You Are What Your Food Influencer Is Eating: UNLV Social Media Experts Team on Mukbang Study

Ever find yourself inexplicably sucked into (another!) video of social media influencer downing a massive feast of 100 different kinds of shrimp? You can’t scroll past. And before you know it, you’re craving crustaceans, making reservations at that new seafood restaurant, and searching for recipes.  We’ve got one word for you: mukbang.

Social media and low self-compassion behind rise in cosmetic surgery

When Kylie Jenner famously admitted that her signature pout was the result of lip fillers, there was a significant increase in interest and uptake of the cosmetic procedure. That’s the power of social media. But why is social media so persuasive and what is driving young women’s attitudes to cosmetic surgery?

Two networks, two realities, one big problem

National news coverage from the two largest broadcast outlets, CNN and Fox News, not only reflects growing political polarization in America, but in a recent publication, researchers at Virginia Tech have shown that partisan and inflammatory broadcast coverage has increased over time and can exacerbate growing divides in the new public square of social media.

MSU expert: How to navigate AI and social media in education

As AI-powered technologies like ChatGPT and social media increasingly making their way into our personal lives, education and workplaces, many teachers, parents and other stakeholders have questions. Here are some things to consider for the upcoming school year from Christine Greenhow, a professor in Michigan State University’s College of Education.

Social Media Usage Negatively Impacts the Schoolwork of Students from Adolescence to College Research Suggests

There are several plausible explanations for these findings supported by previous literature. For example, it is possible that social media use of any platform presents a distraction, especially among early adolescents who are not as capable of skillfully multitasking as well as their older peers.

Machine learning, blockchain technology could help counter spread of fake news

A proposed machine learning framework and expanded use of blockchain technology could help counter the spread of fake news by allowing content creators to focus on areas where the misinformation is likely to do the most public harm, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Twitter’s plummet in value highlights social network governance challenge; expert explains

Revelation of a sharp decline in the valuation of Twitter “illustrates not just the consequences of [Elon] Musk’s stewardship, but the myriad challenges that exist for anyone managing a social media platform,” explains Virginia Tech media expert Megan Duncan. “Buying a social media platform might be easy, but governing it is hard.”

GW Experts: U.S. Surgeon General Issues Advisory on Social Media Concerns for Children & Teens

WASHINGTON (May 25, 2022) – The U.S. Surgeon General is sounding the alarm on the risk social media poses to children’s mental health. It comes amid a national youth mental health crisis. In an advisory issued Tuesday, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy…

The importance of social media in corporate social responsibility

A new study by Dr. Lucie Kvasničková Stanislavská from Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague published in PeerJ Computer Science titled ‘Global analysis of Twitter communication in corporate social responsibility area: sustainability, climate change, and waste management’ has found that social media is an increasingly important tool for companies to communicate their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts.

APA panel issues recommendations for adolescent social media use

A presidential panel of the American Psychological Association has issued recommendations for the use of social media by adolescents, noting that while these platforms can promote healthy socialization, their use should be preceded by training in social media literacy to ensure that youth have skills that will maximize the chances for balanced, safe and meaningful experiences.

May Issue of AJG Features Colonoscopy Quality and Bowel Prep, CME on Social Media

The May issue of AJG features new clinical science and reviews, including bowel prep recommendations for physicians, longer withdrawal times for screening colonoscopy, the use of social media for continuing medical education, and tofacitinib de-escalation and re-escalation for ulcerative colitis.

Alarming Rates of Teen Suicide Continue to Increase in the U.S.

A study exploring trends in suicide rates among 13 to 14 year olds from 1999 to 2018 shows rates more than doubled from 2008 to 2018, following a rise in social media and despite significant declines in suicide mortality in this age group previously from 1999 to 2007. These trends were similar in urban and rural areas but were more common in boys in rural areas where firearms are more prevalent. Suicides occurred significantly more often between September and May and were highest on Monday followed by the rest of the weekdays, suggesting school stress as a contributor.

Social media expert gives bird’s-eye view on Twitter spat with NPR, PBS

The decision of social media platform Twitter under ownership of tech mogul Elon Musk to label National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service as “U.S. state-affiliated media” caused the prominent news outlets to respond by ending use of Twitter. This conflict is the latest in an escalating series of conflicts between Musk and media outlets of multiple stripes.

Lessons Learned From COVID: the Role of Social Media

Now that we’ve arguably rounded the corner from the pandemic, researchers are dissecting our response and how we can improve it in the future.Sebastian Souyris, assistant professor and Dean R. Wellington ’83 (Junior) Chair at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lally School of Management, contributed to research led by Anton Ivanov, assistant professor in the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Fake and Extremely Biased Twitter Content Decreased Between 2016-2020, But Top Influencers Were More Polarized

“One side can start the polarization and keep it going forever, but it takes two sides to stop it. That’s why it easily arises, but it’s so difficult to end,” Boleslaw Szymanski said. Szymanski is the Claire & Roland Schmitt Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and director of the Network Science and Technology Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

The Intersection of Race, Gender, and Policing: Following the Public Impact

UNLV law professor Frank Rudy Cooper on the psychological impact of repeated exposure to videos of violent and deadly police encounters that increasingly circulate online; the role that slavery and societal norms surrounding masculinity play into them; and police reforms that might be in the works.

Physicians Should Screen Youth for Cyberbullying, Social Media Use

Researchers recommend primary care physicians screen adolescents and young adults for inappropriate or misuse of social media and cyberbullying utilizing screening tools developed for use in the health care setting. Physicians also can ask about the many symptoms that could be warning signs of cyberbullying such as sleep disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, self-harm behaviors, academic problems, fatigue and headaches. They also can undergo training to detect bullying and ensure that their staff is trained appropriately.

Reducing social media use significantly improves body image in teens, young adults

Teens and young adults who reduced their social media use by 50% for just a few weeks saw significant improvement in how they felt about both their weight and their overall appearance compared with peers who maintained consistent levels of social media use, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

A pixelated world: Research considers the effect of digital media on perception

How we see digital content could have an impact on our visual perception in the real world, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.