43,273 research outputs found
Factors Influencing Perceptions Toward Social Networking Websites in China
Based on an online national survey of 503 respondents, this study empirically investigates factors influencing perceptions toward social networking websites (SNWs) in China. More specifically, user demographics and media\ud
characteristics were examined. While income was found to be a significant predictor of users’ attitude toward SNWs, gender, age, educational level and marital status were insignificant, suggesting that demographic divides may be\ud
diminishing when it comes to online social media in China. Both perceived risk and enjoyment were found to have significant positive effects. Managerial implications were discussed
Mapping Big Data into Knowledge Space with Cognitive Cyber-Infrastructure
Big data research has attracted great attention in science, technology,
industry and society. It is developing with the evolving scientific paradigm,
the fourth industrial revolution, and the transformational innovation of
technologies. However, its nature and fundamental challenge have not been
recognized, and its own methodology has not been formed. This paper explores
and answers the following questions: What is big data? What are the basic
methods for representing, managing and analyzing big data? What is the
relationship between big data and knowledge? Can we find a mapping from big
data into knowledge space? What kind of infrastructure is required to support
not only big data management and analysis but also knowledge discovery, sharing
and management? What is the relationship between big data and science paradigm?
What is the nature and fundamental challenge of big data computing? A
multi-dimensional perspective is presented toward a methodology of big data
computing.Comment: 59 page
The Rise of Mobile and the Diffusion of Technology-Facilitated Trafficking
In this report, researchers at the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy (CCLP) reveal how those involved in human trafficking have been quick to adapt to the 21st-century global landscape. While the rapid diffusion of digital technologies such as mobile phones, social networking sites, and the Internet has provided significant benefits to society, new channels and opportunities for exploitation have also emerged. Increasingly, the business of human trafficking is taking place online and over mobile phones. But the same technologies that are being used for trafficking can become a powerful tool to combat trafficking. The precise role that digital technologies play in human trafficking still remains unclear, however, and a closer examination of the phenomenon is vital to identify and respond to new threats and opportunities.This investigation indicates that mobile devices and networks have risen in prominence and are now of central importance to the sex trafficking of minors in the United States. While online platforms such as online classifieds and social networking sites remain a potential venue for exploitation, this research suggests that technology facilitated trafficking is more diffuse and adaptive than initially thought. This report presents a review of current literature, trends, and policies; primary research based on mobile phone data collected from online classified sites; a series of firsthand interviews with law enforcement; and key recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders moving forward
From the Hands of an Early Adopter's Avatar to Virtual Junkyards: Analysis of Virtual Goods' Lifetime Survival
One of the major questions in the study of economics, logistics, and business
forecasting is the measurement and prediction of value creation, distribution,
and lifetime in the form of goods. In "real" economies, a perfect model for the
circulation of goods is impossible. However, virtual realities and economies
pose a new frontier for the broad study of economics, since every good and
transaction can be accurately tracked. Therefore, models that predict goods'
circulation can be tested and confirmed before their introduction to "real
life" and other scenarios. The present study is focused on the characteristics
of early-stage adopters for virtual goods, and how they predict the lifespan of
the goods. We employ machine learning and decision trees as the basis of our
prediction models. Results provide evidence that the prediction of the lifespan
of virtual objects is possible based just on data from early holders of those
objects. Overall, communication and social activity are the main drivers for
the effective propagation of virtual goods, and they are the most expected
characteristics of early adopters.Comment: 28 page
The Digital Architectures of Social Media: Comparing Political Campaigning on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat in the 2016 U.S. Election
The present study argues that political communication on social media is
mediated by a platform's digital architecture, defined as the technical
protocols that enable, constrain, and shape user behavior in a virtual space. A
framework for understanding digital architectures is introduced, and four
platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat) are compared along the
typology. Using the 2016 US election as a case, interviews with three
Republican digital strategists are combined with social media data to qualify
the studyies theoretical claim that a platform's network structure,
functionality, algorithmic filtering, and datafication model affect political
campaign strategy on social media
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