Role Of Online Social Networks Research Articles

Social Inclusion of Gen Z Ukrainian Refugees in Lithuania: The Role of Online Social Networks

Social Inclusion of Gen Z Ukrainian Refugees in Lithuania: The Role of Online Social Networks

МОЖЛИВІ ВАРІАНТИ УДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ ІСНУЮЧИХ ПІДХОДІВ ДО ВИЯВЛЕННЯ ФЕЙКОВИХ НОВИН НА ОСНОВІ ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ПОТЕНЦІАЛУ АЛГОРИТМІВ МАШИННОГО ТА ГЛИБОКОГО НАВЧАННЯ, СЕНТИМЕНТУ НОВИННОГО КОНТЕНТУ Й ЕМОЦІЙ У КОМЕНТАРЯХ КОРИСТУВАЧІВ

Currently, the Internet ranks first among sources of information. In the recent period, the role of online social networks (OSN) has significantly increased, which has both positive and negative consequences. The negative role of OSN is related to the spread of fake news that affects people's daily lives, manipulates their thoughts and feelings, changes their beliefs and can lead to wrong decisions. The problem of spreading fake news in OSN is currently global, and the formation of countermeasures is an urgent task today. Today, there are various proven approaches to detecting fake news. In particular, one of the approaches is based on the use of different machine (ML) and deep (DL) learning algorithms. The other is based on the results of sentiment analysis of news content and analysis of emotions in user comments. The research conducted by the authors of other approaches to detecting fake news, which differ from the ones given, made it possible to conclude that the mentioned approaches are effective and promising in terms of using their potential for the development of new models with high performance indicators on various data sets. In the article, the author's ideas regarding the improvement of existing approaches to detecting fake news based on the use of the potential of these approaches are formed and formalized. The first idea is based on the implementation of the mechanism of combining machine (ML) and deep (DL) learning methods, as well as the results of the analysis of the sentiment of news content and emotions in user comments, which takes into account the possibility of ensuring a sufficient level of effectiveness in detecting fake news, a certain level of the values of the selected metrics, as well as a certain level of functional characteristics of the author's method. The second idea is based on the implementation of a mechanism combining the functionality of two methods from among the specified two groups, which would provide optimal parameters for detecting fake news according to defined criteria and indicators. The substantiation of the ideas involved the preliminary implementation of: setting the researched problem; functional analysis of machine (ML) and deep (DL) learning algorithms, as well as fake news detection algorithms based on the use of the results of sentiment analysis of news content and emotions in user comments; description of metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of methods for detecting fake news. According to the results of the substantiation of the perspective of the ideas, the tasks of detecting fake news in the author's production were formalized.

The role of online social networks in improving health literacy and medication adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran: Development of a conceptual model

Online social networks have been used to enhance human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention, diagnosis, and treatment programs worldwide. This study aimed to develop a conceptual model of using online social networks in improving health literacy and medication adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran. This mixed-method sequential exploratory study was conducted in three phases. Firstly, a series of semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 29 HIV-positive patients were conducted to investigate the perceptions and experiences of HIV-positive patients about using online social networks to support health literacy and medication adherence. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative interviews, extract potential components, and design a conceptual model. Then, a Delphi study with 27 HIV-positive patients was subsequently conducted to examine the consensus of patients on the proposed model. Finally, the trustworthiness and credibility of the proposed model were reviewed and evaluated by expert panel members from epidemiology and public health. Seven themes and 24 sub-themes emerged from the qualitative interviews. Five themes encompassed components of online social networks that supported communication and information-seeking behaviour of people living with HIV/AIDS. The two other themes encompassed social support and health-related outcomes including medication adherence. The credibility of the proposed conceptual model was confirmed methodologically using the expert panel and Delphi technique. Our findings highlighted that using online social networks has empowered Iranian people living with HIV/AIDS, making them more connected, safe, and able to access HIV/AIDS-related information and services. The role of online social networks in improving health literacy and medication adherence was also demonstrated in a conceptual model to understand the supportive components of online social networks in the HIV care continuum as well as customized interventions to improve the success of antiretroviral therapies.

Self-representation through avatars in digital environments

Due to its prominent role in online social networks, avatar creation has become an important research topic in the field of computer-mediated communication. One main motive for creating avatars is the representation of one’s own identity. Previous research indicates that avatar creation depends on the activity context for which the avatar is created. Though, studies comparing avatar creation for a wide variety of activity contexts are still missing. The present study addresses this empirical gap by examining (1) the self-representation of physical, demographical, and personality characteristics through avatars, (2) differences in self-representation between various online activity contexts, and (3) between-participant variance in ascribed personality traits. Participants attributed physical, demographical, and personality characteristics to their avatar for one of six online activity contexts and indicated the same characteristics for their actual and ideal selves. We analysed the data of 568 participants and found a high level of congruence between demographical/physical characteristics of the avatar, the actual self, and the ideal self. Furthermore, we found an idealised representation of the avatar’s personality traits, which was affected by the specific activity context. Last, the between-participant variance in the avatar’s personality traits was mainly larger than the variance in the ideal self but smaller than the variance in the actual self, indicating a link between avatar creation and social norms. These results deliver new insights into the strategies behind avatar creation in different contexts and build a basis for future research and practical implications for developers and designers of virtual worlds.

The role of online social networks in university students’ environmentally responsible behavior

PurposeThis study aims to determine the effect of online social networks on university students’ environmentally responsible behavior (ERB). This research aimed to develop and test a behavioral model in the context of online social networks, where students’ attitudes, knowledge and behavior influence their ERB.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a quasi-experiment with a pretest-posttest design and a random parallelization control group. The research used a questionnaire to assess ERB, environmental attitudes and environmental knowledge. The researcher randomly assigned 120 students to an experimental and a control group of equal size. Both groups initially completed a pretest. The experimental group was trained in environmental issues over four months (an academic semester) via an online social network.FindingsThe findings indicated that the social network had a significant effect on motivating ERB. Additionally, it improved environmental attitudes. According to the results, online social networks such as Facebook can significantly aid in teaching and learning environmental issues in formal academic settings.Originality/valueOnline social networks facilitated significant cognitive progress in environmental education. The primary objective is to educate students about ERB.

CRISIS CORPOREIZADAS: NARRATIVAS CULTURALES, REDES SOCIALES ONLINE Y EL SÍNDROME DEL ESPEJO

This article addresses three interrelated phenomena: the irruption of new cultural narratives of power, the role of online social networks in the creation of embodied crises, and the emergence of the Mirror Syndrome as a new computer-mediated medical challenge. In doing so, it exposes the negative consequences that the cultural narratives of beauty canons executed by social media have, above all, for young women’s health.

Drivers and Performance Implications of Frontline Employees’ Social Capital Development and Maintenance: The Role of Online Social Networks*

ABSTRACTBuilding upon social capital theory, we identify different attributes of frontline employee (FLE) social capital and outline how the use of online social networks (OSNs) can enable social capital development and social capital maintenance. We examine key boundary conditions of time management skills, perceived innovation climate, and customer perceived FLE responsiveness. Use of multi‐informant data from FLEs working in B2B sales/service roles, their customers, and managers enabled a comprehensive analysis that accounts for the endogenous nature of the predictor variables. We find the use of OSNs relates to social capital development and maintenance. Time management skills strengthen links between OSNs and both forms of social capital. However, perceived innovation climate plays a moderating role only in the social capital development process. Unique pathways connecting social capital development to customer loyalty with the firm and social capital maintenance to FLE sales performance were noted.

Network relationships of U.S. government health agencies in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic

Introduction. Government institutes, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Department of Health and Human Services, play important but different roles dealing with COVID-19 in the USA. Method. This study used NodeXL between June 7 and June 8 to visualise the social networks of the Centers and the Department by collecting 5,166 (the Centers) and 2,940 tweets (the Department). Analysis. Examined the characteristics of centrality of the two networks and used cluster analysis to identify communication groups. Results. Findings confirmed that the Centers demonstrate characteristics of people-based online networks, whereas the Department appears as an institutes-based online networks. Second, offline social networks play an essential role in online social networks. Third, the Centers had a greater impact on the networks in the Department network than the effect the Department had on the Centers. Fourth, some key players, such as the World Health Organization, play a pivotal role in both networks. Conclusions. Governments should explore the different types of health information of government institutes to effectively cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Awesome women and bad feminists: the role of online social networks and peer support for feminist practice in academia

In her book, ‘Bad Feminist’, Roxane Gay claims this label shamelessly, embracing the contradictory aspects of enacting feminist practice while fundamentally being ‘flawed human[s]’. This article tells a story inspired by and enacting Roxane Gay’s approach in academia, written by five cis-gendered women geographers. It is the story of a proactive, everyday feminist initiative to survive as women in an academic precariat fuelled by globalised, neoliberalised higher education. We reflect on what it means to be (bad) feminists in that context, and how we respond as academics. We share experiences of an online space used to support one another through post-doctoral life, a simple message thread, which has established an important role in our development as academics and feminists. This article, written through online collaboration, mirrors and enacts processes fundamental to our online network, demonstrating the significance and potential of safe digital spaces for peer support. Excerpts from the chat reflect critically on struggles and solutions we have co-developed. Through this, we celebrate and validate a strategy we know that we and others like us find invaluable for our wellbeing and survival. Finally, we reflect on the inherent limitations of exclusive online networks as tools for feminist resistance.

Fine-grained Emotion Role Detection Based on Retweet Information

User behaviors in online social networks convey not only literal information but also one’s emotional attitudes towards the information. To compute this attitude, we define the concept of emotion role as the concentrated reflection of a user’s online emotional characteristics. Emotion role detection aims to better understand the structure and sentiments of online social networks and support further analysis, e.g., revealing public opinions, providing personalized recommendations, and detecting influential users. In this article, we first introduce the definition of a fine-grained emotion role, which consists of two dimensions: emotion orientation (i.e., positive, negative, and neutral) and emotion influence (i.e., leader and follower). We then propose a Multi-dimensional Emotion Role Mining model (MERM) to determine a user’s emotion role in online social networks. Specifically, we tend to identify emotion roles by combining a set of features that reflect a user’s online emotional status, including degree of emotional characteristics, accumulated emotion preference, structural factor, temporal factor, and emotion change factor. Experiment results on a real-life micro-blog reposting dataset show that the classification accuracy of the proposed model can achieve up to 90.1%.

Role of Social Networks in Raising the Level of Self-Care of Pregnant Women

OBJECTIVES: To introduce the role of online social networks in raising the level of self-care of pregnant women. METHODOLOGY: This was a observational cross-sectional study. Four hundred and four pregnant women were estimated as sample using the sample size estimation of Cochran (confidence level of 95%), among the ones who referred to outpatient clinic and inpatients of Amir Almomenin hospital of Semnan, Iran. The questionnaire used in this study included three sections and the authors developed it after reviewing the related literatures. The questionnaire was tested as pilot on 28 pregnant women which were randomly chosen from Amir Almomenin hospital. RESULTS: Our Study showed that the highest average score of using the pregnant women from social networks was to use the experience of pregnant women who had a child aged 3.46±1.33 and also related to the concerns of the pregnant women due to differences in the information of physicians and social network users 2.67±1.34. The findings showed that there were significant relationships between some of the individual characteristics of pregnant women and their use of social networks (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: According to the findings of this research, electronic communication between pregnant women and the clinical staff (midwives and physicians) through social media requires the promotion of social network use by this group. It thus seems necessary to encourage physicians to use social media to properly monitor their patients’ maternal and fetal health. © 2018, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences. All rights reserved.

Predict Pairwise Trust Based on Machine Learning in Online Social Networks: A Survey

Trust plays a crucial role in online social networks where users do not communicate or interact with each other in a direct face-to-face manner. Although many researchers have already conducted comprehensive studies on trust computing like trust evaluation, pairwise trust prediction is still relatively under explored especially with machine learning methods which can overcome the disadvantages of both linear predication and trust propagation. This survey aims to fill this gap and first provides an overview of state-of-the-art researches in pairwise trust prediction using machine learning techniques, especially in the context of social networking. Specifically, we present a workflow of trust prediction using machine learning and summarize current available trust-related datasets, classifiers and different metrics used to evaluate a trained classifier. Also, we review, compare, and contrast the literature for the purpose of identifying open issues and directing future research.

Aktivnosti starijih osoba na onlajn društvenim mrežama

Old age is considered as a period of life when each individual is at risk of social isolation due to a breakdown in communication with his or hers long-standing social environment, and the decrease of contact with relatives and friends. However, older people can make a significant contribution to society by refusing to be isolated. Thanks to the advancement of technology and the emergence of the Internet, social media offers a platform for online social networking. The association of older population through social media, in particular through online social networks, enables participants to achieve the appropriate economic and social roles and reduce the sense of loneliness, isolation and depression. The primary goal of this paper is to point out the necessity of the social connection of the elderly, with particular emphasis on the role of online social networks. The paper seeks answers to several questions: How does the isolation affect the elderly? Can social media provide the necessary interaction with this population and to what extent are the members of the older population willing to accept online social networks. This paper presents the latest research carried out in the US, the EU and Serbia, on the activities of older population on online social networks.

Identifying Dynamic Topics of Interest across Social Networks

Information propagation plays a significant role in online social networks, mining the latent information produced became crucial to understand how information is disseminated. It can be used for market prediction, rumor controlling, and opinion monitoring among other things. Thus, in this paper, an information dissemination model based on dynamic individual interest is proposed. The basic idea of this model is to extract effective topic of interest of each user overtime and identify the most relevant topics with respect to seed users. A set of experiments on real twitter dataset showed that the proposed dynamic prediction model which applies machine learning techniques outperformed traditional models that only rely on words extracted from tweets.

The role of online social networks for divorced Saudi women in the face of social, psychological, economic, and legal challenges

This research examines the supporting role social networks provide to divorced Saudi women in the face of social, economic, psychological, and legal challenges. An online survey with open and closed ended questions was created to address the following research question: What support do online social networks provide to divorced Saudi women in contemporary Saudi Arabian society in the face of social, economic, psychological, and legal challenges?” The survey was completed online by 248 divorced Saudi women. Quantitative analysis of closed-ended survey responses was applied to the dataset followed by a qualitative thematic analysis of respondents' responses to open-ended questions. Survey findings identified the following areas of medium to high social network support experienced by divorced Saudi women: social outcast avoidance, relationship management with former husband, income assistance, emotional support, confidence building, and depression management. Findings also revealed areas where social networks provided only low levels of support with respect to social, economic, psychological, and legal challenges. The research contributes new insights into the supporting role of social networks for divorced Saudi women and their potential to leverage personal life and identity development in the face of social stigmatization and societal marginalization. This work advances research relevant to media studies, woman's studies, and cultural studies.

The Internet and Its Potentials for Networking and Identity Seeking: A Study on ISIS

ABSTRACTWith the accelerating process of globalization and the development of its technological dimension, more and more opportunities and channels are available to the terrorist groups in the world to mobilize resources and advocates. “Islamic State of Iraq and Sham” (ISIS), as the most modern terrorist-excommunicative group (Takfiry), has been able to utilize the Internet and social networks highly adeptly. While ignoring the function of long-term structural and essential factors underlying the formation of ISIS, and also combining the networked society theory and triple forms of identities proposed by Manuel Castells with theoretical discussions on identity making, networking, and mobilization of media, the current article seeks to analyze the role of cyberspace and social networks as accelerating and opportunistic agents in mobilizing resources and disseminating ISIS. Using an explanatory analytical research method, the current article mainly intends to find a reply to the question: What has been the role of online social networks in connection with ISIS as an excommunicative and terrorist group? According to the research hypothesis, due to ISIS’s subtle, prevocational-emotional and targeted utilization of online social networks, the networks have played the role of an accelerator and opportunity maker in some areas including network building, guidance of public opinion, identity making, and the promotion of project identity of this terrorist group. The general conclusion obtained from the article is that ISIS, as the most terrifying and the most modern group equipped with cyber media, has been able to attract many forces out of fanatical religious groups, unemployed people, criminals, etc., worldwide. Additionally, with the recruitment of fanatics, ISIS has been able to accomplish identity making and network building. As a result, regional security and even security in Western countries is also highly endangered.

The role of online social network chatting for alcohol use in adolescence: Testing three peer-related pathways in a Swedish population-based sample

The aim of the study was to examine whether online social network chatting (OSNC) is related to any of three peer-related pathways to alcohol use among adolescents including a stress-exposure pathway, a peer status pathway and a social context pathway. A survey was distributed to a Swedish population-based sample of 2439 boys and girls 15–16 years old enrolled in the 9th grade of primary school. Indirect effects, moderating effects, and gender differences were analysed. The results exposed a robust positive association between OSNC and alcohol use, but also that OSNC accounted for one-fifth of the association between the peer status pathway and alcohol use. A positive association between the stress-exposure pathway and alcohol use was found that was weaker among adolescents who scored high on OSNC whereas a positive association between the social context pathway and alcohol use also was found that was stronger among adolescents who scored high on OSNC. Consequently, OSNC may contribute differently to alcohol use depending on which peer-related pathway that the adolescent follows. The robust positive association between OSNC and alcohol use that remained when the three peer-related pathways were accounted for also indicates that this association is accounted for by other factors.

Using Digital Health Technology to Prevent and Treat Diabetes.

This year's article on health information technology (HIT) illustrates the use of digital technology to prevent and treat diabetes by enabling consumer engagement, behavior change, and impact analytics. It provides a snapshot of current thinking about digital technology's capabilities and capacity to deliver personalized interventions at scale. Early results are promising. A growing number of digital programs are clinically proven to improve health and lower the cost of care. And pioneering health-care organizations are offering these programs to members and patients as part of their new models for value-based care. Their success will drive other organizations—payers, providers, and employers—to make similar investments in health. In the modern health-care world, experts agree that “value” will be created by enabling health, not just delivering care. With today's epidemic of diabetes, patients who use digital health technologies can benefit greatly from both short-term health improvements and long-term health self-management. The foundations have been laid with evidence-based programs. Now, more health-care organizations must embrace this population management strategy for health. As adoption increases, the next technology challenge will arise: consumer engagement at scale. This engagement will be digital: content-rich programs filled with social support to activate, educate, and engage consumers. Most of the articles included in this and prior ATTD Yearbook articles address the specifics of digital interventions once the person enrolls. But before enrollment, consumers must engage. And to engage consumers, one must understand their reasons for engaging and their expectations for results. These insights fall into the realm of digital marketing, rather than the domain of clinical programs. Using a multidisciplinary approach, digital engagement will be the next variable to solve in the equation for scalable digital health. Not for a lack of trying, we have been unable to find noteworthy articles presenting best practices for consumer engagement from outreach to enrollment. But the future looks quite bright for the science of marketing digital health interventions. Increasingly, “big data” is providing scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, educators, health-care providers, and administrators with the insights they need to predict consumer interests and personalize experiences throughout the entire behavior change process—from outreach to outcomes. Over the coming year, we will continue to search the health-care landscape to bring more innovations in digital health and diabetes prevention, from consumer engagement to population impact.

Tracing pathways to higher education for refugees: the role of virtual support networks and mobile phones for women in refugee camps

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we explore the role of online social networks in the cultivation of pathways to higher education for refugees, particularly for women. We compare supports garnered in local and offline settings to those accrued through online social networks and examine the differences between women and men. The paper draws on complementary original data sources, including an online survey of the Somali Diaspora (n = 248) and in-depth interviews (n = 21) with Somali refugees who do or have lived in the Dadaab refugee camps of Kenya. We find an important interplay of local and global interactions, mediated by mobile technology, that participants identify as critical to their access to higher education. Our analysis relates these interactions to shifting social norms and possibilities for refugee women’s education. Our findings directly address the use of information and communication technology in expanding opportunities for higher education for women in refugee camps.

FACEBOOK AS A TOOL FOR DISCURSIVE RESISTANCE: A CASE

Iran is one of the few countries in the world with laws of compulsory hijab for women, regardless of their religion. In the last couple of years, Iranian women have formed online communities to resist such laws and voice their dissent. The role of online social networks in causing social change, and the extent to which these New Media can help the processes of emancipation and democratization has been a matter of increasing academic attention. However, there are not enough studies, particularly from a linguistics viewpoint, on the online resistance movement of Iranian women against compulsory hijab. This leaves a gap in our understanding of both the dynamics and strategies of such movements, and also the bigger question of whether or not New Media can be useful tools in advancing human rights, democracy, and equality. This study, employing the Discourse-Historical Approach to Critical Discourse Analysis, investigates a corpora of over 500 Facebook posts by the most popular pages created for the purpose of resisting compulsory hijab in Iran. In contrast to the dichotomization and Xenophobia reported in studies on similar discourses, our findings point to a trichotomized discourse, in which the Self is identified against a negatively represented domestic Other (Oikophobia), and a positively framed foreign Other (Xenophilia). The paper concludes that the use of New Media in this case has led to an illusion of resistance, and how the movement under study is self-destructive, reproducing the same ideologies it is resisting.