Positive Social Behavior Research Articles

Developing Children's Creativity and Social-Emotional Competencies through Play: Summary of Twenty Years of Findings of the Evidence-Based Interventions "Game Program".

This work presents the results of four cooperative-creative game programs (Game Programs). In all four studies, experimental designs with repeated pretest-posttest measures and control groups were used. Validation samples ranged from 86 to 178 participants, randomly assigning participants to the experimental and control conditions. Before and after each program, a battery of assessment instruments was applied to measure the variables under study. The intervention consists of conducting a weekly game session during the school year. The results of the posttest covariance analyses confirmed a significant impact: (1) in social development, by increasing various positive social behaviors and decreasing many negative social behaviors; by increasing assertive cognitive strategies and prosocial resolution of interpersonal problems; and by enhancing relationships and positive communication among group members; (2) in emotional development, by improving self-concept, peer image, and emotional stability; and (3) in cognitive development, by increasing verbal intelligence, verbal and graphic-figurative creativity, as well as creative personality behaviors and traits. This work provides empirical evidence of the relevance of cooperative-creative play in child development.

Effect of gender and levels of religiosity on prosocial behaviour of youth

Religious traditions tend to promote prosocial behaviours among their followers. All major religions emphasise moral behaviour and explicitly teach prosociality as a virtue. Previous studies have shown support for the relationship between religion and volunteerism, helping others and youth's positive social behaviour. The present study aimed to explore the effect of gender, levels of religiosity and their interaction on the prosocial behaviour of a sample of youth. The sample comprised 90 (45 male, 45 female) youths chosen from a city. Adults' Prosocialness Scale (Capara et al., 2005), Religious Commitment Inventory (Worthington et al., 2003), and Islamic Religiosity Attitude (Marva, 2010) were administered for data collection. Descriptive statistics and two-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Results revealed a statistically significant main effect for different levels of religiosity on prosocial behaviour. In contrast, the main effect of gender and interaction of gender and levels of religiosity on prosocial behaviour was not found significant. Findings underline the importance of religiosity in enhancing prosocial behaviour and positive psychosocial development of individuals, especially youth.

COMMUNICATION WITH ADOLESCENTS UNDER INSTITUTIONAL CARE

Ergenlik, insan yaşamının en fırtınalı ve çatışmalı deneyimlerin yaşandığı dönem olarak tanımlanabilir. Bu dönemde birey, fizyolojik, sosyal, bilişsel, ruhsal, ahlaki, duygusal, cinsel, davranışsal ve ilişkisel açıdan önemli bir değişim ve gelişim içindedir. Çok boyutlu değişimler ergen için avantaj sağlarken aynı zamanda bazı dezavantajları da beraberinde getirmektedir. Ergenlerin bedensel değişimleri artmakta, beden imajıyla ilgili olumlu veya olumsuz algıya ilişkin çatışmalar ve risk alma potansiyelinde artış görülmekte, çatışmalı etkileşimlere girme, intrapsişik ve interpersonel çatışmalar yaşama, daha fazla sorgulayıcı olma, daha kırılgan olma düzeyleri artmaktadır. Kurum bakımı altında olan ergenlerin rol model niteliğindeki bakım personeli ile ya da kurumsal yapıyla çatışmalı etkileşimler yaşaması da olasıdır. Bu süreçte, olumlu ve olumsuz sosyal ve problemli davranışlar sergileyebilirler. Kurum bakımında olan ergenlerin zaman zaman akran zorbalığı, depresyon, madde kullanımı, okul terki veya okuldan kaçma, kurallara uymama, bireysel sorumluluklarını yerine getirmeme gibi uyumsuz davranışlar gösterebilmektedir. Bu süreçte, ergenlerle kurulan iletişim önemlidir. Ergenlerle çalışan kurum personelinin etkili iletişim becerileri kullanılması bu çatışmalı etkileşimlerle başetmelerinde onlara yardımcı olur. Bu çalışmada, ergenlik döneminde duygu karmaşası yaşayan gençlerin ayrıca kurum bakımı altında olmaları nedeniyle duygu durum kontrolü yapmakta zorlanmaları ve bunları dile getirmedeki problemleri, bu problemlerle yaşayan gençlere hizmet sunan kurum personeli ve her iki grup arasındaki iletişim süreçleri irdelenmiştir. Bununla birlikte çalışma kurum bakımı altında olan ergenlerle çalışan personele yönelik etkili iletişim becerilerine de değinmeyi hedeflemiştir.

Effect of gender and levels of religiosity on prosocial behaviour of youth

Religious traditions tend to promote prosocial behaviours among their followers. All major religions emphasise moral behaviour and explicitly teach prosociality as a virtue. Previous studies have shown support for the relationship between religion and volunteerism, helping others and youth's positive social behaviour. The present study aimed to explore the effect of gender, levels of religiosity and their interaction on the prosocial behaviour of a sample of youth. The sample comprised 90 (45 male, 45 female) youths chosen from a city. Adults' Prosocialness Scale (Capara et al., 2005), Religious Commitment Inventory (Worthington et al., 2003), and Islamic Religiosity Attitude (Marva, 2010) were administered for data collection. Descriptive statistics and two-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Results revealed a statistically significant main effect for different levels of religiosity on prosocial behaviour. In contrast, the main effect of gender and interaction of gender and levels of religiosity on prosocial behaviour was not found significant. Findings underline the importance of religiosity in enhancing prosocial behaviour and positive psychosocial development of individuals, especially youth.

Effect of gender and levels of religiosity on prosocial behaviour of youth

Religious traditions tend to promote prosocial behaviours among their followers. All major religions emphasise moral behaviour and explicitly teach prosociality as a virtue. Previous studies have shown support for the relationship between religion and volunteerism, helping others and youth's positive social behaviour. The present study aimed to explore the effect of gender, levels of religiosity and their interaction on the prosocial behaviour of a sample of youth. The sample comprised 90 (45 male, 45 female) youths chosen from a city. Adults' Prosocialness Scale (Capara et al., 2005), Religious Commitment Inventory (Worthington et al., 2003), and Islamic Religiosity Attitude (Marva, 2010) were administered for data collection. Descriptive statistics and two-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Results revealed a statistically significant main effect for different levels of religiosity on prosocial behaviour. In contrast, the main effect of gender and interaction of gender and levels of religiosity on prosocial behaviour was not found significant. Findings underline the importance of religiosity in enhancing prosocial behaviour and positive psychosocial development of individuals, especially youth.

Interactive engagement through travel and tourism social media groups: A social facilitation theory perspective

This research investigates perceptions about online content attractiveness, interactive engagement and real time conversation capabilities through travel and tourism social media groups. The study hypothesizes that these factors affect the social media subscribers' attitudes toward the destinations' social media groups, their intentions to revisit them, and could even influence their social facilitation behaviors. The data was gathered from 923 Facebook (Meta) subscribers who were members of travel and tourism groups. A partial least squares (PLS) approach was used to reveal the validity and reliability of the chosen constructs. The findings suggest that Facebook subscribers were drawn to those groups that featured aesthetically pleasing content and to the ones that facilitated their engagement. This contribution implies that today's marketers ought to embrace digital transformation processes that are disrupting social network services (SNSs). Content curators are expected to continuously present appealing content in their social media posts, to interact with their followers in a timely manner, and to encourage positive social facilitation behaviors through online and offline channels.

Is item hiding a good enrichment strategy to reduce stereotypic behaviors and increase social interactions in captive female spectacled bears?

Enrichment strategies are widely used to create stimuli to improve welfare of captive animals. A common strategy is to offer food items that provide physical, olfactory, and gustatory stimuli, by hiding these items or spreading them throughout the enclosure. Although both strategies are recommended as efficient in reducing stereotypic behaviors, few studies compare their effectiveness and the effects of zoo visitors on bears. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of these enrichment strategies on the behavior of spectacled bears, Tremarctos ornatus, in captivity and under the influence of visiting people. We observed the effects of enrichment and human visitation on the presence of stereotypic behavior (excessive self-grooming, pacing and head twists), foraging and social behaviors, which may be indicative of animal welfare status. We considered an increase in exploratory/foraging and positive social behaviors and a decrease in stereotypic behaviors as indicators of improved animal welfare. Observations were made between August and October 2018, in the Ecological Park of São Carlos, Brazil, which had three female bears. The results suggest that both strategies were efficient in stimulating bear behavior. Our results refute one of the initial hypotheses suggesting that the presence of visitors do not affect the adoption of these enrichment strategies. We suggest the application of different enrichment strategies to complement the diet of captive bears, as well as actions to reduce the adverse effects of human visitors.

Daily Effects of Perceived Leader’s Overqualification on Subordinates’ Work Behaviors

Overqualification is prevalent in today’s global workplace. Yet, the scholarship attending to potential benefits from the overqualified workforce is scarce. In this paper, drawing on equity theory, we develop a theoretical model of perceived overqualification on subordinates’ daily work behaviors. We elaborate on a poorly understood upward comparison process, in which subordinate’s perceptions about their leader’s overqualification evokes positive social behavior and in turn positive in-role work behaviors. The results from a daily repeated measures study provided empirical support for the hypothesized model. By shedding light on the potential bright side of overqualified managers from a third-party perspective, we provide useful insights for the future management research and practice on how organizations can leverage on the overqualified leaders harnessing workplace productivity through their subordinate’s social and proactive behaviors.

IMPACT OF ASSERTIVENESS PROGRAM AMONG STUDENTS OF THEFACULTY OF MEDICINE OF TANGIER (MOROCCO)

Background: Self-esteem is of great importance for positive and confident social behavior. Assertiveness is the component of self-esteem that allow that confident and forceful behavior while maintaining respect for others. Our study sought to evaluate the impact of an assertiveness training program on medical school students skills in communication and assertiveness. Method:123 first-year students (sex ratio (boys/girls):0,52) submitted to practical workshop training sessions during one month, evaluated at the beginning (T0) and the end (T1) of the training program by adapted auto-questionnaires measuring the feeling of self-efficacy when facing social situations, the assertiveness, self-esteem and also esteem in own communication capacity. Results: A significant improvement was seen in the mean scores of communications [58.51 to 64.62 i.e. + 6.11 (CI95% [4.66 7.56]). but also, in assertiveness [73.45 to 86.4 +12.95 (CI95% [10.46 15.43], for both sexes. Conclusion. Assertiveness programs have a positive impact in students self-esteem, assertiveness and communication skills. They must more seriously be considered as an important in schooling.

Behaviour and Welfare Impacts of Releasing Elephants from Overnight Tethers: A Zimbabwean Case Study.

Simple SummaryIn the southern African elephant tourism industry, many elephants are routinely chained or tethered for prolonged periods of time, particularly overnight. There are many negative implications of such restrictive management on elephant welfare. In this pilot study, a group of four male semi-captive African elephants at a tourist facility in Zimbabwe were being taken off overnight tethers and put into small pens, as a strategy to improve elephant welfare. Behavioural data were collected when elephants were on tethers, and approximately four weeks and eight weeks after removal of tethers. Behavioural changes were noted, after removal of tethers, which were indicative of improved welfare (e.g., increased lying rest, increased positive social behaviour and reduced abnormal repetitive behaviours). Importantly, there were no significant increases in aggression (either to their human handlers or to other elephants) following this change in management. To improve elephant welfare in southern African tourism facilities, we strongly advocate management practices which enable greater choice and freedom of movement overnight, which includes ceasing the use of overnight tethers and provision of opportunities for physical interaction with other elephants overnight. Within the southern African elephant tourism industry, chaining or tethering elephants is still a relatively routine practice, despite the known negative impacts. Cited reasons for chaining include fear of aggressive interactions between elephants when handlers are absent, or a general increase in expression of aggressive behaviours (both to other elephants and to their human handlers). In Zimbabwe, concerns expressed include the danger of elephants escaping and entering human-inhabited areas. Four male semi-captive elephants at a Zimbabwe tourist facility were taken off overnight (~12 h) tethers and were placed in small pens (‘bomas’), approximate sizes from 110 m2 to 310 m2), as part of a strategy to improve elephant welfare. Behavioural data were collected from overnight videos from December 2019 to March 2020, between 18:00 to 06:00, using focal, instantaneous sampling (5-min interval). Data were collected for three nights at three time periods: (i) Tethered; (ii) approximately four weeks post-release; (iii) approximately eight weeks post-release. Behavioural change over these time points was analysed using general linear models with quasibinomial error structures. Behavioural changes indicative of improved welfare were observed following these management changes, and no significant increases in aggression were observed either between elephants, or towards their human handlers. Proportion of time engaging in lying rest was higher in the first month after release from tethering (mean ± SD, 50 ± 14%) than when elephants were tethered (20 ± 18%) (p < 0.05). Additionally, although not statistically significant, stereotypies were reduced when elephants were no longer tethered (4 ± 6% observations tethered compared to 2 ± 2% off tethers), and positive social behaviour also increased (1 ± 1% on tethers, 2 ± 2% off tethers), with the greatest improvements seen in the pair-housed elephants. To improve elephant welfare in southern African tourism facilities we strongly advocate that less restrictive management practices which enable greater choice and freedom of movement overnight are implemented.

Inovasi Metode Pendidikan Agama Islam Melalui Active Learning

This article aims to equip students with the knowledge and techniques needed to solve problems using critical and logical thinking. This basic knowledge and problem solving techniques will be useful in their daily life. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach. The purpose of this qualitative research is to describe actual facts or events without in-depth analysis to test hypotheses. The results showed that this method succeeded in instilling social, cognitive, and emotional skills in students. Students become more independent, have a strong leadership spirit, and have a responsibility to find solutions when facing problems. By using this method, students are encouraged to develop positive social behavior, teamwork, effective communication, expressing emotions and feelings, respecting diversity, and finding conflict resolution.

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS IN PROMOTING POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR DURING COVID-19 CRISIS AMONGST A SAMPLE OF USERS IN SAUDI SOCIETY: TWITTER AS A MODEL

This study seeks analysing Twitter social network role in promoting positive behaviour during COVID-19 crisis and exploring the relationship between them. It targets identifying Twitter positive behaviour level differences through variables of gender, age, marital status, residence status, administrative region, and Twitter using size. An online questionnaire was used on a validity-and-stability verified sample of (586) individual Twitter users in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Sample members approved Twitter users’ positive behaviour during COVID-19 crisis. They agreed that the positive behaviour level was medium with a Twitter effect of (19.4%). There were both a positive, medium-strong correlation between Twitter daily use and a statistically significant correlation between one - session Twitter using and positive behaviour promotion. However, there were statistically significant differences in positive behaviour promotion when using Twitter between social status favouring singles, residence status favouring residents, age favouring those under 21, administrative region favouring the southern region, usage period favouring network daily and two days - users, and browsing time favouring much Twitter users .The study recommends conducting studies on positive social behaviour and its dimensions to broadly generalise results. Studies on the Internet of behaviour and artificial intelligence are needed to analyse the positive behaviour expected by social networks users to enhance opportunities. It also stressed children and adolescents’ digital social education to prepare community members for effective online participation, the activation of public and private services-providing agencies Twitter accounts, interacting positively with users' questions and responses, and substituting fixed stereotypes by interesting interactive patterns.

Social and Emotional Learning: Meeting and Addressing Educator and Student Concerns While Providing Benefits for All Involved

Guided by the social-emotional learning framework, this article establishes and discusses the associations between students’ perceptions of five core social emotional learning (SEL) competencies (i.e., responsible decision-making, social awareness, self-awareness, self-management, and relationship skills) and their effect on overall student learning and educational experiences. Social and emotional learning (SEL) provides a foundation for safe and positive learning, and enhances students’ ability to succeed in school, careers, and life. Educators have many concerns regarding various social and emotional needs of the students they serve including absenteeism, behavior, student achievement, higher order thinking, problem solving and overall student mental health. SEL initiatives within the classroom prove to show results in: greater academic success, fewer behavioral issues, less emotional distress, positive social behavior, improved teacher-student relationships, less bullying, improved career readiness, increased graduation rates, decreased teacher stress, and an overall positive school climate.

#socialiseresponsibly. Analyzing the Rhetorical Structure of Heineken TV Commercials During the Pandemic

This work analyzes the efforts by the company Heineken to address in their marketing campaigns the social responsibility and wellbeing of their customers during the pandemic. By particularly looking at the audio-visual design strategies used in 15 TV commercials produced and published during the years 2020–2022, a multimodal analysis of the filmic montage structures examines how the company establishes a coherent process of core marketing and convinces recipients to socialize responsibly under pandemic conditions. The analysis follows the current trend in empirical multimodality research to pursue analyses of digital corpora with the theories and methods developed in the field. Particularly, it uses an ELAN annotation scheme for the description of specific camera techniques (such as camera distance and perspective) as well as the discourse relations holding between the shots and segments identified in the commercials. The findings show that the company mainly uses one specific type of rhetorical structure, the narrative commentary, that puts the social actors shown in many different scenes into the foreground and therefore strongly focuses on the company's strategy of positive social behavior.

The role of social media during the COVID-19 pandemic: Salvaging its 'power' for positive social behaviour change in Africa.

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains a significant global public health crisis. The unique evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen social media emerging and growing into an important vehicle for rapid information dissemination. This has in turn given rise to multiple sources of information, leading to what has come to be known as ‘infodemic’, associated with the plethora of misinformation and conspiracy theories. In this perspective, we explore the growth of the social media industry and the impact it has had during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. We argue that while the multiple information pieces circulating on social media cause misinformation and panic, this might not necessarily and in all the cases influence sustained behaviours in the target population groups. We offer suggestions on how the power of social media can be harnessed and integrated into social and public health for a better digital balance for communication for development.

Correlation of animal-based parameters with environment-based parameters in an on-farm welfare assessment of growing pigs

Nine pig farms were evaluated for the welfare quality in Korea using animal- and environment-based parameters (particularly air quality parameters) during the winter of 2013. The Welfare Quality® (WQ®) protocol consists of 12 criteria within four principles. The WQ® protocol classifies farms into four categories ranging from ‘excellent’ to ‘not classified’. Each of these criteria has specific measures for calculating scores. Calculations for the welfare scores were conducted online using the calculation model in the WQ® protocol. Environment-based parameters like microclimate (i.e., temperature, relative humidity, air speed, and particulate matter), bacteria (total airborne bacteria, airborne total coliform, and airborne total Escherichia coli), concentration of gases (carbon dioxide, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide) were measured to investigate the relationship between animal- and environment-based parameters. Correlations between the results of animal- and environment-based parameters were estimated using spearman correlation coefficient. The overall assessments found that five out of nine farms were ‘acceptable’, and four farms were ‘enhanced’; no farm was ‘not classified’. The average score for the four principles across the nine farms, in decreasing order, were ‘good feeding’ (63.13 points) > ‘good housing’ (59.26 points) > ‘good health’ (33.47 points) > ‘appropriate behaviors’ (25.48 points). In the result of the environment aspect, the relative humidity of farms 2 (93.4%), 3 (100%), and 9 (98%) was much higher than the recommended maximum relative humidity of 80%, and four out of the nine farms had ammonia concentrations greater than 40 ppm. Ammonia had negative correlations with ‘positive social behaviors’ and positive emotional states: content, enjoying, sociable, playful, lively, happy and it had positive correlations with negative emotional states: aimless, distressed. The concentration of carbon dioxide had negative correlations with positive emotional states; calm, sociable, playful, happy and it had a positive correlation with negative emotional state; aimless. Our results indicate that the control of the environment for growing pigs can help improve their welfare, particularly via good air quality (carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide).

Intercultural Examination of Deprivation and Prosociality in Special Education Teachers: A Comparison of USA and Turkey

Prosocial behaviors are positive social behaviors that benefit others. Deprivation is an observable and provable measure of absence in one’s social living standards depending on the society or country to which they belong. The present study examines levels of and correlations between prosocial skills and deprivation in Teachers of Students with Visual Impairment student (TVIs). Environmental Deprivation Scale for Teachers was developed by the researchers with 751 teacher participants. As one of the quantitative research methods, this descriptive study was conducted using correlation and screening to examine the relationship between two or more variables and obtain clues about cause and effect. 68 TVIs in Turkey and 73 TVIs in the USA participated in our web-based scale. The participants were also asked an open-ended question about the reason(s) for choosing their profession. The answers were analyzed, and themes and sub-themes were created. The study's main conclusion is that the American TVIs have higher levels of prosocial skills and lower levels of deprivation. In addition, there is a positive and significant relationship between prosocial skills and deprivation. The reasons teachers choose their profession fell under four themes and eight sub-themes for the American TVIs and six themes and nine sub-themes for the Turkish ones. Several factors, such as the differences in the education systems of the two countries and the levels of development, may impact prosocial skills and deprivation levels.

Interpersonal functioning in hoarding: An investigation of the link between hoarding symptoms and social support, social anhedonia, and social rewards

• Hoarding was related to reduced social support and social motivation beyond depression. • Hoarding was associated with finding both positive and negative social behaviours rewarding. • Hoarding symptoms were predicted by greater social anhedonia. • These results may inform interpersonal conceptualisations for hoarding disorder. One of the key areas of functional impairment in hoarding is interpersonal difficulties, with burgeoning evidence suggesting that these social difficulties are a component of the psychopathology observed in hoarding. The specific nature of these interpersonal difficulties, however, has yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of the current study was to investigate the contribution of social support and motivation to socialise, specifically social anhedonia and rewards from social stimuli, to hoarding symptom severity. A total of 278 participants recruited via the crowd-sourcing website MTurk completed questionnaires assessing hoarding symptoms, social support, social anhedonia, and response to social rewards. Results for social reward processing indicated that hoarding symptoms were associated with finding both negative and positive behaviours towards others more rewarding. Social anhedonia also positively predicted hoarding symptoms. Furthermore, social integration, a component of social support, was inversely associated with hoarding symptoms. These associations remained significant when controlling for depressive symptoms. These results suggest that hoarding may be linked to decreased social support and reduced social motivation, particularly, dysregulated reward processing of social stimuli, and greater social anhedonia. Limitations of the current study include utilising an unselected sample, use of self-report measures, and analyses being correlational in nature. Future research utilising longitudinal or experimental research methods in a clinical population may further delineate the clinical conceptualisation of social difficulties in hoarding disorder. Current findings may inform interpersonal conceptualisations for hoarding disorder and suggest additional treatment avenues.

Examining Early Adolescent Positive and Negative Social Technology Behaviors and Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Public concerns of how frequently adolescents used screens during the pandemic shutdowns fueled the need to research whether these behaviors were conducive or detrimental to their wellbeing. The aims of this longitudinal survey study of 586 middle school students in the Northeast U.S. were to examine (a) changes in positive and negative social technology behaviors prior to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic (fall 2019) compared to during the pandemic (fall 2020) including any differences by subgroups and (b) whether changes in social technology behaviors were associated with wellbeing outcomes and any moderating factors. We found that during this time period, there were significant increases in frequency of checking social media, social technology use before bedtime, and problematic internet use. Students also experienced significant increases in social anxiety, loneliness, and depressive symptoms, but also increased strategies of coping when stressed. By following our preregistered analytical plan, each research aim was addressed within a multilevel modeling framework with time nested within students. We found extremely small effects of social technology behaviors associated with wellbeing, such as online support seeking being related to strategies when coping with stress. Though we found statistically significant effects, none of the findings met our effect size criteria (i.e., effect of ≥.05). Overall, we did not find any strong support that the changes in wellbeing that adolescents experienced during the COVID-19 social distancing was meaningfully related to their social technology use, which is counter to the popular assumption that adolescent wellbeing is intricately tied to their social technology use.

The Pandemic-Induced Personal Data Explosion

Background Government and private responses to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the generation and dissemination of personal data not previously available in the public sphere. Focus of the Article This “Notes from the Field” paper reflects on the implications of this surge of new data for the study and practice of social marketing. The paper examines how this phenomenon impacts on the following aspects of social marketing: (1) Setting of explicit social goals; (2) citizen orientation and focus; (3) value proposition delivery via the social marketing intervention mix; (4) theory-, insight-, data-, and evidence-informed audience segmentation; (5) competition/barrier and asset analysis; and (6) critical thinking, reflexivity, and being ethical. Research Question How are the government and private responses to the pandemic shaping the generation and use of personal data, and what are the implications of this eruption of data for the social marketing scholarly community? Approach The paper highlights how the pandemic resulted in significant changes in behavior of government and citizens alike, and how these changes, in turn, spurred the generation and dissemination of new personal data. Subsequently, we draw on the Core Social Marketing Concepts framework to explore how the aforementioned data explosion impacts on the six dimensions of this central framework. Importance to the Social Marketing Field The COVID-19 pandemic is more than a temporary public health event. Therefore, it is important to consider the lasting consequences that may stem from the pandemic-induced personal data explosion, for both consumers and social marketing scholars and practitioners. Methods This paper comments on a topical matter, and discusses its implications for the social marketing community. Results We find that the data explosion creates conflicting social marketing goals, and that inequalities in access to digital technology are increasingly impacting what voices are heard, and which concerns are prioritized. Moreover, new innovations may be enabled or needed, leading to the improvement of firms' ability to create value for individual citizens; the creation of new datasets—particularly among demographics that previously had a limited digital footprint—enhances the ability to segment markets and target social marketing activities. Furthermore, the pandemic-induced data explosion may lead to the identification of additional barriers to positive social behaviors that have emerged, diminished, or even disappeared during the pandemic; but researchers need to critically examine the consequences of the government and private behaviors at the macro, meso, and micro levels. Recommendations for Research or Practice We propose a research agenda for the social marketing community, consisting of 21 research questions. Limitations Our analysis focuses on the behavior of government and citizens in North America and Western Europe.