Showing papers in "Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication in 2014"
TL;DR: The role of social grooming and attention-signaling activities in shaping perceived access to resources in one's network as measured by bridging social capital is discussed and this new measure Facebook Relationship Maintenance Behaviors is discussed.
Abstract: This study explores the relationship between perceived bridging social capital and specific Facebook-enabled communication behaviors using survey data from a sample of U.S. adults N=614. We explore the role of a specific set of Facebook behaviors that support relationship maintenance and assess the extent to which demographic variables, time on site, total and "actual" Facebook Friends, and this new measure Facebook Relationship Maintenance Behaviors predict bridging social capital. Drawing upon scholarship on social capital and relationship maintenance, we discuss the role of social grooming and attention-signaling activities in shaping perceived access to resources in one's network as measured by bridging social capital.
727 citations
TL;DR: It is found that exposure to uncivil blog comments can polarize risk perceptions of nanotechnology along the lines of religiosity and issue support.
Abstract: Uncivil discourse is a growing concern in American rhetoric, and this trend has expanded beyond traditional media to online sources, such as audience comments. Using an experiment given to a sample representative of the U.S. population, we examine the effects online incivility on perceptions toward a particular issue-namely, an emerging technology, nanotechnology. We found that exposure to uncivil blog comments can polarize risk perceptions of nanotechnology along the lines of religiosity and issue support.
558 citations
TL;DR: Data indicate that recency of tweets impacts source credibility; however, this relationship is mediated by cognitive elaboration, which suggests many implications for theory and application, both in computer-mediated communication and crisis communication.
Abstract: Social media are increasingly being used as an information source, including information related to risks and crises. The current study examines how pieces of information available in social media impact perceptions of source credibility. Specifically, participants in the study were asked to view 1 of 3 mockTwitter.compages that varied the recency with which tweets were posted and then to report on their perceived source credibility of the page owner. Data indicate that recency of tweets impacts source credibility; however, this relationship is mediated by cognitive elaboration. These data suggest many implications for theory and application, both in computer-mediated communication and crisis communication. These implications are discussed, along with limitations of the current study and directions for future research.
510 citations
TL;DR: The findings indicate that privacy concerns hardly impact self-disclosure, but different variables moderate this relation, and users' general willingness to disclose is most important when providing sensitive information.
Abstract: Given the diffusion of the Social Web and increased disclosure of personal information online, the 'privacy paradox' suggests that while Internet users are concerned about privacy, their behaviors do not mirror those concerns. This study investigates the potential influence of privacy concerns, psychological traits, attitudes to the Social Web and age on self-disclosure. Using an online survey of a representative sample of German Internet users n=2, 739, the variety and quality of self-disclosure as well as access were measured. The findings indicate that privacy concerns hardly impact self-disclosure, but different variables moderate this relation. Perceived social relevance and the number of applications used proved important. Users' general willingness to disclose is most important when providing sensitive information.
432 citations
TL;DR: The authors evaluated whether social media platforms expand the range of actors involved in the news through a quantitative content analysis of the sources cited by NPR's Andy Carvin on Twitter during the Arab Spring and found that non-elite sources had a greater representation in the content than elite sources.
Abstract: News sourcing practices are critical as they shape from whom journalists get their information and what information they obtain, mostly from elite sources. This study evaluates whether social media platforms expand the range of actors involved in the news through a quantitative content analysis of the sources cited by NPR's Andy Carvin on Twitter during the Arab Spring. Results show that, on balance, nonelite sources had a greater representation in the content than elite sources. Alternative actors accounted for nearly half of the messages. The study points to the innovative forms of production that can emerge with new communication technologies, with the journalist as a central node trusted to authenticate and interpret news flows on social awareness streams.
289 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a model drawing upon the theories of implicit personality, social response, emotional contagion, and social interaction is proposed for virtual customer service agents, which may positively influence customer satisfaction through eliciting social responses and feelings of personalization.
Abstract: By performing tasks traditionally fulfilled by service personnel and having a humanlike appearance, virtual customer service agents bring classical service elements to the web, which may positively influence customer satisfaction through eliciting social responses and feelings of personalization. This paper sheds light on these dynamics by proposing and testing a model drawing upon the theories of implicit personality, social response, emotional contagion, and social interaction. The model proposes friendliness, expertise, and smile as determinants of social presence, personalization, and online service encounter satisfaction. An empirical study confirms the cross-channel applicability of friendliness and expertise as determinants of social presence and personalization. Overall, the study underlines that integration between technology and personal aspects may lead to more social online service encounters.
206 citations
TL;DR: It is test the proposition that political use of SNS among teens offers a new pathway to their political participation using hierarchical linear regression and panel data analysis and demonstrates that political SNS use strongly impacted both levels of and growth in traditional political participation during the 2008 election.
Abstract: Social networking sites SNS currently boast more than half a billion active users worldwide, the majority of which are young people. With notable exceptions, few studies have ventured into the growing political realm that exists on these sites. This study expands research on SNS by examining both what encourages people to express themselves politically in this realm, and what effects such expression may have on classic questions of political participation. We test the proposition that political use of SNS among teens offers a new pathway to their political participation using hierarchical linear regression and panel data analysis. Results demonstrate that political SNS use strongly impacted both levels of and growth in traditional political participation during the 2008 election.
202 citations
TL;DR: Investigation of whether smartphones function as environments of polymedia Madianou & Miller, 2012 and their consequences for transnational families finds that users treat smartphones as integrated environments of communicative opportunities and exploit the differences within media to express emotions and manage their relationships with their family members who remain in the Philippines.
Abstract: This article investigates whether smartphones function as environments of polymedia Madianou & Miller, 2012 and assesses their consequences for transnational families Drawing on research with UK-based Filipino migrants, the article observes that users treat smartphones as integrated environments of communicative opportunities and exploit the differences within media in order to express emotions and manage their relationships with their family members who remain in the Philippines For smartphone users, being online emerges as the default position and there is evidence that new media become constitutive of relationships in situations of extreme separation However, technology cannot overcome difficulties that are fundamentally social Moreover, the article observes the emergence of a new 'care divide' between those who own smartphones and those who do not
198 citations
TL;DR: It is argued that the emoticons in authentic workplace e-mails do not primarily indicate writers' emotions, and it is shown that emoticons function as contextualization cues, which serve to organize interpersonal relations in written interaction.
Abstract: CMC research presents emoticons as visual representations of writers' emotions. We argue that the emoticons in authentic workplace e-mails do not primarily indicate writers' emotions. Rather, they provide information about how an utterance is supposed to be interpreted. We show that emoticons function as contextualization cues, which serve to organize interpersonal relations in written interaction. They serve 3 communicative functions. First, when following signatures, emoticons function as markers of a positive attitude. Second, when following utterances that are intended to be interpreted as humorous, they are joke/irony markers. Third, they are hedges: when following expressive speech acts such as thanks, greetings, etc. they function as strengtheners and when following directives such as requests, corrections, etc. they function as softeners.
186 citations
TL;DR: Managers had negative attitudes to use, but top-level managers reported more use than other respondents, and access to social network sites at the workplace was positively related to both dependent variables, whereas policies prohibiting showed the opposite relationship.
Abstract: A total of 11,018 employees participated in a survey investigating whether demographic, personality, and work-related variables could explain variance in attitudes towards and actual use of social network sites for personal purposes during working hours. Age was negatively related to both dependent variables. Male gender, single status, and education were positively associated with both dependent variables. Managers had negative attitudes to use, but top-level managers reported more use than other respondents. Access to social network sites at the workplace was positively related to both dependent variables, whereas policies prohibiting showed the opposite relationship. Extraversion and Neuroticism were positively related to both dependent variables. Conscientiousness, positive challenge at work, and quantitative demands were all negatively related to both dependent variables.
148 citations
TL;DR: A typology of what the authors call super-participation super-posters, agenda-setters and facilitators is developed and applied to themoneysavingexpert.com forum, finding that in contradiction to the received wisdom, super- posters discursively performed a range of positive roles.
Abstract: Empirical studies of online debate almost universally observe a "dominant" minority of posters. Informed by theories of deliberative democracy, these are typically framed negatively-yet research into their impact on debate is scant. To address this, a typology of what we call super-participation super-posters, agenda-setters and facilitators is developed and applied to thehttp://www.moneysavingexpert.com/forum. Focusing on the first of these, we found 2,052 superposters 0.4% contributing 47% of 25m+ posts. While superposters were quantitatively dominant, qualitative content analysis of the discursive practices of 25 superposters n=40,044 found that most did not attempt to stop other users from posting curbing or attack them flaming. In fact, in contradiction to the received wisdom, super-posters discursively performed a range of positive roles.
TL;DR: Differences in motivation, access, skills, and usage that appear to underlie and perpetuate differences in online content creation practices between social groups are outlined.
Abstract: Despite considerable interest in online content creation there has been comparatively little academic analysis of the distribution of such practices, both globally and among social groups within countries. Drawing on theoretical frameworks used in digital divide studies, I outline differences in motivation, access, skills, and usage that appear to underlie and perpetuate differences in online content creation practices between social groups. This paper brings together existing studies and new analyses of existing survey datasets. Together they suggest online content creators tend to be from relatively privileged groups and the content of online services based on their contributions may be biased towards what is most interesting or relevant to them. Some implications of these findings for policymakers and researchers are considered.
TL;DR: It is suggested that individuals with different profiles vary in their motivations for using SNSs, and theoretical assumptions based on previous literature and personality dispositions support theoretical assumptions.
Abstract: Research suggests that personality dictates specific Internet preferences. One area that remains relatively unexplored is the influence of personality on engagement with social networking sites SNSs. The current study employs a 'Uses and Gratifications' framework to investigate whether personality, age, and sex predict motivations for using SNSs. The study explores both global and specific factors of personality using Eysenck's EPQ-R short form extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism and Beck's SAS sociotropy and autonomy. Principal component analysis identified ten distinct motivational components, which were then successfully predicted by individual differences through regression analyses. It is therefore suggested that individuals with different profiles vary in their motivations for using SNSs. Results support theoretical assumptions based on previous literature and personality dispositions.
TL;DR: PSAs with positive comments were perceived by smokers as more effective than PSAs with negative (pro smoking) comments and smokers' readiness to quit smoking moderated the effect of comments on PSA evaluation.
Abstract: On YouTube antismoking PSAs are widely viewed and uploaded; they also receive extensive commentary by viewers. This study examined whether such evaluative comments with or without uncivil expressions influence evaluations by subsequent viewers. Results showed PSAs with positive i.e. antismoking comments were perceived by smokers as more effective than PSAs with negative prosmoking comments. Smokers in the no-comment condition gave the highest perceived effectiveness score to PSAs. Smokers' readiness to quit smoking moderated the effect of comments on PSA evaluation. Smokers reading negative uncivil comments reported more negative attitude toward quitting and a lower level of perceived risk of smoking than those reading negative civil comments but positive civil and positive uncivil comments did not elicit different responses.
TL;DR: An online survey was employed to examine the degree to which politically interested online users view SNS as credible, and SNS were ranked the least credible among the nine traditional and online sources examined.
Abstract: Scholars have confirmed that political candidates are increasingly turning to social network sites SNS to persuade voters to vote for them, and that these sites have become prominent sources of political information. But a fundamental question arises about the sustainability of social networks as a campaign tool: How much do users trust the information they find there? This study employed an online survey to examine the degree to which politically interested online users view SNS as credible. SNS were ranked the least credible among the nine traditional and online sources examined. Reliance on social networks proved the strongest predictor of SNS credibility.
TL;DR: It is found that homeless youth were predominantly using e-mail to reach out to their parents, caseworkers, and potential employers, while, using social media to communicate with their peers.
Abstract: Little is known about internet and social media use among homeless youth. Consistent with typologies prevalent among housed youth, we found that homeless youth were using internet and social media for entertainment, sociability, and instrumental purposes. Using Haythornwaite's 2001 premise that it is important to look at the types of ties accessed in understanding the impact of new media, we found that homeless youth were predominantly using e-mail to reach out to their parents, caseworkers, and potential employers, while, using social media to communicate with their peers. Using the "Social Capital" perspective, we found that youth who were connecting to maintained or bridging social ties were more likely to look for jobs and housing online than youth who did not.
TL;DR: The findings indicated that the 172 persons with disabilities who responded to the survey use Facebook much as others do, meaning that they primarily connect with their nondisabled Facebook friends and have not yet used the potential of Facebook to promote advocacy activities through groups.
Abstract: Social network sites have a potential to empower persons with disabilities. However, this issue has received little attention in research. As a step toward addressing this need, we conducted an online survey about how persons with disabilities use Facebook. We used primarily descriptive statistics and also compared activities relating to nondisabled and disabled friends and groups. The findings indicated that the 172 persons with disabilities who responded to our survey use Facebook much as others do, meaning that they primarily connect with their nondisabled Facebook friends. They have not yet used the potential of Facebook to promote advocacy activities through groups. These findings, including how to mine the potential of social network sites for persons with disabilities, are discussed.
TL;DR: This study reviewed research focused on e-health and health literacy, using content analysis to assess 95 articles from 2000 to 2010 to provide an overview of work done in this emerging field.
Abstract: The development of e-health may provide powerful tools to improve health, but users' health literacy plays a role in their ability to make the most of e-health applications. This study reviewed research focused on e-health and health literacy, using content analysis to assess 95 articles from 2000 to 2010 to provide an overview of work done in this emerging field. Articles were coded for use of theory, research methods, and clarity of reporting study results. Findings indicate a lack of theory-driven design and evaluation of e-health applications, low use of established general health literacy measures, and interdisciplinary work with somewhat limited contributions by communication scholars. Implications for advancing this field of research are discussed.
TL;DR: Analysis suggests technologies are perhaps pacifying would-be activists, convincing them they are contributing more than they actually are, and "slacktivism," or "clicktivism" that takes just a mouse click is potentially diluting "real" activism.
Abstract: Considering the debate over U.S. immigration reform and the way digital communication technologies increasingly are being used to spark protests, this qualitative study examines focus group discourse of immigration activists to explore how digital media are transforming the definitions of "activism" and "activist." Analysis suggests technologies are perhaps pacifying would-be activists, convincing them they are contributing more than they actually are. Thus, "slacktivism," or "clicktivism" that takes just a mouse click is potentially diluting "real" activism.
TL;DR: Examination of the gender dynamics of the digital divide at public access points in Austin, TX over 10 years found male users outnumber female users in public access Internet usage, even accounting for age and ethnicity.
Abstract: Community technology centers and libraries have been crucial components of public policy initiatives to reduce the digital divide. Using theories of structuration and the social construction of technology, this paper examines the gender dynamics of the digital divide at public access points in Austin, TX over 10 years. Using extensive participant observations, we found male users outnumber female users in public access Internet usage, even accounting for age and ethnicity. In-depth interviews revealed that both sexes saw public access as the least desirable place to use the Internet, but discourses around libraries differed. Female interviewees associated libraries with nostalgia for books and family, while male interviewees associated libraries with technology. Older female users also described feelings of technophobia.
TL;DR: Results show that attention to social media for campaign information is positively related to cynicism and apathy and negatively related to skepticism, and online expression has a positive effect on skepticism.
Abstract: This study examines the ways in which online media influenced political disaffection among young adults during the 2008 presidential election campaign. The effects of social media attention, online expression, and traditional Internet sources on political cynicism, apathy, and skepticism were evaluated using data from an online survey of college students. Results show that attention to social media for campaign information is positively related to cynicism and apathy and negatively related to skepticism. Online expression has a positive effect on skepticism. Implications are discussed for the role of social media in bringing a historically disengaged demographic into the political process.
TL;DR: It is found that consumers are more likely to donate to stories that provide them with practical guidance for daily living e.g., stories about public health or local city infrastructure, as opposed to stories from which they gain a general awareness of the world e.G., cultural diversity, or government and politics.
Abstract: Crowd-funded journalism is a novel business model in which journalists rely on micropayments from ordinary people to finance their reporting. Based on analyses of the database of Spot.us, a pioneering crowd-funded journalism website, we examine the impact of crowd-funded journalism on the news produced. We apply a uses and gratifications approach to study consumers' choices when they donate to crowd-funded journalism and find that consumers are more likely to donate to stories that provide them with practical guidance for daily living e.g., stories about public health or local city infrastructure, as opposed to stories from which they gain a general awareness of the world e.g., cultural diversity, or government and politics. We discuss the implications for the future of news.
TL;DR: The findings demonstrate that selective exposure is a fundamental process that must be considered when testing the effect of Internet use on political participation.
Abstract: The role of selective exposure in the relationship between online news use and political participation is examined. American adults N = 205 completed a 2-session online study that measured political interest and online news use, unobtrusively observed selective exposure, and finally measured political participation likelihood. Online news use and selective exposure to attitude-consistent information were modeled as sequential mediators between political interest and participation likelihood. While greater political interest increased both participation likelihood and online news use, online news use ultimately depressed participation likelihood by reducing selective exposure to attitude-consistent news. The findings demonstrate that selective exposure is a fundamental process that must be considered when testing the effect of Internet use on political participation.
TL;DR: Focusing on WikiLeaks, the Pirate Party, Anonymous, and Iceland, this work describes the emerging coalescence of "freedom of information" advocates pushing for a simultaneous liberalization and homogenization of freedom of information regulations across democracies.
Abstract: Online rhetoric about the Internet's potential to change society, the need to reform intellectual property laws, and the evils of censorship is becoming increasingly similar across sites. The push for "freedom of information" is not restricted to online spaces, but it appears to be born from such spaces, with the concept itself shaped by the presence of the Internet and its effect on networked societies. Focusing on WikiLeaks, the Pirate Party, Anonymous, and Iceland, I describe the emerging coalescence of "freedom of information" advocates pushing for a simultaneous liberalization and homogenization of freedom of information regulations across democracies.
TL;DR: Comparing people's self-reported weekly usage of an MMO, EverQuest II, with their actual average weekly usage, data showed that age, education, lack of enjoyment playing the game, and lack of an online sense of community predicted greater levels of underreporting.
Abstract: Using Cognitive Dissonance and Balance Theory, this study investigates factors that predict how and why MMO players inaccurately report their game playing time. It was hypothesized that players belonging to categories other than the stereotypical game player e.g. younger, less educated, male would be likely to underreport playing time. It was also hypothesized that those players who held less positive attitudes toward the game would be more likely to underreport their playing time. Comparing people's self-reported weekly usage of an MMO, EverQuest II, with their actual average weekly usage of the game, data showed that age, education, lack of enjoyment playing the game, and lack of an online sense of community predicted greater levels of underreporting.
TL;DR: Results indicate that perceptions of personal influence increase in social media contexts for more personally relevant stories, consistent with the Differential Impact Hypothesis.
Abstract: This study examined the effects of embedding and framing online news stories in social media contexts on perceived message influence and third-person effects 3PE. 88 undergraduates at a Northeastern U.S. university participated in an online experiment in which they evaluated news stories posted on Facebook. A 4 x 2 mixed experimental design was used with the between-subject variables of viewing condition no Facebook frame, neutral Facebook, positive Facebook evaluation, and negative Facebook evaluation and the within-subjects factor of story relevance Low, High. Results indicate that perceptions of personal influence increase in social media contexts for more personally relevant stories. These results are consistent with the Differential Impact Hypothesis.
TL;DR: A national sample survey nonrandom of 456 matched parent-child pairs revealed that a permissive parenting style, difficulty communicating about online risks, and household environmental variables play a role in parental underestimation of risky social interactions that their children encounter and experience online.
Abstract: Parents often underestimate the degree to which their children engage in risky online activities such as cyberbullying, worrisome interactions with strangers, and exposure to sexual content. This study attempts to identify the underlying predictors of such parental misconceptions. A national sample survey nonrandom of 456 matched parent-child pairs revealed that a permissive parenting style, difficulty communicating about online risks, and household environmental variables such as having access to a private computing space play a role in parental underestimation of risky social interactions that their children encounter and experience online. Implications for scholars and caregivers are discussed.
TL;DR: This paper examines the ways transgender users manoeuver between online and offline worlds in order to negotiate their complicated gender identity and to overcome offline impediments and proposes a new term, VirtuReal, to address these issues.
Abstract: This paper examines the ways transgender users manoeuver between online and offline worlds in order to negotiate their complicated gender identity and to overcome offline impediments The study is based on virtual ethnography and discourse analysis within two online arenas, a newsgroup and a website, which are central to the Israeli transgender community The analysis suggests that transgender users employ cyberspace as preliminary, complementary, and/or alternative spheres Delving deeper into the meaning of the alternative sphere, the paper revisits 2 central issues in Internet research, namely the relationships between the online and the offline worlds, and identity management within online settings The paper concludes by proposing a new termi¾?-i¾?VirtuReali¾?-i¾?to address these issues
TL;DR: Qualitative interviews with frequent users of the LBSN Foursquare show both how LBSNs complicate views of the relative "placelessness" of traditional mobile communication and how the design of FOURSquare complicates its utility as a mobile coordination tool.
Abstract: Location-based social networks LBSNs are mobile applications that allow people to share their physical location with friends through their mobile device. The sharing of location is a relatively new form of computer-mediated communication, and there is a lack of existing research examining the coordination practices of people using social location sharing services. This article reports on qualitative interviews with frequent users of the LBSN Foursquare to show both how LBSNs complicate views of the relative "placelessness" of traditional mobile communication and how the design of Foursquare complicates its utility as a mobile coordination tool.
TL;DR: This paper offers a framework for examining the relationship between social, instrumental, and technological determinants of participation through social media Dahlberg, 2004 using a discursive approach based in the concepts of frames and framing Goffman, 1974.
Abstract: This paper offers a framework for examining the relationship between social, instrumental, and technological determinants of participation through social media Dahlberg, 2004 using a discursive approach based in the concepts of frames and framing Goffman, 1974; Snow & Benford, 1992. We apply our multideterminant framework to investigate participatory dynamics on YouTube in the case of climategate. Our interpretive analysis of videos and comments shows how public responses to climategate were scripted around 3 dominant master frames, reinforced by calls to collective action and media form. Our multideterminant framework makes a contribution to the debate over the transformative potential of social media by providing a method to assess the relative value of social media in response to specific social problems.