Social Media Groups Research Articles

The Fall of the Republic Government in Afghanistan and the Current Taliban Rule: A Survey of Public Attitudes

This paper represents one of the most recent and pertinent studies conducted in Afghanistan, aiming to address the societal imperative of comprehending the factors behind the fall of the Republic government and the subsequent rise of the Taliban to power. Furthermore, the paper seeks to analyse public attitudes towards the current situation. Employing a quantitative approach, the research utilizes a descriptive-analytical method through questionnaires and the participants include social media activist, students and universities professors, the data collected by online survey according WhatsApp, Facebook messengers, telegram, email and other social media groups from different ethnic groups. The findings of this research have identified several pivotal factors contributing to the ascent of the Taliban to power, including the US-Taliban agreement in Doha, Qatar; political disparities; administrative and financial corruption within the Republic's administration; Pakistan's support for the Taliban; the previous government's accord with the Taliban; ethnic dominance; robust military morale of the Taliban; and proficient war management by the Taliban. Afghanistan, as a multi-ethnic society, witnesses political dynamics predominantly rooted in ethnic affiliations. The majority of respondents express dissatisfaction with the current Afghan situation, displaying significant concerns for the populace. Foremost concerns, in terms of prioritization, encompass poverty; closure of girls' schools; restrictions on women's education and employment; escalation of civil unrest; mono-ethnic rule; ethnic conflicts; emergence of ISIS; ethnic marginalization; violations of citizenship rights; political participation and legitimacy crises; and authoritarianism. Consequently, to address the political crisis and establish a viable system, the research concludes that while Pashtuns lean toward a centralized system, Hazaras, Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Turkmens evince greater interest in a decentralized structure.

Prevalence of medical emergency events in primary dental care within the UK

Introduction Dental professionals have an ethical and legal obligation to diagnose and manage medical emergencies which may occur in primary dental care.Aims and objectives To investigate the prevalence of medical emergencies in UK primary dental care and explore the medical emergency training needs of UK primary dental care professionals.Design and setting Cross-sectional survey, targeting dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists across the UK working within primary dental care.Materials and methods An online survey was distributed via dental society mailing lists, social media groups and a dental conference. The questionnaire consisted of participants demographics and training in, prevalence of and confidence surrounding medical emergencies.Results Respondents (n = 400) were dentists (55.8%), dental hygienists/therapists (38.8%) and specialists (5.5%). Most participants received basic life support training (62%) in 2019, before COVID-19. The most common medical emergencies were syncope, non-specific collapse and hypoglycaemia, being encountered every 1.59, 1.64 and 8.26 years, respectively. The preferred method for medical emergency training was practical based, with more training in administering emergency drugs and equipment identified as a training need.Conclusion Dental professionals will encounter medical emergencies in primary dental care every 1-2 years and are therefore not uncommon.

Are active and passive social media use related to mental health, wellbeing, and social support outcomes? A meta-analysis of 141 studies

Abstract The relationships between active (e.g., creating content) and passive (e.g., scrolling) social media (SM) use (SMU) and mental health, wellbeing, and social support outcomes have received significant attention, yet findings have been mixed. We conducted a meta-analysis of 141 studies (N ≈ 145,000) containing 897 effect sizes (ESs) between active and passive SMU and 13 outcomes. Most ESs were negligible (|r| < .10), with the exception of between-person associations for active SMU and greater online support (r = .34), wellbeing (r = .15), positive affect (r = .11), and symptoms of anxiety (r = .12), and passive SMU and greater online support (r = .15). Moderator analyses revealed that passive use was associated with worse emotional outcomes in general SM contexts, but not in the context of SM groups. User age also emerged as an important contextual factor. Implications for future research, theory development, and healthy SMU are discussed.

Online with suicidal ideation: How individuals communicate in and perceive a peer-to-peer mediated social media group

ObjectiveIndividuals experiencing suicidal ideation increasingly use social media to communicate with peers. The literature shows mixed results of its impact and lack of in-depth explorations of closed social media groups. Aim was to explore how members of a closed peer-to-peer social media group for individuals experiencing suicidal ideation communicate and perceive of their membership. MethodAccess to a closed Facebook group was obtained through administrators and members. Data consisted of descriptive statistics, written content (1 January–30 June 2020), and in-depth interviews with members (n = 5). Data were analyzed using thematic network analysis. ResultsA total of 445 posts and 2891 comments were analysed alongside five interviews. Four thematic areas emerged: (i) Members could share their thoughts with ‘similar others’ in the group; (ii) Many outpoured frustrations in a one-directional manner, while others searched for deep peer discussions; The group was used for (iii) sharing emotional peer-to-peer support; and (iv) practical advice to navigate the psychiatric and social systems. ConclusionFindings highlight the group as a safe space and perceived lack of support from the system. They can assist in better understanding the value and challenges of online peer-to-peer communities; advise on how to navigate them; and pinpoint to support needs of this community.

First-year nursing students' perceptions of health activism and social responsibility — A cross sectional study

BackgroundSocial responsibility and health activism both represent key concepts and professional values in nursing practice. Nevertheless, definitions in the nursing literature remain inconsistent, and little is known regarding nursing students' perceptions of these concepts or about the associations between these perceptions. ObjectivesThis research explores: a) the associations between nursing students' perceptions of social responsibility and health activism; and b) the differences in nursing students' perceptions of social responsibility and health activism according to their personal characteristics. Design and methodsAcross-sectional survey design was conducted with a sample of 173 Israeli first-year undergraduate nursing students. Questions were uploaded in the format provided by a commercial Internet survey provider (Qualtrics.com) and distributed through social media groups. ResultsPositive correlations were found between health activism and social responsibility and between health activism and philanthropic and environmental responsibility. Significant differences were found in the research variables according to the students' cultural group and voluntary service. Cultural group and social responsibility explained 25 % of students' variance in health activism. ConclusionsFaculty and nurse educators should promote and develop nursing students' knowledge acquisition in health activism and social responsibility throughout all their years of study. It is recommended that nursing students be given meaningful opportunities to discuss, integrate, and apply health activism, guided by role models in clinical practice. Academic settings should also promote the value of social responsibility and support nursing students in taking active roles in social organizations in order to further develop and integrate the social component of their professional role.

Acceptability, feasibility and potential of an intervention using secret Facebook groups to complement existing HIV prevention strategies among female sex workers in Cameroon, a randomized pilot study

ABSTRACT This randomized pilot project evaluated an intervention promoting health care literacy around HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and stigma reduction using private social media groups that complemented existing HIV prevention services among female sex workers (FSWs) in Cameroon. The intervention was 12 HIV and sexual health videos tailored to FSWs that were released over 8 weeks through a secret Facebook group platform. In-person surveys were administered before, after the intervention, and three months later. No HIV seroconversions were detected; all participants completed follow-up and agreed to recommend the intervention to a coworker. Although the intervention was assessed to be acceptable and feasible to implement, poor internet connectivity was a key barrier. In time-series analysis, the intervention group participants reported improved PrEP interest, PrEP knowledge, and condom use along with reduced PrEP and HIV-related stigma, but no impact on sex-work related stigma or social cohesion. Similar results occurred in the control group. Cross-contamination and small pilot study size might have hindered the ability to detect the differential impact of this intervention. As communications technology increases in Cameroon, it is essential to learn more about FSWs preferences on the use of social media platforms for HIV prevention strategies.

Research on the Success of the Crowdfunding Platform Performance in the Funder Dana Project Indonesia Facebook Community

This research aims to determine the influence of fundraising, product testing, relationship reliability, and increasing awareness on crowdfunding platform performance. The performance of crowdfunding is necessary for research because it involves raising funds from the wider community which needs to be kept safe. This research uses a quantitative approach using regression analysis. The population in this research consists of start-up business actors, MSMEs, investors and other supporters who are members of the Funder Dana Project Indonesia, a Facebook social media group with 1,504 members. This research sample is based on the Krejcie-Morgan Table with an error rate of 5%, consisting of 289 respondents. The research results show that fundraising, product testing, relationship reliability, and increasing awareness simultaneously have a positive and significant effect on crowdfunding platform performance. The recommendation of this research is that crowdfunding stakeholders including the government (OJK) should join social media communities such as Funder Dana Project Indonesia as a medium to build long-term connections and interactions between start-up business actors, MSMEs, investors and other supporters, and continue . to create products that are unique, creative and have selling power so that they get a good response from the public and investors. Recommendations for the government (OJK) to always encourage all crowdfunding platform providers to be in good and healthy condition.

Perception and practices on COVID-19 vaccination and booster dose acceptability among health-care workers - A questionnaire-based study.

To assess the perception and practices on COVID-19 vaccination and to determine the predictors of booster dose acceptability among health-care workers (HCWs) in South India. We conducted an anonymous cross-sectional survey on the perception and practices on COVID-19 vaccination and booster dose acceptability among the HCWs in South India. We prepared an online self-administered validated questionnaire, and the Google form link to it was circulated from March 28, 2022 to April 27, 2022, in the social media groups of the HCWs. We used binary logistic regression to identify the predictors of booster dose acceptability among HCWs. Overall, we obtained 572 valid responses, of which the majority were from paramedical workers compared to doctors. Most of the respondents were unmarried females aged <30 years. Around 31.6% had been previously diagnosed with COVID-19. About 97.9%, 88.8%, and 12.6% of the participants have taken the first, second, and booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, respectively. Among the respondents, 19.7% refused to take the booster dose. The main reason for booster dose refusal is the belief that two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are sufficient to confer disease protection. Believing vaccination to be one of the most effective measures in COVID-19 prevention and being doctors by profession were the chief predictors of booster dose acceptance among HCWs. While the uptake of the primary COVID-19 vaccination series was commendable among Indian HCWs, booster dose was taken only by a minority of them.

Social Medi(a)cine: Use of a social media group for medical advice and education post covid-19

Abstract Background ‘Ask an M.D’ is a private Facebook group, created in 2018, which grew dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic, now serving over 52,000 members. It is a platform for asking medical questions, answered pro-bono, by about 180 physicians and pharmacists. Methods An anonymous questionnaire was posted on the group's page, inquiring about members’ demographics, consultation topics, scope of group's usage, and their reasons for using it. We also collected administrative data, tracking posts’ distribution over time, engagement in posts written by others and members’ demographics. Results The group grew from 5,000 to 19,000 members between 9.2019 and 9.2020. It now features 4,800 posts, 30,000 written responses, and 55,000 reactions yearly. 19,000 members viewed the questionnaire and 920 (∼5%) answered it. Respondents’ mean age was 37(18-70), 85% female and 18% live in the county's periphery. An overwhelming 66% had an academic degree. Only 1% did not finish high school. 61.5% ever consulted the group (36% once a year while 60% 2-5 times a year). Common fields of consultation were OBGYN (20%), Pediatrics (15%) and Dermatology (11%). 99% of respondents read other members’ consultations in the group. Reasons for using the group in last consultation were seeking second opinion (36%); long scheduled appointment (34%); sense of urgency (28%); 8.5% didn't know whom to consult, 7% were embarrassed of their doctor and 4% didn't understanding their doctors’ explanations. Conclusions Covid-19 emphasized the need for an available and reliable online source of medical consultation. Yet, a gap in access to medical information and consultation still exists and should not be viewed as a circumstantial occurrence. ‘Ask an M.D''s impact goes beyond mere individual consultations, as most members read others’ public consultations in addition to their own. Lack of online literacy serves as a barrier to usage of this type of tool among the less educated. These are preliminary results. Key messages • Reliable and accessible professional consultation on social media platforms is a timely and important health promotion tool. • Utilization of such platforms should be embraced and encouraged, while striving to heighten online literacy and use amongst less educated groups.

Reducing long-term use of benzodiazepine receptor agonists: In-depth interview study with primary care stakeholders.

To increase our understanding of which factors contribute to long-term benzodiazepine receptor agonist (BZRA) use for insomnia in primary care, from a patients', general practitioners' (GP) and pharmacists' perspective. Qualitative research following a grounded theory approach. Primary care in Belgium. Twenty-four participants were interviewed, including nine patients, six GPs and nine pharmacists. In-depth, semistructured interviews with iterative cycles of data collection and analysis. Transcripts were analysed using the framework method. Thematic findings were interpreted in the context of the Theoretical Domains Framework. A reflexive relation was identified between views about hypnotic use at the level of society, healthcare and patients. Behaviour change appeared to depend strongly on context and social influence, including a need for supporting relationships by all stakeholders. Six key messages captured factors that contribute to long-term BZRA use for insomnia in primary care: societal beliefs as a game changer, the opportunity of nonpharmacological treatment, collaborative primary care, patient-centred goals, informed consent and self-management. Long-term BZRA use for insomnia is a complex and multifaceted public health problem that is not adequately addressed in primary care at this time. Although primary care professionals in this study found discontinuation of long-term BZRA use relevant to the patient's health, many organisational and personal barriers were reported. Moreover, the current social and healthcare context is not empowering patients and professionals to reduce long-term BZRA use for insomnia. Specifically, for primary care, all stakeholders reported the need for a nonmedicalised relationship between the patient and GP to lower prescribing rates. The Flemish Patient Platform, a patient representative organisation, assisted with recruitment by launching a call for participants in their newsletter and volunteered to disseminate the results. The call for recruitment was also published online in social media groups regarding insomnia and via posters in public pharmacies. Patients or public were not involved in designing or conducting the interview study.

Greater Obstetric Barriers for Female Urologists Compared to Peer-Physicians

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of pregnancy complications, infertility, and maternal support for female urologists in comparison to the general population and other female physicians. MethodsAn anonymous, voluntary survey was distributed to female physicians via private physician social media groups from June to August 2021. The survey queried pregnancy demographics and complications, infertility diagnosis and treatment, workplace environment, and prior education on these topics. Results were compared between urologists and the general population and other female physicians with Fisher’s exact test, chi-square with Yates’s correction, or Student’s t-tests as indicated. Results4612 female physicians completed the survey including 241 (5%) urologists. Compared with the general population, urologists were more likely to have a miscarriage or pre-term birth, have children later in life, and undergo infertility evaluation or infertility treatment (all p<0.0001). 42% of urologists reported experiencing a pregnancy complication and only 9% of those surveyed received education on the risks of delaying pregnancy. Despite being educated more often regarding the risks of delaying pregnancy compared to other physicians, urologists were less likely to have children, had fewer children, and were more likely to be discouraged from starting a family during training and practice (all p<0.0001). Additionally, urologists reported shorter parental leave, worked more hours per week while pregnant, and were less likely to receive lactation accommodations compared to other female physicians (all p<0.001). ConclusionsEducation for trainees on family planning and fostering a culture of support are deficits identified in overcoming obstetric barriers in urologists.

Assessing Mental Healthcare Worker Experiences of Workplace Fairness and Organizational Value: A National Survey of Peer-Support Specialists.

Peer-support specialists-individuals with diagnosed mental illnesses who provide support services to other adults with diagnosed mental health issues-often feel stigmatized and undervalued at work, leading to negative personal- and job-related outcomes. Given their important link to positive service user outcomes, this study assessed how peer-support specialists perceive fairness and feel valued in the workplace. Peer-support specialists (N = 274) were recruited online from peer-support specialist listservs, social media groups, and patient-run organizations to take a cross-sectional survey that included a 14-item scale on how workplace fairness relates to job satisfaction and four questions on how valued they felt by administrators, clinicians, the people they serve, and fellow peer-support specialists. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were used to assess total scores and differences by gender and race. Ranging in age from 20 to 77 years and identifying predominantly as White (81.0%) and female (62.9%), respondents noted that fair practices in the workplace would increase their job satisfaction, with no significant differences observed by gender or race. Most peer-support specialists felt valued by the people they serve (97.1%) and fellow peer-support specialists (92.7%). However, fewer reported feeling valued by administrators (64.6%) and clinicians (60.6%). Peer-support specialists value fairness at the workplace and feel undervalued by some staff. This study highlights peer-support specialists' important role in behavioral health services and suggests that healthcare professionals, including occupational health specialists, are important stakeholders in creating fairer workplaces and increasing peer-support specialists' sense of being valued, leading to improved personal and organizational outcomes.

Making sense of murder: Characterizing stories in social media groups

Social media platforms evolved into significant arenas for comprehending crises, hardships, violence, and murder. This paper contributes to the discourse within the intersection of social media and crime by delving into the narratives through which people pour meaning online into tragedies with personal significance. When people experience life-changing events, some go through a process of “sense-making” to fully understand the events and their implications, and reach closure. Processes of “sense-making” become increasingly public and collaborative through stories people tell on social media. Still, a dearth of literature exists that systematically examines these stories as conduits for infusing meaning into tragedies. This article bridges this gap by analyzing the narratives emanating from Facebook groups commemorating Tair Rada and advocating for justice for Roman Zadorov, who was convicted with her murder. These narratives not only challenge Zadorov’s culpability but also recount the sequence of events leading to the tragedy. Furthermore, they delve into the identity and motivations of the perpetrator(s), resuscitating neglected lines of police investigation and occasionally introducing alternative narratives. To establish their narratives’ credibility, authors employ a range of strategies such as integrating source materials, employing categorical language, and cultivating an atmosphere of personal witnessing or knowledge acquisition.

Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the good death inventory (GDI-A) questionnaire tested on Palestinian family members of deceased adult cancer patients

BackgroundDespite the importance of understanding the concept of good death (GD) from different cultural perspectives, it has not been assessed in Arab communities because of the unavailability of validated instruments. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Good Death Inventory (GDI-A) questionnaire used among Palestinian bereaved family members of cancer patients. MethodsA cross-sectional methodological study was applied. An online survey was adopted as a data collection method. The online survey was delivered through Qualtrics and posted in cancer and health-related social media groups on Facebook, the most commonly utilized social media platform in Palestine. A convenient and snowball sampling of 285 family members of deceased adult cancer patients was adopted. The participants were asked to complete GDI online survey. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), content validity, and internal consistency reliability were assessed. ResultsParticipants showed a good perspective about death (M = 300.01, SD = 31.09). Significant differences in GDI-A total score were reported with the “patient’s relationship with family” (M = 303.02, SD = 31.42), F(2, 282) = 7.787, p = .001, “educational level” (M = 305.97, SD = 28.38), F(4, 280) = 3.685, p = .006, and “member’s relationship with the patient” (M = 311.74, SD = 16.57), F(5, 279) = 3.125, p = .009. The Arabic version scale-level content validity index and the scale-level content validity index-universal agreement were 0.96 and 0.85, respectively. Factor analysis with a varimax rotation matrix revealed that 16 factors explained 76.08% of the variance. ConclusionThis study provides the literature with an Arabic questionnaire for understanding the concept of a GD from the perspective of bereaved families. The GDI Arabic translated version is a psychometrically robust instrument with satisfactory measurement, which can be used for evaluating a GD among bereaved families.

Parlamentarna kampania wyborcza w mediach społecznościowych. Analiza aktywności ugrupowań politycznych w 2019 roku

The aim of the article is to present an analysis of the activity of political groups in social media — Facebook and Twitter. The article is based on the analysis of content posted on social media in the two weeks leading up to the 2019 parliamentary election. The questions posited in this paper are as follows: which political groups engaged the most on a given social media site? Which political groups demonstrated the most responsive communication? The analysis allowed me to classify political groups into five categories (from inactive to extremely active) depending on their own social media activity and responsive activity.

Pharmacists' perception about design and content of medicine labels on prescription services in community pharmacies

Background: Differences in perception among pharmacists and the absence of standards or regulations for labelling prescribed medicines in Indonesia make the labels patients receive have different designs and contents. Incomplete information and insufficient medicine label design can lead to medication errors. Objective: This study aimed to determine the pharmacists’ perception of the design and content of prescribed medicine labels. Method: This study was conducted by survey using an online questionnaire developed based on the "FIP Guidelines for The Labels of Prescribed Medicines" and Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia number. 73 the year 2016 concerning Pharmaceutical Service Standards in Pharmacies. Questionnaires were distributed through personal chat and social media groups of community pharmacists. Result: A total of 925 pharmacists from 32 provinces of Indonesia participated in this study. Respondents considered the most important information on the label of prescribed drugs namely instructions for drug use (84.6%), patient name (81.6%), pharmacy name (76.1%), special instructions (71.5%), and pharmacist name (63.9%). For the label’s design, most respondents preferred printed and handwritten labels (61.2%). Conclusion: It can be concluded that different pharmacists' perceptions affect the labelling of prescribed medicines. There is a need for regulations or standards of labelling prescribed medicines.

THU281 Real-World Survey Of Adherence To Guidelines Regarding Type 1 Diabetes And Aerobic Exercise

Abstract Disclosure: J.A. Henske: None. G. Beach: None. A. Albashaireh: None. Background: Managing hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia before, during, and after aerobic exercise remains one of the greatest challenges for those living with type 1 diabetes. Several publications offer guidelines and recommendations but it is not well established to what extent these are followed by those living with diabetes. In order to assess the implementation and awareness of these guidelines and in particular guidelines around risk of hypoglycemia and safety recommendations, we created an online survey which was posted to focused social media groups limited to adults with type 1 diabetes who run, jog, or walk for exercise. Results: The entire 96-question survey was completed by 102 adults with a mean age of 42 and a mean duration of diabetes of 20 years. The self-reported average HbA1c of respondents was 7.1%. 68% of respondents reported exercise 4 or more days per week. Average mileage was 23 miles per week. The respondents were predominantly female (69%), Caucasian (94%), and from the United States (78%). There was a high rate of technology use as 97% of respondents report using CGM and 75% are using insulin pumps. 80% reported learning about diabetes and exercise mostly from trial and error, 46% from social media, 32% from their medical team, 28% from online searches, some using multiple methods. 27% of respondents reported fear of hypoglycemia as a significant barrier to exercise and 36% reported increased glucose variability as a result of exercise. 19% of respondents reported having hypoglycemia unawareness. 3% reported never having symptoms of hypoglycemia at any glucose level, 21% feel first symptoms with BG &amp;lt;50mg/dL, 26% at 50-60 mg/dL, and 40% at 60-70mg/dL. Despite published guidelines, 73% reported that they exercise even if severe hypoglycemia &amp;lt;50mg/dL in the last 24 hours, 74% do not check for ketones even if unexplained hyperglycemia &amp;gt;250mg/dL prior to exercise. 11% reported exercising with ketones present in blood or urine. 10% reported developing DKA after exercise. 86% experienced the need to stop exercise due to hypoglycemia and 18% reported a severe hypoglycemic event during exercise. 49% report not wearing diabetes identification during exercise. 41% reported difficulty with overnight hypoglycemia after exercise. Conclusion: In a real-world survey of 102 individuals with relatively well-controlled type 1 diabetes (mean A1c 7.1%) who walk, run, or jog extensively for exercise (23 miles per week), hypoglycemia awareness and management is a significant concern and barrier for them. Implementation science efforts and increased awareness of current guidelines and development of an educational curriculum surrounding type 1 diabetes and exercise may prove helpful to improve outcomes. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Impact of a Social Media Group on Health and Well-being of Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare professionals report workplace stress, burnout and a high prevalence of physical and mental health conditions which may have an impact on their performance and affect outcomes for patients. These include hypertension, diabetes, obesity, anxiety, and depression. As illustrated during the differential outcomes observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, health can be further worsened by social isolation, and incivility in the workplace and impact those from minority backgrounds or with protected characteristics. Social media groups such as Whats App, Facebook and others offer a safe space for psychological support, peer motivation and flexibility of access to health and wellbeing resources. The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin spearheaded the formation of a voluntary Well-Net group focussing on health and wellbeing activities in February 2021, which was open to professionals, their friends, and families. The results of a survey undertaken among the members of such a Well-Net group demonstrated that the combination of peer motivation and flexible access to health and wellbeing support activities improves physical, and mental health and reduces stress levels. A healthy workforce will perform better and lead to safer outcomes for patients. The results make the case for targeted investment in flexible provision for health and wellbeing activities for healthcare professionals, both by employers and voluntary organisations.

Engaging learners in online learning without external incentives: Evidence from a field experiment

AbstractOnline learning platforms increase opportunities for learners to participate in learning out of interest, without any external incentives such as fulfilling requirements for degree programmes or certificates. However, such forms of online learning often suffer from low sustained learning engagement. Building on theories related to normative influences, this study extends the literature by focusing on the effect of peer information on learning engagement and outcomes in an online learning setting without external incentives. A field experiment was conducted through a leading massive open online course platform in China, and information interventions were manipulated in social media groups associated with the course. Surprisingly, the results revealed that the presence of peers' active learning behaviour information did not always lead to enhanced learning engagement. Specifically, it had a positive influence only when question intervention was applied, that is, when the learners were also presented with questions related to the course content prior to learning. Moreover, question intervention alone was effective in enhancing learning engagement. Our results also showed that the learners with question interventions were more likely to pay attention to their peers' behaviour and align their learning pace with that of their peers. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

When your neighbor becomes a threat

Abstract This paper analyzes how a series of online COVID-19-related discussions in a public social media group divided a community consisting of part-time and permanent residents. The group is a general discussion forum aimed at the inhabitants of a relatively small Finnish municipality. The discussions took place in March-April 2020, and the recurring topic was the potential danger posed by holiday home owners, who permanent residents feared would bring the virus with them. The discussions escalated quickly, and several threads went on simultaneously for some weeks. In the discussions, an ingroup and an outgroup were instantly formed. The material is analyzed from the point of view of categorization analysis, hate speech and metapragmatics. I examine the course of the discussions, and topics such as responsible behavior, health, and money. In addition, I also examine the metapragmatic utterances and sequences, which steadily increased during the discussions, and take a critical stance toward them. The research method employed will be qualitative content analysis.