Social Media Innovation Research Articles

How Age Affects Journalists’ Adoption of Social Media as an Innovation

American newsrooms are adopting social media as an innovation for greater engagement. However, several organizational and individual factors may affect the extent to which news outlets adopt social media innovations. In particular, there is assumed to be a divide among different age groups of journalists in embracing social media. Utilizing a structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, the study seeks to understand how social media culture in newsrooms affects journalists’ strategies of taking social media as an innovation, and how journalists of different age groups differ in the SEM model fit. The analyses indicated Twitter engagement mediates social media culture and journalists’ attitude toward social media. However, that was not the case with Facebook. Additionally, while younger journalists favored Twitter, older journalists embraced Facebook and middle-aged journalists adopted both Facebook and Twitter. The analyses showed the more that middle-aged journalists interacted on Twitter, the more they tended to have a positive attitude toward social media. However, the more that younger and older journalists engaged on Twitter, the more they tended to have a negative attitude toward social media. Journalists from all three age groups tended to hold a negative attitude toward social media if they engaged more on Facebook.

A textual analysis of the African language expressions used during the #RhodesMustFall campaign

The #RhodesMustFall is a student and staff movement that resulted in the removal of Rhodes' statue from the University of Cape Town in 2015. Language, in particular the #AfrikaansMustFall movement, took centre stage as one of the discourses that emerged following the removal of the statue. However, languages have received very little attention in research, despite the prominent role they played during this period. This paper therefore provides a textual analysis of rhetorical questions, metaphors and syntax of the phrases used on social media and in newspapers. through this analysis, we explore the relationship between the text, language form, and the context of the use of African languages during the campaign. We propose that, contrary to the commonly held belief, text-based communication coupled with social media innovations such as hashtags(#) played a major role in transferring feelings, emotions and states through specific language forms. We partly attribute the success at unity during this period to this creation of personal relationships, which were generated through a web of interconnected #communities with multiple identities. We further argue that within the #communities, group and individual identities were maintained in a manner that permeated the traditional relationships between language and ethnicity.

The role of frames and cultural toolkits in establishing new connections for social media innovation

It has been suggested that social media foster innovative outcomes by facilitating communication with a vast network of new connections. In this paper we argue that forming new social connections on social media is a crucial first step in the innovation process that is not straightforward to achieve. We report on the findings of a qualitative study of 31 owner-managers in the UK who were attempting to make new connections in order to inspire innovation in their firms. The findings suggest that a lack of available social cues on social media creates a sense of uncertainty that can stifle the innovation process. In our case, the respondents addressed these difficulties by using frames as proxies for missing social stimuli. We argue that such framings guide the selection of well-established cultural tools needed to turn mental maps into action. A key implication of our findings is that social media is not necessarily an equitable space for innovation since the process still relies upon established networks and styles of behaviour, which are not readily accessible to all.

Inovação em Software as a Service: funcionalidades em ferramentas de monitoramento de mídias sociais

O presente artigo busca descrever o lançamento de inovação incremental em softwares de monitoramento de mídias sociais. A tática, típica de produtos SaaS (software as a service) vai ao encontro do conceito de beta perpétuo, característico das mídias sociais e web 2.0. Como estudo de caso, trazemos a referência ao lançamento de módulos de análise de redes baseadas em grafos em 4 fornecedoras de serviço: Sysomos, Pulsar, Digimind, V-Tracker.

Interactional Service Innovation with Social Media Users

The pervasive availability of social media is changing user interaction in service innovation. However, we lack information on how to leverage interactional service innovation with social media. This paper draws from an analytical framework constructed according to mixed qualitative research, deriving a model and functions of its agents in social media innovation. The findings indicate that organizations interact with the social media and reduce diseconomies of scope; however, they also codestroy value. Hence, we explain how companies leverage sustainable innovation with social media users in the co-production and co-creation of value. We conclude the findings and results with the theoretical propositions, and the conclusion follows an outline of the contributions, future research, and managerial implications.

The 2012 London Olympics: innovations in ICT and social media marketing

The 2012 London Olympics was a technological and marketing watershed event in the history of live sport mega events. A case study of the 2012 London Olympics was used to demonstrate how effective management of innovations in (a) collaborative information and communication technology (ICT) and (b) social media marketing (SMM) ushered in a new platform template for live sport events worldwide. A review of the literature revealed four primary factors responsible: (1) the foresight, planning, due diligence, and management effectiveness of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and their technology partners; (2) the confluence of dramatically increased mobile device use and social media engagement by prosumers; (3) the willingness of sponsors, marketers, and global media enterprises to take risks with innovative media and SMM strategies; and (4) the enthusiasm and passion for sport of prosumers worldwide.

Social Media Use and Innovations: Introduction to the Special Issue

This special issue on "Social media use and innovations" of the Journal of Media Innovation provides an engaging view into innovative uses of social media as well as approaches for utilizing social media in innovation. With three papers included, we cover experiences with an online social network for children (Stephanie Valentine and Tracy Hammond), design by youth for youth in projects on social media for civic engagement (Henry Mainsah, Petter Bae Brandtzaeg, and Asbjørn Følstad), and social platforms for corporate and community innovation (Marika Lüders).

A role for startups in unleashing the disruptive power of social media

As social media attract increasing attention from executives and find varied applications in different industries, research on the subject has been investigating the antecedents, moderators, mediators and outcomes of social media adoption, as well as impacts on the organizational and individual level. However, relatively little attention has been paid to the discussion of the new sources of social media innovation—i.e., the upstream originators of social media solutions. Such innovations of a possibly disruptive nature often originate from startups, which can constitute a significant driver for social media development and can influence the adopting incumbents’ behaviors. This study aims at shedding first light on social media-based solutions developed and delivered by startups. By surveying the Crunchbase database, we identified 724 funded social media startups, which were further classified into six categories, namely: (i) social network; (ii) social commerce; (iii) social recruitment; (iv) social management; (v) social loyalty and advocacy; (vi) contact management. Our findings show how the large majority of startups deliver social network solutions to incumbents, followed by social media management applications. The findings also shed light on emerging approaches to value generation and open innovation from social media related to and driven by startups.

Social Media-Innovation: The Case of Indigenous Tweets

Twitter presents new opportunities for individual communication. Consequently, it may be a relevant arena in which to address the social need of minority language maintenance. The Indigenous Tweets website presents a directory of minority language users on Twitter (www.indigenoustweets.com). It aims to create new opportunities to use these languages, thus to address a social need through media innovation. In this article, I draw on a theoretical framework from Media Innovation- and Social Innovation Studies, to delineate the concept of Social Media-Innovation. I propose three distinguishing attributes. Firstly, users of these innovations must consider them relevant to address identified social needs. Secondly, the communication capabilities they present must support addressing these needs. Thirdly, they should facilitate mediated interaction that enhances society’s capacity to act. Having delineated the concept I explore how its attributes are manifest in practice with reference to the case of Indigenous Tweets. I find that the relevance of Indigenous Tweets is negotiated with regard to culturally specific needs in different social contexts. The development and use of its communication capabilities are supported by incremental experimentation and learning. Furthermore, while it facilitates mediated interactions that are designed to enhance society’s capacity to act, these occur in a hybrid media context and are influenced by the range of agents involved. This article makes two important contributions to the field of Media Innovations Studies. It delineates the concept of Social Media-Innovation according to three central attributes. It also analyses how these are manifest in practice with reference to the case of Indigenous Tweets.

The Role of Social Media as Key of Business Development

Social media has changed the way the world communicates, creating real time interconnectivity between people, businesses, and geographies. As social media continues to grow in popularity, brands are looking for ways to increase their fan base and leverage their social presence to increase sales and brand affinity. Social media is a powerful tool for engaging your customers and fans in a conversation. Open up two-way communication between your business and your consumers to provide a way to stay connected with your fans and to introduce your brand to those who are less familiar. Interact with your fans and reply to what they have to say. By engaging in conversation, you’ll gain exposure on social channels and increase credibility by getting your customers to refer your brand or talk about their experience with your company. In dynamic market environment, distribution channels, marketing activities, diversification strategies, and food quality are increasingly important. Innovation in social networking media has revolutionized the world in 21st Century. Social networking media presents potentially opportunities for new forms of communication and commerce between marketers and consumers. As advertisers typically want to find some way to follow their target audiences, many new media opportunities are presented to advertisers. Communication through social networking media is more specified, with effective interactive strategy among its users. In recent days, internet advertising has taken new forms which have more advantages over the traditional mediums like print media, TV and radio. Marketing communication is becoming precise, personal, interesting, interactive and social. Dialogue between consumers and the brand is presented in the paper on the case of a leading brand in the category of fast moving consumer goods on market. The paper presents internet marketing activities that have contributed to building a relationship with the brand. The main thesis of present case was an effectiveness of communication and strategy done through social networking media could increase brand relationship with young people. Keywords: Internet, Social networking media, Fast Moving Consumer Goods.

Developing a Hierarchy Model for Selection of Social Media Manager

With the fast development of the Internet, communication tools are no longer limited to traditional media. Enterprises have become aware of the rapid emergence of social media in recent years. Social media marketing has become an important field that demands attention, especially its changing marketing strategies. It is necessary to designate a professional to manage the social media platforms of an enterprise to attract consumers. Hence this study develops a two-part model to assist employers in choosing the ideal social media manager. The first part derives criteria for choosing a social media manager by conducting a thorough literature review and employing the modified Delphi method. The second part applies the analytic hierarchy process to calculate and identify the best suited social media manager by ranking candidates according to the relative weights of the evaluation criteria. In addition, a renowned Taiwanese restaurant chain is used as an example, to demonstrate how a social media manager is selected by applying this model. The results show that enterprises emphasize social media capabilities, professional skills, innovation, personal characteristics, and social skills.

Tweet the Message? Religious Authority and Social Media Innovation

Religious believers have historically adapted Scripture into brief texts for wider dissemination through relatively inexpensive publications. The emergence of Twitter and other microblogging tools today afford clerics a platform for real time information sharing with its interface for short written texts, which includes providing links to graphics and sound recordings that can be forwarded and responded to by others. This paper discusses emergent practices in tweet authorship which embed and are inspired by sacred Scripture, in order to deepen understanding of the changing nature of sacred texts and of the constitution of religious authority as pastors engage microblogging and social media networks. Drawing upon a Twitter feed by a prominent Christian megachurch leader with global influence, this paper identifies multiple ways in which tweets have been encoded to quote, remix and interpret Scripture, and to serve as choice aphorisms that reflect or are inspired by Scripture. Implications for the changing nature of sacred digital texts and the reconstruction of religious authority are also discussed.

Social media adoption: The role of media needs and innovation characteristics

This research is designed to empirically investigate how social media needs and innovation influence the adoption of social media amongst Internet users. The theoretical perspective of the uses and gratifications, and Rogers’ five characteristics of innovation are reviewed and extended to explain the needs and motivations of the consumer. The study is conducted by testing and quantifying the relationship between the uses and gratifications of social media, while taking into consideration the mediating effect of social media technology innovation. This research applies a two-phase, multimethod strategy in the context of Malaysia. The strategy comprises the qualitative approach via focus group discussions (FGDs) with 48 respondents and the quantitative approach via online survey questionnaires with 428 respondents. Overall, the findings suggest that social media adoption is significantly driven by three types of need category – personal (consisting of enjoyment and entertainment), social (consisting of social influence and interaction) and tension release (consisting of belongingness, companionship, playfulness). In turn, these needs are motivated by the social media innovation characteristics (relative advantage, observability, compatibility) that increase the likelihood of the adoption. The research makes a significant contribution in the area of media and technology adoption, which can be used to help marketers understand the factors that motivate social media usage, particularly the UXDs in designing human–computer interaction strategies.

Radio formats and social media use in Europe – 28 case studies of public service practice

Abstract The aim of this article is to report, summarize and spread the results of a largescale European research project funded by EBU Radio in 2011 to map best practices in social media and European public radio, focusing on the way successful public service radio formats have incorporated social media in their production flow. The programmes have been selected for one of the following reasons: programmes that are audience leaders in their country, use innovative radio language or are youthoriented productions. The survey has been carried out by a team of ten European researchers from seven countries on a sample of 28 public radio programmes analysed for two months between January and February 2011. The research team attempted to answer the empirical question: ‘How social media are used by public service?’. Are there some common threads and shared practices among successful programmes in different countries? The team adopted an empirical approach based on social media content analysis and interviews with radio producers. This article will present the main results of this empirical research project. It will conclude with practical guidelines for public radio production and social media innovation.

Twitter’s diffusion in sports journalism: Role models, laggards and followers of the social media innovation

The roles of sports journalists have been affected considerably by the influence of Twitter, but what is not known is how the social media application has been adopted across a range of sports newsrooms in different countries. Employing Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory, this study examines how Twitter has been accepted or rejected on the sports desks of six broadsheet/quality news organisations in Australia, India and the United Kingdom. A mixed methods approach is employed, combining 36 in-depth interviews with a content analysis of 4103 print and online articles. This allows a comprehensive analysis of issues such as when and why sports journalists adopt this innovation, and how much Twitter-related content appears in the sports pages. Twitter adoption contains many benefits for individuals and their organisations, and the results from this study have implications for sports journalism in other nations at various stages of diffusion.

Digital Media in the Obama Campaigns of 2008 and 2012: Adaptation to the Personalized Political Communication Environment

ABSTRACTThis essay provides a descriptive interpretation of the role of digital media in the campaigns of Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 with a focus on two themes: personalized political communication and the commodification of digital media as tools. The essay covers campaign finance strategy, voter mobilization on the ground, innovation in social media, and data analytics, and why the Obama organizations were more innovative than those of his opponents. The essay provides a point of contrast for the other articles in this special issue, which describe sometimes quite different campaign practices in recent elections across Europe.

Social Media and Internet‐Based Data in Global Systems for Public Health Surveillance: A Systematic Review

Context: The exchange of health information on the Internet has been heralded as an opportunity to improve public health surveillance. In a field that has traditionally relied on an established system of mandatory and voluntary reporting of known infectious diseases by doctors and laboratories to governmental agencies, innovations in social media and so-called user-generated information could lead to faster recognition of cases of infectious disease. More direct access to such data could enable surveillance epidemiologists to detect potential public health threats such as rare, new diseases or early-level warnings for epidemics. But how useful are data from social media and the Internet, and what is the potential to enhance surveillance? The challenges of using these emerging surveillance systems for infectious disease epidemiology, including the specific resources needed, technical requirements, and acceptability to public health practitioners and policymakers, have wide-reaching implications for public health surveillance in the 21st century.Methods: This article divides public health surveillance into indicator-based surveillance and event-based surveillance and provides an overview of each. We did an exhaustive review of published articles indexed in the databases PubMed, Scopus, and Scirus between 1990 and 2011 covering contemporary event-based systems for infectious disease surveillance.Findings: Our literature review uncovered no event-based surveillance systems currently used in national surveillance programs. While much has been done to develop event-based surveillance, the existing systems have limitations. Accordingly, there is a need for further development of automated technologies that monitor health-related information on the Internet, especially to handle large amounts of data and to prevent information overload. The dissemination to health authorities of new information about health events is not always efficient and could be improved. No comprehensive evaluations show whether event-based surveillance systems have been integrated into actual epidemiological work during real-time health events.Conclusions: The acceptability of data from the Internet and social media as a regular part of public health surveillance programs varies and is related to a circular challenge: the willingness to integrate is rooted in a lack of effectiveness studies, yet such effectiveness can be proved only through a structured evaluation of integrated systems. Issues related to changing technical and social paradigms in both individual perceptions of and interactions with personal health data, as well as social media and other data from the Internet, must be further addressed before such information can be integrated into official surveillance systems.

Measuring blog service innovation in social media services

Purpose– Blog is a web-based social activity that has become mainstream media. The purpose of this paper is to develope a measurement instrument for assessing blog service innovation, which social media services providers and bloggers can use to promote blog functions and to ensure high quality blog services.Design/methodology/approach– The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative research methods and performed four steps of scale development, including item generation and item pooling, pretest and initial purification, scale refinement, and scale validation and critical item analysis.Findings– From a user-oriented service perspective, the major findings of the study were the 18 measurement items for blog service innovation scale (BLOG-S-INNO scale), which was derived from the innovative blog cognition of blog users. One critical factor in the BLOG-S-INNO scale was further identified to effectively predict outcomes of blog service innovation in social media services.Research limitations/implications– Management at social media services providers can apply the BLOG-S-INNO scale as a diagnostic tool to assess organizational innovation capabilities in relation to blog services, and to link their innovation strategies with the innovation experiences of bloggers improving bloggers’ affection. The findings of this study also make it possible to offer recommendations to help bloggers improve service innovation to increase the experience and preference of blog browsers.Originality/value– The study used qualitative research methods to construct a pool of items for measuring blog service innovation. Furthermore, the paper conducted quantitative research methods to develop a new blog service innovation scale and analyzed the key indicators of blog service innovation.

From ‘Broadcast yourself’ to ‘Follow your interests’: Making over social media

In this article I briefly trace the complex and incremental but significant ways that social media platforms have been transformed since the ‘Web 2.0’ moment of the early 2000s, identifying some common trajectories across several platforms, and discussing their consequences for how users – and their capacity for creative agency – are positioned. I argue that the maintenance of balanced tensions between accessibility and openness is important to the ongoing prospects of social and cultural innovation in social media.

Innovations in social media

Innovations in social media