terrorists can use popular social networks accounts and perform their activities in a hidden way. So, it is crucial to create a fruitful mechanism for controlling the spread of misinformation. Otherwise, a large number of people can mislead by this terrorist activity by joining them. Here, we propose malicious news spreading model incorporating hidden attackers of a social network. A threshold is defined for deciding the extinction of malicious news from a social network. Here, we show the importance of network alertness and activity of cybersecurity agencies in the modified model. Moreover, we obtained the optimal values of the control parameters for emergencies.

Measurement invariance of the Facebook intrusion questionnaire across 25 countries.

Facebook is one of the most popular social networking sites. However, Facebook intrusion or addiction is a growing concern as it involves an excessive attachment to Facebook, which disrupts daily functioning. To date, few studies have examined whether cross-cultural differences in the measurement of Facebook addiction exist. The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-cultural validity and measurement invariance of the Facebook Intrusion Questionnaire (FIQ), one of the most widely used measures of Facebook addiction, across 25 countries (N = 12,204, 62.3% female; mean age = 25 years). Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses (MGCFA) assessed cross-cultural validity as well as invariance. Additionally, individual confirmatory factor analyses evaluated the factorial structure and measurement invariance across genders in each country. The FIQ demonstrated partial metric invariance across countries and metric (13 countries), scalar (11 countries) or residual (10 countries) invariance across genders within individual countries. A one-factor model indicated a good fit in 18 countries. Cronbach's alpha for the entire sample was .85. Our findings suggest that the FIQ may provide an adequate assessment of Facebook addiction that is psychometrically equivalent across cultures. Moreover, the questionnaire seems to be universal and suitable for studying different social media in distinct cultural environments. Consequently, this robust tool can be used to explore behaviours related to specific media that are particularly popular in any given country.

Importance of social media marketing and electronic word of mouth on brand and customer loyalty

Social media marketing is a powerful tool used across popular social media networks and businesses to achieve their branding and marketing goals. This study explored the role of social media on customer loyalty and brand loyalty. Data was collected from 107 students studying at various universities and high schools in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. SPSS software was used to analyze the data and find out the effects of social media and electronic word of mouth on customer loyalty and brand loyalty. The study findings indicate that the social media market and electronic word of mouth have a positive significant effect on customer loyalty. For brand loyalty, the findings indicate that customer loyalty and social media marketing have positive significant effects, while electronic word of mouth has no effects on it.

Young people in social networks: scaling social interactions and practices of forming individual media environments (based on regional studies)

The relevance of young people’s digital practices in social networks learning is connected both with the growing influence of social media on all spheres of young people’s life and with the processes of adaptation of digital technology users to their own needs. Students’ use of social media is considered as a communicative practice influenced by objective and subjective factors. The users act as active persons, undertaking actions to combine communication channels based on the one hand, upon the socio-technical affords of social media and on the other hand, on their own goals and needs. The empirical basis of the analysis is the data of sociological research conducted among the student youth of Nizhny Novgorod from 2021 to 2023, including four questionnaire surveys (2021–2023) and one series of in-depth interviews (2023). Triangulation of the data from questionnaire surveys and materials of in-depth interviews of students allows describing media use practices both in quantitative data and in terms of social interactions meanings. The obtained data allow to identify the main elements that shape the practices of media using: 1) the choice of digital space of interactions (according to the parameters of publicity-privacy) and the practice of individual combination of social networks and messengers; 2) the number of accounts used; 3) user control over the personal information posted in the profile. Objective factors influencing young people’s choice of digital space are described through analysing the dynamics of social network popularity. It is concluded that the trend towards privacy of social interactions in the digital space is increasing. The paper outlines the scenarios of constructing an individual polymedia environment based on sociotechnical parameters corresponding to user motives and needs. Three main communication needs satisfied in social media are consi de red: 1) informal communication along the lines of “strong ties”, realised mainly through messengers; 2) maintaining “weak ties” by combining different media channels and managing the number of participants in interactions; 3) forming “quasi-connections” and observing “others”. It is shown that fulfilling these needs motivates young people to adapt their digital practices to different frames of social interactions, marking demarcations between public and private spaces. Two dominant strategies for shaping individual media environments are identified. It is concluded that young people scale their digital interactions based on a system of social expectations, needs and goals.

Picture perfect: Exploring the relationship between problematic TikTok use, physical appearance perfectionism, and upward physical appearance comparison on body appreciation

Physical appearance perfectionism and upward physical appearance comparisons have a potential role in explaining how the use of popular social networking sites can negatively impact a person's body image. Although there is considerable research on the relationship between body image and problematic Instagram usage, there is little reported on TikTok use. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the mediating relationship of physical appearance perfectionism and upward physical appearance comparison between problematic TikTok use and body appreciation. The sample included 185 TikTok users. Serial mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect negative relationship between problematic TikTok use and body appreciation through physical appearance perfectionism, but not upward physical appearance comparison, or physical appearance perfectionism and upward physical appearance comparison in serial. Thus, with the rapid growth of TikTok, this study highlights the importance of identifying the individuals who may be more vulnerable to the effects of the app. We suggest possible practice implications such as the implementation of screening strategies to identify those high in physical appearance perfectionism, and the development of workshops aimed at promoting positive body image in the face of SNS use.

Vlogging: An Alternative to Role-play in Improving EFL Learners' Conversation Skills

Technology-enhanced language learning, or TELL, has played a major role in boosting EFL learners’ speaking skills in recent years. The use of online technological methods such as vlogging and uploading videos to popular social networks such as YouTube, in particular, has been recommended as a tool to hone students' conversation skills in addition to providing ubiquitous role-play practice. This study, therefore, aims to examine the effectiveness of multiple-party YouTube vlogging with the effectiveness of role-play when it comes to improving EFL learners’ conversation skills. Seventy-six Thai undergraduates taking an English conversation course were engaged in five role-play and five vlogging lessons before and after the midterm for the purpose of improving their English-speaking skills. The students were additionally assessed by the pre-, post- roleplay and vlogging teaching interviews for their speaking performance. A comparative analysis was conducted on the score sets derived from the three distinct interviews, and the scores obtained from participants' weekly role-play assignments were compared with those from their weekly vlogging. The results showed a significant improvement in the students’ confidence and content expression despite some challenges of the vlogging method. Further research can explore the alternative use of vlogging in other areas of English language skill improvement.

Online Mothering: The Empowering Nature of a Hashtag Movement Founded on Social Sharing and Stereotype Deconstruction

Online mothering is an arising and multifaceted phenomenon as the online world offers unique opportunities and risks in a particularly challenging period. The overall aim of this work is to investigate the features of the hashtag movement #itcouldbeme, which was born after a terrible news event concerning a newborn’s death, specifically concerning (a) the e-activation levels; (b) the emotional arousal; (c) the potential presence of deconstruction of stereotypes concerning intensive mothering. To investigate positioning, reactions, and emotions, a database of 394 online posts gathered from popular Italian social networks was created, manually codified, and analyzed through the chi-square test. The results enabled us to deepen the associations among these variables, thus revealing the opportunities for empowerment offered by the socio-cultural positioning, different emotional pathways, and adhesion to this online movement. Finally, implications for professionals and public health issues are discussed.

Exploring the Effect of Arabizi on English Writing by Arab English Learners

The study explores the impact of the Arabizi phenomenon on English writing by Arab English Learners. Due to the popularity of social networks, Arab students combine Roman numbers and letters to produce a new writing code with unconventional rules. The study is significant because most researchers studied the impact of Arabizi on the Arabic language. In contrast, this study focused on the effect of Arabizi on English writing by Arab learners. The study sample consisted of twenty sophomore female students majoring in the English language at one of the Jordanian governmental universities. The main research questions are how Arabizi affects English writing and the justification behind the continuity of this new writing code. The researcher analysed samples of the intervention of Arabizi on writing in English to answer the first question. To answer the second question, the researcher interviewed the sample members to investigate the reasons for the continuity of this new writing code. The study results concluded that not all English foreign language learners use Arabizi, while others use it regularly for several reasons, although it affects their English writing. By the end of the study, the researcher presents recommendations for linguists and English language teachers.

The influence of social media on psychological well-being: examination and outlook

The article is dedicated to assessing the impact of social networks on the mental health of the population. Social networks have gained global popularity and are integral to modern life. Nowadays, social networks are platforms for personal development, communication skills, and socialization, searching for like-minded individuals and new friends, maintaining personal blogs, distance learning, and work. This study aims to analyze the impact of social networks on the mental health of the population and assess the possible perspectives of this influence. Theoretical methods were used to achieve the set goal: studying, analyzing, and systematizing scientific literature data. Currently, about 60% of the world's population uses social networks, with about 40% of users using them not only for entertainment and relaxation but also for work and education, which determines their socio-economic significance. According to statistics, the most popular social networks worldwide are Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, WeChat, and TikTok. Besides, most social media users are registered in one or several of them. On the one hand, social networks can help people communicate regardless of distance, acquire new knowledge, meet like-minded individuals, exchange ideas, and increase social support. On the other hand, their excessive use is associated with the development of addiction, low self-esteem, levels of anxiety and depression, and deterioration of social and physical health. These problems are particularly acute with increasing time spent in the virtual world. Therefore, in recent years, there has been increased interest in studying the impact of social networks on the health of the population as a whole and persons in particular and in developing and implementing effective methods to prevent the negative aspects of their us. This is a promising direction for further research.

The diffusion of malicious content on Twitter and its impact on security

While Twitter remains one of the most popular social media networks within the information security community, threat actors continue to abuse the platform to create, share, and spread malicious contents. In this study, we focus on whether Twitter- and vulnerability-related features can help predict vulnerabilities known to be actively exploited. Using a sample of 6004 tweets, results show that Twitter features (tweets and quote tweets) that combine the benefits of both content creation and sharing can predict active exploitation of vulnerabilities. Furthermore, findings show that certain technical and vulnerability-related features are also capable of predicting active exploitations.

Politics at Play: TikTok and Digital Persuasion in Zimbabwe's 2023 General Elections

Zimbabwe's August 2023 elections were held against the backdrop of outcry over the outcomes of previous elections, which opposition political parties accusedthe ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party of rigging. Access to the public media is among the issues of contestation. Opposition political parties claim that they are not given equal space for campaigning purposes. Social networking sites such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook have recently provided spaces for political communication, where all parties have unfettered access to the electorate. Recently, TikTok has emerged as a popular social networking site, rivaling established applications in terms of its uptake, particularly among youths. Research on the social media application suggests that it is largely used for trivial purposes and does not contribute to critical dialogue. However, lately there is evidence that TikTok is being used for “serious” purposes, including activism. The study sought to find out how political actors in Zimbabwe used the TikTok platform for political communication in the run-up to the 2023 elections. The paper also examines the nature of digital persuasion on TikTok and how this enriches or trivialises political discourse. Findings show that TikTok was used to urge Zimbabwean youths to register to vote as well as to provide visual evidence of the good and the bad associated with particular political parties, as they competed for voters. It was used as a politainment tool, combining political messaging with the entertainment affordances of TikTok.

Exploring equity perception of electric vehicles from a social media perspective

Electric vehicles (EVs) are considered a promising solution for climate change. However, their introduction has raised uncertainties in transportation equity, reflecting the diverse public perceptions and discussions on this issue. Understanding these perceptions is crucial for integrating equity into EV adoption effectively. To bridge this gap, our study used a social media approach to conduct a cross-platform equity analysis on two popular online social networks (OSNs): Twitter and Reddit. We identified 22,533 tweets and 12,318 Reddit comments relevant to equity from all EV-related discussions from 2011 to 2022. Our analysis utilized different features of the two OSNs, including verified account identity and Reddit communities, to present a comprehensive picture of equity perception in social media. Additionally, we used machine learning methods to infer Twitter users’ demographic attributes and integrate user demographics into equity analysis. Our findings show that political accounts are the center of attention on Twitter, but they are accompanied by negative attitudes. Many fringe communities are highly active in equity discussions on Reddit. Our study also found that younger people pay less attention and hold more negative sentiments towards equity discussions, while male and female users have similar interests in equity and similar sentiment. Notably, the proportion of equity discussions remains low in the overall EV corpus, despite a significant increase in recent years.

Problematic Smartphone Use among Young People and the Use of Additional Social Networking Software—an Example from Bosnia and Herzegovina

The aim of the article is to reveal the level of problematic smartphone use (PSU) among young people, with an additional aim being to diagnose the level of use of applications offering ready access to popular social networks (SNS—e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest). The text fills a gap related to the scale and mechanisms of PSUs. The research was conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2022, and is the first study of its kind in the country. A total of 1,024 young people participated in the study (age range 14–19 years; Female 627, Male 397). From the data collected, it was noted that: 1) Loss of control of the duration of smartphone use is the most common symptom of PSU; 2) Around 40% of respondents report having problems with self-control of duration of smartphone use; 3) 17.19% of the sample have high intensity of almost all diagnostic criteria of PSU; 4) About 1/3 of respondents declare no symptoms of PSU; 5) High intensity of PSU is more common in girls than in boys; 6) Instagram and TikTok are the most frequently used applications on smartphones; 7) More than half of the respondents use Instagram software constantly or almost constantly during the day, while less than 40% use TikTok-enabled software; 8) Girls are slightly more likely to use Instagram-enabled and TikTok-enabled software on smartphones; 9) Frequency of use of SNS software on smartphones is a poor predictor of PSU rates.

Evaluating the Disease-Related Experiences of TikTok Users With Lupus Erythematosus: Qualitative and Content Analysis.

Lupus erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune condition that is associated with significant detriments to quality of life and daily functioning. TikTok, a popular social networking platform for sharing short videos, provides a unique opportunity to understand experiences with LE within a nonclinical sample, a population that is understudied in LE research. This is the first qualitative study that explores LE experiences using the TikTok platform. This study aims to evaluate the disease-related experiences of TikTok users with LE using qualitative and content analysis. TikTok videos were included if the hashtags included #lupus, were downloadable, were in English, and involved the personal experience of an individual with LE. A codebook was developed using a standardized inductive approach of iterative coding until saturation was reached. NVivo (Lumivero), a qualitative analysis software platform, was used to code videos and perform content analysis. Inductive thematic analysis was used to derive themes from the data. A total of 153 TikTok videos met the inclusion criteria. The most common codes were experiences with symptoms (106/153, 69.3%), mucocutaneous symptoms (61/153, 39.9%), and experiences with treatment (59/153, 38.6%). Experiences with symptoms and mucocutaneous symptoms had the greatest cumulative views (25,381,074 and 14,879,109 views, respectively). Five thematic conclusions were derived from the data: (1) mucocutaneous symptoms had profound effects on the mental health and body image of TikTok users with LE; (2) TikTok users' negative experiences with health care workers were often derived from diagnostic delays and perceptions of "medical gaslighting"; (3) TikTok users tended to portray pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions, such as diet and naturopathic remedies, positively, whereas pharmacologic treatments were portrayed negatively or referred to as "chemotherapy"; (4) LE symptoms, particularly musculoskeletal symptoms and fatigue, interfered with users' daily functioning; and (5) although TikTok users frequently had strong support systems, feelings of isolation were often attributed to battling an "invisible illness." This study demonstrates that social media can provide important, clinically relevant information for health practitioners caring for patients with chronic conditions such as LE. As mucocutaneous symptoms were the predominant drivers of distress in our sample, the treatment of hair loss and rash is vital in this population. However, pharmacologic therapies were often depicted negatively, reinforcing the significance of discussions on the safety and effectiveness of these treatments. In addition, while TikTok users demonstrated robust support systems, feelings of having an "invisible illness" and "medical gaslighting" dominated negative interactions with others. This underscores the importance of providing validation in clinical interactions.

Digital coupons and Gen Z: An application of technology acceptance model with coupon proneness as a moderator

This study aimed to comprehend the perceptions and intentions of Generation Z consumers in India regarding the utilization of digital coupons, adopting the framework of the technology acceptance model. Through purposive sampling, 386 participants from Generation Z were selected to offer diverse perspectives, reflecting the significant influence of demographics on contemporary consumer behavior. An online survey was conducted across India, utilizing popular social networking applications, such as WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Facebook, to distribute the online questionnaire as these platforms have widespread usage and accessibility among the target demographic. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the relationships between the constructs. The study revealed that perceived ease of use had no significant impact on the attitudes toward digital coupons (p > 0.05). However, a strong positive relationship was observed between perceived usefulness and ease of use (β = 0.542, p ≤ 0.05). Similarly, perceived usefulness positively influenced attitudes toward digital coupons (β = 0.484, p ≤ 0.05), as did attitudes toward usage intention (β = 0.746, p ≤ 0.05). The relationships between attitude and perceived ease of use (β = –0.093, p ≤ 0.05) and attitude and usage intention (β = –0.124, p ≤ 0.05) were moderated by digital coupon proneness. Insights derived from this study hold substantial relevance for marketers aiming to effectively engage Generation Z through digital couponing strategies. AcknowledgmentThe authors are thankful to their respective universities, heads of departments, and others who have supported and contributed to the effective conduct of this study.

Transforming and facilitating health care delivery through social networking platforms: evidences and implications from WeChat.

Telehealth or remote care has been widely leveraged to provide health care support and has achieved tremendous developments and positive results, including in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Social networking platform, as an easy-to-use tool, has provided users with simplified means to collect data outside of the traditional clinical environment. WeChat, one of the most popular social networking platforms in many countries, has been leveraged to conduct telehealth and hosted a vast amount of patient-generated health data (PGHD), including text, voices, images, and videos. Its characteristics of convenience, promptness, and cross-platform support enrich and simplify health care delivery and communication, addressing some weaknesses of traditional clinical care during the pandemic. This study aims to systematically summarize how WeChat platform has been leveraged to facilitate health care delivery and how it improves the access to health care. Utilizing Levesque's health care accessibility model, the study explores WeChat's impact across 5 domains: Approachability, Acceptability, Availability and accommodation, Affordability, and Appropriateness. The findings highlight WeChat's diverse functionalities, ranging from telehealth consultations and remote patient monitoring to seamless PGHD exchange. WeChat's integration with health tracking apps, support for telehealth consultations, and survey capabilities contribute significantly to disease management during the pandemic. The practices and implications from WeChat may provide experiences to utilize social networking platforms to facilitate health care delivery. The utilization of WeChat PGHD opens avenues for shared decision-making, prompting the need for further research to establish reporting guidelines and policies addressing privacy and ethical concerns associated with social networking platforms in health research.

Popularity of Social Networks Among Armenian Users

Now there is active debate about the influence of virtual (online) communication on real (offline) communication. Do online and offline communications complement each other, or will online communication gradually completely replace real (offline) communication, including in the professional and personal life of a modern person? If people stay at home and go about their daily activities without interacting with other members of society and this suit them, then they will not make efforts to create social connections outside the online sphere, and the field of real (offline) relationships is completely or significantly transformed. The article discusses: the spread of social networks among Armenian users, online and/or offline communication preferences of Armenian users in one or another area of life, depending on age, gender and the subject of communication. As a result of the study, conducted by questionnaire, preferences were identified on the basis of which users build online communication, which determines the purposes of using social networks in Armenia.The research was carried out with the financial support of Yerevan State University according to the scientific project “Mechanisms of dissemination and consumption of fake news in social networks”, 2022-2024. The article was prepared according to the International Academic Mobility Program, organized by the National Research Institute of the Communications Development for young scientists from foreign countries.

SHET TILINDE SO'YLEW KOMPETENSIYASIN RAWAJLANDIRIWDA MEDIATEXNOLOGIYALARDIN' AXMIYETI

YouTube is the most popular social network and it has many advantages,espicially when learninga foreign language. This article focuses on the development of speaking competence on the YouTube socialnetwork.The comments in the article show that YouTube helps 7 grade students improve their speechcompetence, and it increases their interest in learning a foreign language, because students can use theirsmartphones to watch YouTube videos at any place and time