a column by Daron Acemoğlu, Ali Makhdoumi, Azarakhsh Malekian and Asuman Ozdaglar for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal
The Cambridge Analytica scandal highlighted the sophisticated ways social media platforms can allow companies to infer information about users and non-users from shared data.
This column shows how correlations between platform users’ and non-users’ characteristics mean companies can obtain data at below equilibrium prices, implying welfare inefficiencies for individuals. The authors make some suggestions of regulations that could improve on these data-sharing inefficiencies for users and non-users of the platforms.
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Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts
Monday, 25 November 2019
Friday, 18 October 2019
RIP: How to stop Facebook from stealing your data after you die
an article by Cara Curtis for TNW Basics [via ResearchBuzz: Firehose
Inevitably, one day you’re going to die. While you may think your online identity will go to the grave with you, that’s not always how it works out. Without setting your account to self-implode or handing your login details to a trusted person, companies like Facebook and Google will carry on storing your data and everything else they’ve got on you.
Facebook gives you multiple options for what you can do with your profile once you die. One thing you can do is select someone from your friends list to manage your account once you die. Another thing you can do is set a switch to automatically delete your account — but Facebook doesn’t exactly know when you’ve died, so let us explain:
Continue reading
Inevitably, one day you’re going to die. While you may think your online identity will go to the grave with you, that’s not always how it works out. Without setting your account to self-implode or handing your login details to a trusted person, companies like Facebook and Google will carry on storing your data and everything else they’ve got on you.
Facebook gives you multiple options for what you can do with your profile once you die. One thing you can do is select someone from your friends list to manage your account once you die. Another thing you can do is set a switch to automatically delete your account — but Facebook doesn’t exactly know when you’ve died, so let us explain:
Continue reading
Tuesday, 15 October 2019
Facebook Shouldn't Give Politicians More Power Than Ordinary Users
an article by Kit Walsh and Jillian C. York for the Electronic Frontier Foundation with grateful thanks to 3 Quarks Daily
Amidst escalating rhetoric about alleged 'anti-conservative bias' on social media, Facebook has doubled down on its policies exempting (some) politicians from its ordinary fact-checking and from its hate speech rules. Facebook's policies amplify the harm that hateful politicians can do and are not necessary to advance its stated goal of ensuring that 'newsworthy' false or hateful comments are subject to robust reporting and debate.
Tilting the Playing Field
Amidst escalating rhetoric about alleged 'anti-conservative bias' on social media, Facebook has doubled down on its policies exempting (some) politicians from its ordinary fact-checking and from its hate speech rules. Facebook's policies amplify the harm that hateful politicians can do and are not necessary to advance its stated goal of ensuring that 'newsworthy' false or hateful comments are subject to robust reporting and debate.
Tilting the Playing Field
"Would it be acceptable to society at large to have a private company in effect become a self-appointed referee for everything that politiciansContinue reading
say? I don’t believe it would be." - Facebook's Nick Clegg
Friday, 11 October 2019
Europe's highest court Facebook verdict hits a new low for technomagical thinking
a post by Cory Doctorow for the Boing Boing blog
In 2016, a Facebook user called the Austrian Green Party politician Eva Glawischnig-Piesczek “a corrupt oaf“, a “traitor“ and a member of a “fascist party“. Glawischnig-Piesczek secured an Austrian court verdict that held these remarks to be libellous, and Facebook took them down for Austrian users.
But Glawischnig-Piesczek was upset that these remarks were still visible outside of Austria, so she asked the EU's highest court, the CJEU, to order Facebook to block the post throughout the world, and to use some kind of technology to prevent other Facebook users from making “equivalent comments”.
Continue reading
In 2016, a Facebook user called the Austrian Green Party politician Eva Glawischnig-Piesczek “a corrupt oaf“, a “traitor“ and a member of a “fascist party“. Glawischnig-Piesczek secured an Austrian court verdict that held these remarks to be libellous, and Facebook took them down for Austrian users.
But Glawischnig-Piesczek was upset that these remarks were still visible outside of Austria, so she asked the EU's highest court, the CJEU, to order Facebook to block the post throughout the world, and to use some kind of technology to prevent other Facebook users from making “equivalent comments”.
Continue reading
Monday, 7 October 2019
Social capital and subjective well-being: The mediating role of social networking sites
an article by Li-Ann Hwang, Jason Wei Jian Ng and Santha Vaithilingam (Monash University Malaysia) published in First Monday Volume 24 Number 10 (October 2019)
Abstract
Many studies have examined the separate impacts of social capital (bonding and bridging) and the use of social networking sites (SNSs) on subjective well-being (SWB). However, few studies address the mediating role that SNS use has on the relationship between social capital and SWB.
The current study addresses this research gap, examining the extent to which SNS use mediates the relationship between social capital and SWB. Moreover, this study theorizes SNS use to be a behavioural outcome of social capital, as opposed to the widespread view that SNSs are a tool to generate social capital.
Using primary data from a sample of 307 undergraduate students, the partial least squares structural equation modelling technique was used to analyze the data via a sequential mediating mechanism.
The findings highlight the importance of the utilitarian use of SNS in mediating the relationship between bridging social capital and SWB. On the other hand, the direct effect of bonding social capital on SWB was found to be stronger than the indirect effects, indicating that SNS use is not crucial in mediating this particular relationship.
Theoretical and practical implications of the study are subsequently discussed.
Full text (HTML)
Abstract
Many studies have examined the separate impacts of social capital (bonding and bridging) and the use of social networking sites (SNSs) on subjective well-being (SWB). However, few studies address the mediating role that SNS use has on the relationship between social capital and SWB.
The current study addresses this research gap, examining the extent to which SNS use mediates the relationship between social capital and SWB. Moreover, this study theorizes SNS use to be a behavioural outcome of social capital, as opposed to the widespread view that SNSs are a tool to generate social capital.
Using primary data from a sample of 307 undergraduate students, the partial least squares structural equation modelling technique was used to analyze the data via a sequential mediating mechanism.
The findings highlight the importance of the utilitarian use of SNS in mediating the relationship between bridging social capital and SWB. On the other hand, the direct effect of bonding social capital on SWB was found to be stronger than the indirect effects, indicating that SNS use is not crucial in mediating this particular relationship.
Theoretical and practical implications of the study are subsequently discussed.
Full text (HTML)
Friday, 16 August 2019
Communicating with patients through Facebook: the case of dental healthcare services
an article by Helena Nobre and Nina Szczygiel (University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Portugal) and Mariana Condé-Pinto (University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Portugal) published in Internationale Journal of Business Excellence Volume 18 Number 4 (2019)
Abstract
The study explores how dental healthcare providers use social network websites, in particular, Facebook, to communicate with patients and potential customers, manage relationships and build brand image.
An exploratory investigation was carried on based on a cross-case study of four small dental clinics with a Facebook presence.
Results indicate that Facebook offers room to create an interactive environment where clinics can communicate in real-time with patients, getting them engaged in ongoing dialogues beyond traditional doctor consultations.
Through online social networks, it is possible to provide dental healthcare information, follow-up of treatments and answer questions, making processes more efficient and customer-oriented and facilitating the development of closer relationships with patients.
The paper outlines some challenges for online health social network managers.
Abstract
The study explores how dental healthcare providers use social network websites, in particular, Facebook, to communicate with patients and potential customers, manage relationships and build brand image.
An exploratory investigation was carried on based on a cross-case study of four small dental clinics with a Facebook presence.
Results indicate that Facebook offers room to create an interactive environment where clinics can communicate in real-time with patients, getting them engaged in ongoing dialogues beyond traditional doctor consultations.
Through online social networks, it is possible to provide dental healthcare information, follow-up of treatments and answer questions, making processes more efficient and customer-oriented and facilitating the development of closer relationships with patients.
The paper outlines some challenges for online health social network managers.
Thursday, 15 August 2019
Social media use by government: adoption and efficiency
an article by Sultan Al-masaeed (Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU), Jordan) published in International Journal of Electronic Governance Volume 11 Number 2 (2019)
Abstract
This paper examines the presence, engagement and government-user-interactivity of all Jordanian governmental social media accounts (n = 110). The survey explored both the extent and nature of social media usage.
The study found that roughly a third of Jordanian government entities do not utilise social media in any identifiable manner. Dialogue via social media platforms in Jordan is a one-way dialogue with very low level of government-to-user interactivity, which indicates a low level of efficiency of Jordan governmental social media accounts in utilising social media tools.
Furthermore, the survey also discovered instances of a lack of technical efficiency in government agencies' linkages to their social media.
Hazel’s comment
I have no reason to think that the UK government is any different. Technical efficiency may be better but there never seems to be testing of how users interact with the push of social media.
Abstract
This paper examines the presence, engagement and government-user-interactivity of all Jordanian governmental social media accounts (n = 110). The survey explored both the extent and nature of social media usage.
The study found that roughly a third of Jordanian government entities do not utilise social media in any identifiable manner. Dialogue via social media platforms in Jordan is a one-way dialogue with very low level of government-to-user interactivity, which indicates a low level of efficiency of Jordan governmental social media accounts in utilising social media tools.
Furthermore, the survey also discovered instances of a lack of technical efficiency in government agencies' linkages to their social media.
Hazel’s comment
I have no reason to think that the UK government is any different. Technical efficiency may be better but there never seems to be testing of how users interact with the push of social media.
Friday, 9 August 2019
Nieman Journalism Lab: Full Fact has been fact-checking Facebook posts for six months. Here’s what they think needs to change [feedly]
a post by Laura Hazard Owen for NeimanLab [grateful thanks to Tara at ResearchBuzz for the heads up on this]
In December 2016, Facebook enlisted a handful of U.S.-based news organizations (ABC News, Snopes, PolitiFact, FactCheck.org, and the AP) to help stem the flow of false information on the platform. Over time, it’s expanded these third-party fact-checking partnerships: It now has more than 50 partners globally, fact-checking in 42 languages.
Full Fact, the independent UK fact-checking organization, signed on as one of Facebook’s third-party fact-checking partners in January. (All partners must be members of Poynter’s International Fact-Checking Network, though that hasn’t completely prevented disputes over who should qualify to be a fact-checker; some original partners like Snopes have dropped out.) Six months in, the organization has released a report about its experience so far — what it’s learned, what it likes, and what it thinks needs to change.
Full Fact’s two major concerns about the fact-checking program are scale and transparency — ongoing complaints among Facebook’s partners. “Facebook’s focus seems to be increasing scale by extending the Third Party Fact Checking Program to more languages and countries,” the report notes. “However, there is also a need to scale up the volume of content and speed of response” — being available in a lot of countries isn’t enough if individual country partners are only able to skim the surface of misleading content.
Continue reading
You may have missed a post in this blog last month, “A Reminder That 'Fake News' Is An Information Literacy Problem - Not A Technology Problem”, which looked at the social issues of fake news.
You can use all the technological wizardry you want but if someone publishes something untrue but plausible someone else will share it and it grows exponentially.
In December 2016, Facebook enlisted a handful of U.S.-based news organizations (ABC News, Snopes, PolitiFact, FactCheck.org, and the AP) to help stem the flow of false information on the platform. Over time, it’s expanded these third-party fact-checking partnerships: It now has more than 50 partners globally, fact-checking in 42 languages.
Full Fact, the independent UK fact-checking organization, signed on as one of Facebook’s third-party fact-checking partners in January. (All partners must be members of Poynter’s International Fact-Checking Network, though that hasn’t completely prevented disputes over who should qualify to be a fact-checker; some original partners like Snopes have dropped out.) Six months in, the organization has released a report about its experience so far — what it’s learned, what it likes, and what it thinks needs to change.
Full Fact’s two major concerns about the fact-checking program are scale and transparency — ongoing complaints among Facebook’s partners. “Facebook’s focus seems to be increasing scale by extending the Third Party Fact Checking Program to more languages and countries,” the report notes. “However, there is also a need to scale up the volume of content and speed of response” — being available in a lot of countries isn’t enough if individual country partners are only able to skim the surface of misleading content.
Continue reading
You may have missed a post in this blog last month, “A Reminder That 'Fake News' Is An Information Literacy Problem - Not A Technology Problem”, which looked at the social issues of fake news.
You can use all the technological wizardry you want but if someone publishes something untrue but plausible someone else will share it and it grows exponentially.
Value of data: There’s no such thing as a free lunch in the digital economy
a column by Wendy C.Y. Li, Makoto Nirei and Kazufumi Yamana for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal
Online platforms that provide services at zero monetary cost benefit greatly from the data these transactions generate.
This column proposes a new method to value these data, based on firm investments in organisational capital. The method also captures the social value of consumer data. Accurate estimates may guide investment and improve national accounts.
Continue reading
Online platforms that provide services at zero monetary cost benefit greatly from the data these transactions generate.
This column proposes a new method to value these data, based on firm investments in organisational capital. The method also captures the social value of consumer data. Accurate estimates may guide investment and improve national accounts.
Continue reading
Friday, 17 May 2019
Your most sensitive data is likely exposed online. These people try to find it
a post by Laura Hautala for C|net [via ResearchBuzz: Firehose with grateful thanks]
Don’t worry. They want it to be safe.
Justin Paine sits in a pub in Oakland, California, searching the internet for your most sensitive data. It doesn't take him long to find a promising lead.
On his laptop, he opens Shodan, a searchable index of cloud servers and other internet-connected devices. Then he types the keyword "Kibana," which reveals more than 15,000 databases stored online. Paine starts digging through the results, a plate of chicken tenders and fries growing cold next to him.
"This one's from Russia. This one's from China," Paine said. "This one is just wide open."
From there, Paine can sift through each database and check its contents. One database appears to have information about hotel room service. If he keeps looking deeper, he might find credit card or passport numbers. That isn't far-fetched. In the past, he's found databases containing patient information from drug addiction treatment centers, as well as library borrowing records and online gambling transactions.
Continue reading
Don’t worry. They want it to be safe.
Justin Paine sits in a pub in Oakland, California, searching the internet for your most sensitive data. It doesn't take him long to find a promising lead.
On his laptop, he opens Shodan, a searchable index of cloud servers and other internet-connected devices. Then he types the keyword "Kibana," which reveals more than 15,000 databases stored online. Paine starts digging through the results, a plate of chicken tenders and fries growing cold next to him.
"This one's from Russia. This one's from China," Paine said. "This one is just wide open."
From there, Paine can sift through each database and check its contents. One database appears to have information about hotel room service. If he keeps looking deeper, he might find credit card or passport numbers. That isn't far-fetched. In the past, he's found databases containing patient information from drug addiction treatment centers, as well as library borrowing records and online gambling transactions.
Continue reading
Thursday, 2 May 2019
Digital Propaganda: The Tyranny of Ignorance
an article by Cassian Sparkes-Vian (University of the West of England, UK) published in Critical Sociology Volume 45 Issue 3 (May 2019)
Abstract
The existence of propaganda is inexorably bound to the nature of communication and communications technology.
Mass communication by citizens in the digital age has been heralded as a means to counter elite propaganda; however, it also provides a forum for misinformation, aggression and hostility.
The extremist group Britain First has used Facebook as a way to propagate hostility towards Muslims, immigrants and social security claimants in the form of memes, leading to a backlash from sites antithetical to their message.
This article provides a memetic analysis, which addresses persuasion, organisation, political echo chambers and self-correcting online narratives; arguing that propaganda can be best understood as an evolving set of techniques and mechanisms which facilitate the propagation of ideas and actions. This allows the concept to be adapted to fit a changing political and technological landscape and to encompass both propaganda and counter-propaganda in the context of horizontal communications networks.
Abstract
The existence of propaganda is inexorably bound to the nature of communication and communications technology.
Mass communication by citizens in the digital age has been heralded as a means to counter elite propaganda; however, it also provides a forum for misinformation, aggression and hostility.
The extremist group Britain First has used Facebook as a way to propagate hostility towards Muslims, immigrants and social security claimants in the form of memes, leading to a backlash from sites antithetical to their message.
This article provides a memetic analysis, which addresses persuasion, organisation, political echo chambers and self-correcting online narratives; arguing that propaganda can be best understood as an evolving set of techniques and mechanisms which facilitate the propagation of ideas and actions. This allows the concept to be adapted to fit a changing political and technological landscape and to encompass both propaganda and counter-propaganda in the context of horizontal communications networks.
Wednesday, 3 April 2019
What is platform governance?
an article by Robert Gorwa (University of Oxford, UK) published in Information, Communication & Society Volume 22 Issue 6 (2019)
Abstract
Following a host of high-profile scandals, the political influence of platform companies (the global corporations that that operate online ‘platforms’ such as Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and many other online services) is slowly being re-evaluated.
Amidst growing calls to regulate these companies and make them more democratically accountable, and a host of policy interventions that are actively being pursued in Europe and beyond, a better understanding of how platform practices, policies, and affordances (in effect, how platforms govern) interact with the external political forces trying to shape those practices and policies is needed.
Building on digital media and communication scholarship as well as governance literature from political science and international relations, the aim of this article is to map an interdisciplinary research agenda for platform governance, a concept intended to capture the layers of governance relationships structuring interactions between key parties in today's platform society, including platform companies, users, advertisers, governments, and other political actors.
Abstract
Following a host of high-profile scandals, the political influence of platform companies (the global corporations that that operate online ‘platforms’ such as Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and many other online services) is slowly being re-evaluated.
Amidst growing calls to regulate these companies and make them more democratically accountable, and a host of policy interventions that are actively being pursued in Europe and beyond, a better understanding of how platform practices, policies, and affordances (in effect, how platforms govern) interact with the external political forces trying to shape those practices and policies is needed.
Building on digital media and communication scholarship as well as governance literature from political science and international relations, the aim of this article is to map an interdisciplinary research agenda for platform governance, a concept intended to capture the layers of governance relationships structuring interactions between key parties in today's platform society, including platform companies, users, advertisers, governments, and other political actors.
Thursday, 31 January 2019
The outcome of online social interactions on Facebook pages: A study of user engagement behavior
an article by Hamid Khobzi, Raymond Y.K. Lau and Terence C.H. Cheung, (City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon) published in Internet Research Volume 29 Issue 1 (2019)
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of different ways of message framing on users’ engagement behavior regarding the brand posts on Facebook and to determine whether users’ thumbs-up and reply moderate this impact.
Design/methodology/approach
A panel data analysis was conducted on a panel with 11,894 observations on 850 unique brand posts from the Facebook pages of the world’s most valuable brands over a seven days window with two observations each day. A system of equations was estimated using ordinary least squares, Hausman–Taylor IV and seemingly unrelated regressions to test study’s hypotheses.
Findings
The empirical findings confirm that more positively and negatively framed comments result in increased users’ engagement. Also, an increase in thumbs-up ratio for neutrally and negatively framed comments results in less engagement. The reply ratio might also have a positive and negative moderation effect on the influence of neutrally and positively framed comments on engagement behavior, respectively.
Practical implications
This study provides an in-depth understanding of online social interactions on Facebook pages for firms’ managers and marketers. Online social interactions might be either harmful or fruitful for firms depending on the type of interaction and engagement behavior. Findings can help managers and marketer to improve their strategies for leveraging Facebook for electronic marketing.
Originality/value
This is likely to be the first study that examines the moderating effect of users’ thumbs-up and reply on the relationship between message framing and users’ engagement behavior. By providing robust findings by addressing issues like omitted variables and endogeneity, the findings of this study are promising for developing new hypotheses and theoretical models in the context of online social interactions.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of different ways of message framing on users’ engagement behavior regarding the brand posts on Facebook and to determine whether users’ thumbs-up and reply moderate this impact.
Design/methodology/approach
A panel data analysis was conducted on a panel with 11,894 observations on 850 unique brand posts from the Facebook pages of the world’s most valuable brands over a seven days window with two observations each day. A system of equations was estimated using ordinary least squares, Hausman–Taylor IV and seemingly unrelated regressions to test study’s hypotheses.
Findings
The empirical findings confirm that more positively and negatively framed comments result in increased users’ engagement. Also, an increase in thumbs-up ratio for neutrally and negatively framed comments results in less engagement. The reply ratio might also have a positive and negative moderation effect on the influence of neutrally and positively framed comments on engagement behavior, respectively.
Practical implications
This study provides an in-depth understanding of online social interactions on Facebook pages for firms’ managers and marketers. Online social interactions might be either harmful or fruitful for firms depending on the type of interaction and engagement behavior. Findings can help managers and marketer to improve their strategies for leveraging Facebook for electronic marketing.
Originality/value
This is likely to be the first study that examines the moderating effect of users’ thumbs-up and reply on the relationship between message framing and users’ engagement behavior. By providing robust findings by addressing issues like omitted variables and endogeneity, the findings of this study are promising for developing new hypotheses and theoretical models in the context of online social interactions.
Thursday, 1 November 2018
Who's in control? U of T researcher examines why it's so difficult to disconnect from social media
an article by Mary Gooderham for the University of Toronto News [with grateful thanks to ResearchBuzz: Firehose]
A new book by U of T Mississauga researcher Tero Karppi argues social media users' ability to control their digital lives is at risk (Photo by Future Image/C.Hardt/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
Academics have spent the last decade studying connectivity and social media – a trend that has more than two billion people around the world on Facebook and counting.
For Tero Karppi, however, the focus has instead been disconnection.
“I always tended to go against the grain,” says Karppi, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology who specializes in social media and media theory.
His new book, Disconnect: Facebook’s Affective Bonds, explores the challenges users face when they try to deactivate their Facebook accounts, and how efforts by social media companies to keep users logging in may be giving us less control over our digital lives.
Karppi started researching the topic in his native Finland, where a technology-savvy population enthusiastically began to use Facebook around 2010. “It was becoming a really big thing and expanding widely,” recalls Karppi, who was among the early adopters using the platform to stay current and in touch with far-flung friends, family and colleagues.
“It was an interesting phenomenon – how quickly it spread.”
But he noticed it was also difficult to say goodbye to this increasingly compelling platform. European media artists started to do special “Quit Facebook” projects, while many people tried to give it up simply to avoid the distractions of the medium.
Continue reading
A new book by U of T Mississauga researcher Tero Karppi argues social media users' ability to control their digital lives is at risk (Photo by Future Image/C.Hardt/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
Academics have spent the last decade studying connectivity and social media – a trend that has more than two billion people around the world on Facebook and counting.
For Tero Karppi, however, the focus has instead been disconnection.
“I always tended to go against the grain,” says Karppi, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology who specializes in social media and media theory.
His new book, Disconnect: Facebook’s Affective Bonds, explores the challenges users face when they try to deactivate their Facebook accounts, and how efforts by social media companies to keep users logging in may be giving us less control over our digital lives.
Karppi started researching the topic in his native Finland, where a technology-savvy population enthusiastically began to use Facebook around 2010. “It was becoming a really big thing and expanding widely,” recalls Karppi, who was among the early adopters using the platform to stay current and in touch with far-flung friends, family and colleagues.
“It was an interesting phenomenon – how quickly it spread.”
But he noticed it was also difficult to say goodbye to this increasingly compelling platform. European media artists started to do special “Quit Facebook” projects, while many people tried to give it up simply to avoid the distractions of the medium.
Continue reading
Wednesday, 31 October 2018
Social media’s have-nots: an era of social disenfranchisement
an article by Xinru Page (Bentley University, Massachusetts, USA), Pamela Wisniewski (University of Central Florida, USA) and Bart P. Knijnenburg, and Moses Namara (Clemson University, South Carolina, USA) published in Internet Research Volume 28 Issue 5 (2018)
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the motivations, concerns, benefits and consequences associated with non-use of social media. In doing so, it extends Wyatt’s commonly used taxonomy of non-use by identifying new dimensions in which to understand non-use of social media. This framework encompasses a previously unidentified category of non-use that is critical to understand in today’s social media environment.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an exploratory interview study with 17 self-identified social media non-users distributed across age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds. A thematic analysis is conducted based on a novel extension of Wyatt’s framework and the risk-benefits framework. This is supplemented by open coding to allow for emerging themes.
Findings
This paper provides empirical insights into a formerly uninvestigated population of non-users who are prevented from using social media because of social engagement (rather than functional) barriers. It identifies how these individuals face social consequences both on and off social media, resulting in social disenfranchisement.
Research limitations/implications
This is an initial exploration of the phenomenon using an interview study. For generalizability, future research should investigate non-use with a broader and random sample.
Practical implications
This paper includes design recommendations and implications for social media platform designers to mitigate the consequences experienced by socially disenfranchised non-users.
Social implications
Addressing concerns of this newly identified class of non-users is of utmost importance. As others are increasingly connected, these non-users are left behind and even ostracized – showing the dark sides of social media use and non-use.
Originality/value
This work identifies types of non-use of social media previously unrecognized in the literature.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the motivations, concerns, benefits and consequences associated with non-use of social media. In doing so, it extends Wyatt’s commonly used taxonomy of non-use by identifying new dimensions in which to understand non-use of social media. This framework encompasses a previously unidentified category of non-use that is critical to understand in today’s social media environment.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an exploratory interview study with 17 self-identified social media non-users distributed across age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds. A thematic analysis is conducted based on a novel extension of Wyatt’s framework and the risk-benefits framework. This is supplemented by open coding to allow for emerging themes.
Findings
This paper provides empirical insights into a formerly uninvestigated population of non-users who are prevented from using social media because of social engagement (rather than functional) barriers. It identifies how these individuals face social consequences both on and off social media, resulting in social disenfranchisement.
Research limitations/implications
This is an initial exploration of the phenomenon using an interview study. For generalizability, future research should investigate non-use with a broader and random sample.
Practical implications
This paper includes design recommendations and implications for social media platform designers to mitigate the consequences experienced by socially disenfranchised non-users.
Social implications
Addressing concerns of this newly identified class of non-users is of utmost importance. As others are increasingly connected, these non-users are left behind and even ostracized – showing the dark sides of social media use and non-use.
Originality/value
This work identifies types of non-use of social media previously unrecognized in the literature.
Thursday, 17 May 2018
Cloaked Facebook pages: Exploring fake Islamist propaganda in social media
an article by Johan Farkas, Jannick Schou and Christina Neumayer (IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark) published in New Media & Society Volume 20 Issue 5 (May 2018)
Abstract
This research analyses cloaked Facebook pages that are created to spread political propaganda by cloaking a user profile and imitating the identity of a political opponent in order to spark hateful and aggressive reactions.
This inquiry is pursued through a multi-sited online ethnographic case study of Danish Facebook pages disguised as radical Islamist pages, which provoked racist and anti-Muslim reactions as well as negative sentiments towards refugees and immigrants in Denmark in general.
Drawing on Jessie Daniels’ critical insights into cloaked websites, this research furthermore analyses the epistemological, methodological and conceptual challenges of online propaganda. It enhances our understanding of disinformation and propaganda in an increasingly interactive social media environment and contributes to a critical inquiry into social media and subversive politics.
Abstract
This research analyses cloaked Facebook pages that are created to spread political propaganda by cloaking a user profile and imitating the identity of a political opponent in order to spark hateful and aggressive reactions.
This inquiry is pursued through a multi-sited online ethnographic case study of Danish Facebook pages disguised as radical Islamist pages, which provoked racist and anti-Muslim reactions as well as negative sentiments towards refugees and immigrants in Denmark in general.
Drawing on Jessie Daniels’ critical insights into cloaked websites, this research furthermore analyses the epistemological, methodological and conceptual challenges of online propaganda. It enhances our understanding of disinformation and propaganda in an increasingly interactive social media environment and contributes to a critical inquiry into social media and subversive politics.
Tuesday, 24 April 2018
Information strategies and affective reactions: How citizens interact with government social media content
an article by Nic DePaula and Ersin Dincelli (University at Albany, State University of New York, USA) published in First Monday Volume 23 Number 4 (April 2018)
Abstract
As social media use grows among the general population, government organizations around the world also widely adopt the platforms.
While researchers on government use of social media first acknowledged the potential of these technologies for participatory democracy, transparency, and collaboration, we have come to learn that applications such as Facebook and Twitter are also sites for misinformation and highly driven by emotional content.
To better understand the information strategies of governments and how citizens react on social media, we ask the following research questions:
For this study, we collected Facebook posts of local government agencies and departments across the United States and categorized each post using a framework of government communication and information strategies on social media. We then analysed differences in users’ reactions in the form of likes, comments, and shares to the distinct types of content.
We wanted to capture the effects of content type on user reactions to understand what drives social media responses.
We found a number of statistically significant results, providing some evidence for how different types of information affect user interaction.
Our results highlight how users are more engaged by the affective and symbolic nature of social media content, rather than more serious and emotionally neutral government information.
We only provide generalized evidence of how users react to U.S. local government posts on Facebook. Nevertheless, we believe this study is important for scholars of government communication and government technology adoption more broadly as it provides evidence of the affective tendencies and biases within social media environments.
Full text (HTML)
Abstract
As social media use grows among the general population, government organizations around the world also widely adopt the platforms.
While researchers on government use of social media first acknowledged the potential of these technologies for participatory democracy, transparency, and collaboration, we have come to learn that applications such as Facebook and Twitter are also sites for misinformation and highly driven by emotional content.
To better understand the information strategies of governments and how citizens react on social media, we ask the following research questions:
- What do government organizations post on social media?
- How do citizens react to the content posted by government agencies?
For this study, we collected Facebook posts of local government agencies and departments across the United States and categorized each post using a framework of government communication and information strategies on social media. We then analysed differences in users’ reactions in the form of likes, comments, and shares to the distinct types of content.
We wanted to capture the effects of content type on user reactions to understand what drives social media responses.
We found a number of statistically significant results, providing some evidence for how different types of information affect user interaction.
Our results highlight how users are more engaged by the affective and symbolic nature of social media content, rather than more serious and emotionally neutral government information.
We only provide generalized evidence of how users react to U.S. local government posts on Facebook. Nevertheless, we believe this study is important for scholars of government communication and government technology adoption more broadly as it provides evidence of the affective tendencies and biases within social media environments.
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Tuesday, 10 April 2018
The use of Facebook by local authorities: a comparative analysis of the USA, UK and Spain
an article by F. Javier Miranda, Antonio Chamorro and Sergio Rubio (Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain) published in Electronic Government, an International Journal Volume 14 Number 2 (2018)
Abstract
The social networks have increased the ways in which public administrations can actively interact with the public. However, these new means of communication are not always used efficiently to create an open and two-way relationship.
The purpose of this study is to analyse the presence on and use of the social network Facebook by the large councils in the USA, UK and Spain. This research adapts Facebook assessment index (FAI) to the field of local authorities.
This index assesses three dimensions:
The results show that there is no relationship between the population of the municipality and the degree of use of Facebook by the council, but there are notable differences depending on the country.
By creating this ranking, we are helping those responsible for this management to carry out benchmarking activities in order to improve their communication strategy on the social networks.
Abstract
The social networks have increased the ways in which public administrations can actively interact with the public. However, these new means of communication are not always used efficiently to create an open and two-way relationship.
The purpose of this study is to analyse the presence on and use of the social network Facebook by the large councils in the USA, UK and Spain. This research adapts Facebook assessment index (FAI) to the field of local authorities.
This index assesses three dimensions:
- popularity,
- content and
- interactivity.
The results show that there is no relationship between the population of the municipality and the degree of use of Facebook by the council, but there are notable differences depending on the country.
By creating this ranking, we are helping those responsible for this management to carry out benchmarking activities in order to improve their communication strategy on the social networks.
Display and control in online social spaces: Towards a typology of users
an article by Alexandre Fortier (McGill University, Canada) and Jacquelyn Burkell (The University of Western Ontario, Canada) published in New Media & Society Volume 20 Issue 3 (2018)
Abstract
Earlier research using qualitative techniques suggests that the default conception of online social networks is as public spaces with little or no expectation of control over content or distribution of profile information. Some research, however, suggests that users within these spaces have different perspectives on information control and distribution.
This study uses Q methodology to investigate subjective perspectives with respect to privacy of, and control over, Facebook profiles.
The results suggest three different types of social media users:
Abstract
Earlier research using qualitative techniques suggests that the default conception of online social networks is as public spaces with little or no expectation of control over content or distribution of profile information. Some research, however, suggests that users within these spaces have different perspectives on information control and distribution.
This study uses Q methodology to investigate subjective perspectives with respect to privacy of, and control over, Facebook profiles.
The results suggest three different types of social media users:
- those who view profiles as spaces for controlled social display, exerting control over content or audience;
- those who treat their profiles as spaces for open social display, exercising little control over either content or audience; and
- those who view profiles as places to post personal information to a controlled audience.
Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Has dopamine got us hooked on tech?
an article by Simon Parkin published online by the Guardian
Silicon Valley is keel to exploit the brain chemical credited with keeping us tapping on apps and social media
The capacity for ‘persuasive technology’ to influence behaviour is only just becoming understood. Illustration: James Melaugh for the Observer
In an unprecedented attack of candour, Sean Parker, the 38-year-old founding president of Facebook, recently admitted that the social network was founded not to unite us, but to distract us. “The thought process was: ‘How do we consume as much of your time and conscious attention as possible?’” he said at an event in Philadelphia in November. To achieve this goal, Facebook’s architects exploited a “vulnerability in human psychology”, explained Parker, who resigned from the company in 2005. Whenever someone likes or comments on a post or photograph, he said, “we… give you a little dopamine hit”. Facebook is an empire of empires, then, built upon a molecule.
Dopamine, discovered in 1957, is one of 20 or so major neurotransmitters, a fleet of chemicals that, like bicycle couriers weaving through traffic, carry urgent messages between neurons, nerves and other cells in the body. These neurotransmitters ensure our hearts keep beating, our lungs keep breathing and, in dopamine’s case, that we know to get a glass of water when we feel thirsty, or attempt to procreate so that our genes may survive our death.
In the 1950s, dopamine was thought to be largely associated with physical movement after a study showed that Parkinsonism (a group of neurological disorders whose symptoms include tremors, slow movement and stiffness) was caused by dopamine deficiency. In the 1980s, that assumption changed following a series of experiments on rats by Wolfram Schultz, now a professor of neuroscience at Cambridge University, which showed that, inside the midbrain, dopamine relates to the reward we receive for an action. Dopamine, it seemed, was to do with desire, ambition, addiction and sex drive.
Continue reading
Silicon Valley is keel to exploit the brain chemical credited with keeping us tapping on apps and social media
The capacity for ‘persuasive technology’ to influence behaviour is only just becoming understood. Illustration: James Melaugh for the Observer
In an unprecedented attack of candour, Sean Parker, the 38-year-old founding president of Facebook, recently admitted that the social network was founded not to unite us, but to distract us. “The thought process was: ‘How do we consume as much of your time and conscious attention as possible?’” he said at an event in Philadelphia in November. To achieve this goal, Facebook’s architects exploited a “vulnerability in human psychology”, explained Parker, who resigned from the company in 2005. Whenever someone likes or comments on a post or photograph, he said, “we… give you a little dopamine hit”. Facebook is an empire of empires, then, built upon a molecule.
Dopamine, discovered in 1957, is one of 20 or so major neurotransmitters, a fleet of chemicals that, like bicycle couriers weaving through traffic, carry urgent messages between neurons, nerves and other cells in the body. These neurotransmitters ensure our hearts keep beating, our lungs keep breathing and, in dopamine’s case, that we know to get a glass of water when we feel thirsty, or attempt to procreate so that our genes may survive our death.
In the 1950s, dopamine was thought to be largely associated with physical movement after a study showed that Parkinsonism (a group of neurological disorders whose symptoms include tremors, slow movement and stiffness) was caused by dopamine deficiency. In the 1980s, that assumption changed following a series of experiments on rats by Wolfram Schultz, now a professor of neuroscience at Cambridge University, which showed that, inside the midbrain, dopamine relates to the reward we receive for an action. Dopamine, it seemed, was to do with desire, ambition, addiction and sex drive.
Continue reading
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