Is exposure to online content depicting risky behavior related to viewers’ own risky behavior offline?

There are public and governmental concerns that social media may encourage risky behavior in the offline environment. Using international survey data from 412 young adults aged between 18-25 years of age (M = 21.20 years, SD = 2.31 years), this study demonstrates that there is a relationship between exposure to online content depicting risky behavior and users’ own offline risky behavior. This relationship was found for six behaviors: drug use, excessive alcohol use, disordered eating, self-harm, violence to others, and dangerous pranks. A borderline effect was found for two further behaviors: unprotected sex and sex with a stranger. The relationship between content depicting disordered eating and offline behavior was only significant for females; suggesting that female users may be more vulnerable to effects of viewing content depicting disordered eating habits, and/or use social media content to find material related to their existing behavior. No other gender moderation effects were found. The findings provide preliminary evidence that social media use may influence offline risky behavior in young adults

Spreading Disinformation on Facebook: Do Trust in Message Source, Risk Propensity, or Personality Affect the Organic Reach of “Fake News”?

There is considerable concern about the propagation of disinformation through social media, particularly for political purposes. 'Organic reach' has been found to be important in the propagation of disinformation on social networks. This is the phenomenon whereby social media users extend the audience for a piece of information: interacting with it, or sharing it with their wider networks, greatly increases the number of people the information reaches. This project evaluated the extent to which characteristics of the message source (how trustworthy they were) and the recipient (risk propensity and personality) influenced the organic reach of a potentially false message. In an online study, 357 Facebook users completed personality and risk propensity scales, and rated their likelihood of interacting in various ways with a message posted by either a trustworthy or untrustworthy source. Message source impacted on overall organic reach, with messages from trusted sources being more likely to be propagated. Risk propensity did not influence reach. However, low scores on trait agreeableness predicted greater likelihood of interacting with a message. Findings provide preliminary evidence that both message source and recipient characteristics can potentially influence the spread of disinformation

Leveraging Health Behavior and Communication Theories to Support Adolescent and Young Adults: Conceptualizing Social Media Wellness in Relation to Disordered Eating

Social media platforms like Instagram serve as an important mechanism for transmitting social information and influence. However, the nature and use of these platforms are known to perpetuate eating disorders (EDs) or further disorder eating symptoms. This concept paper proposes merging health behavior and communication theory to create a comprehensive and applicable framework for remediating pro-eating disorder social media content among people who have eating disorders. To this end, the Social Media Wellness Model, which is adapted from the Health Belief Model, the Uses and Gratifications approach, the MAIN model of media affordances, and media literacy training, is proposed. This paper shows how theoretical model components can be mapped back to behaviors typified by individuals with EDs, or those predisposed to developing EDs. Subsequently, we propose a training intervention to highlight salient literacy cues, and outline next steps for testing and developing this model with the ongoing support of a community advisory board (CAB). Creating a CAB with individuals who have lived experience of an ED or disordered eating, and who use social media, will be vital to testing the applicability of this conceptual Social Media Wellness Model for ED recovery

Juegos de género. Los roles de género en los retos de las redes sociales deportivas: un análisis de contenido

This research investigates the sport practice through the lens of gender on digital platforms. Since they are involved in the construction of corporeality, sports tend to reproduce socially dominant values about what being a woman, or a man means. Consequently, the idea that there are «feminine sports» and «masculine sports» is widespread. Specifically, sporting practices through the phenomenon of social media challenges are focused. These are highly correlated with concepts such as challenge and performance, in which gender, too, is enacted. The aim is to explore to what extent these sport challenges promote predominant ideas about femininity and masculinity, and in what cases they question them. To achieve these objectives, we used a dataset of about one thousand videos, shared on four social networking platforms during the period between 1 January 2020 and 31 January 2021. From this dataset, 136 social media challenges marked for «sport,» «physical ability,» or «fitness» were selected. Content analysis, chosen as the method of analysis, shows how through these new challenges traditional gender differences are perpetuated and promoted rather than challenged. In this regard, although digital platforms have created new symbolic and expressive spaces in which once unthinkable forms of self-representation and interaction can be implemented and new possibilities of agency are developed, sport social media challenges do not yet appear to be fully involved in that process.Esta investigación indaga la práctica deportiva a través de la lente de género en plataformas digitales. Al estar implicados en la construcción de la corporalidad, los deportes tienden a reproducir los valores socialmente dominantes sobre lo que significa ser mujer u hombre. En consecuencia, está muy extendida la idea de que existen «deportes femeninos» y «deportes masculinos». En concreto, nos centramos en las prácticas deportivas mediante el fenómeno de los retos en las redes sociales. Estos están muy correlacionados con conceptos como desafío y rendimiento, en los que también se promulga el género. El objetivo es explorar hasta qué punto estos retos deportivos promueven las ideas predominantes sobre la feminidad y la masculinidad, y en qué casos las cuestionan. Utilizamos un conjunto de datos de unos mil vídeos, compartidos en cuatro plataformas de redes sociales durante el periodo comprendido entre el 1 de enero de 2020 y el 31 de enero de 2021. De este conjunto de datos, se seleccionaron 136 retos marcados como «deporte», «habilidad física» o «fitness». El análisis de contenido, elegido como método de análisis, muestra cómo a través de estos nuevos retos se perpetúan y promueven las diferencias de género tradicionales en lugar de cuestionarlas. En este sentido, a pesar de que las plataformas digitales han creado nuevos espacios simbólicos y expresivos en los que se pueden implementar formas de autorrepresentación e interacción antaño y desarrollar nuevas posibilidades de agencia los retos deportivos en medios sociales, aún no parecen participar plenamente en ese proceso

Spreading Disinformation on Facebook:Do Trust in Message Source, Risk Propensity, or Personality Affect the Organic Reach of “Fake News”?

There is considerable concern about the propagation of disinformation through social media, particularly for political purposes. “Organic reach” has been found to be important in the propagation of disinformation on social networks. This is the phenomenon whereby social media users extend the audience for a piece of information: interacting with it, or sharing it with their wider networks, greatly increases the number of people the information reaches. This project evaluated the extent to which characteristics of the message source (how trustworthy they were) and the recipient (risk propensity and personality) influenced the organic reach of a potentially false message. In an online study, 357 Facebook users completed personality and risk propensity scales and rated their likelihood of interacting in various ways with a message posted by either a trustworthy or untrustworthy source. Message source impacted on overall organic reach, with messages from trusted sources being more likely to be propagated. Risk propensity did not influence reach. However, low scores on trait agreeableness predicted greater likelihood of interacting with a message. The findings provide preliminary evidence that both message source and recipient characteristics can potentially influence the spread of disinformation

What methods are used in research of firsthand experiences with online self-harming and suicidal behavior?:A scoping review

BackgroundOnline self-harming and suicidal behavior is a novel and rapidly increasing phenomenon warranting comprehensive mapping of used research methods.AimTo identify and map how knowledge on online self-harming and suicidal behavior is gathered, including how data are collected e.g. questionnaires and interviews.MethodsThe review follows the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual for Scoping Reviews in tandem with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. A keyword search of three electronic databases was conducted on two occasions, yielding 5422 records. Following duplicate removal, the records were screened based on the following inclusion criterions; (1) in English or Nordic language and published between 2011–2022, (2) presenting results for self-harming and/or suicidal behavior on social media and (3) using tools for either interview or questionnaire aiming at assessment of the experience of online self-harming and suicidal behavior from the perspective of the person who engages in the behavior. A total of 64 articles were included.Results45 used questionnaires, 17 used interviews, and two studies mixed the two approaches. 17% of the studies had made some effort to ensure validity within the questionnaires and 15.8% gave full access to the interview guide.ConclusionResearch into online self-harming and suicidal behavior is characterized by a lack of validated measurements and methodological transparency. The results emphasize a need for further development, testing, and validation of questionnaires and greater openness and reflexivity in qualitative methodology to enable cross-study comparison and advance knowledge of this complex phenomenon

Developing and Validating a Behavioural Model of Cyberinsurance Adoption

Business disruption from cyberattacks is a growing concern, yet cyberinsurance uptake remains low. Using an online behavioural economics experiment with 4800 participants across four EU countries, this study tests a predictive model of cyberinsurance adoption, incorporating elements of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as well as factors in relation to risk propensity and price. During the experiment, participants were given the opportunity to purchase different cybersecurity measures and cyberinsurance products before performing an online task. Participants likelihood of suffering a cyberattack was dependent upon their adoption of cybersecurity measures and their behaviour during the online task. The consequences of any attack were dependent upon the participants insurance decisions. Structural equation modelling was applied and the model was further developed to include elements of the wider security ecosystem. The final model shows that all TPB factors, and response efficacy from the PMT, positively predicted adoption of premium cyberinsurance. Interestingly, adoption of cybersecurity measures was associated with safer behaviour online, contrary to concerns of “moral hazard”. The findings highlight the need to consider the larger cybersecurity ecosystem when designing interventions to increase adoption of cyberinsurance and/or promote more secure online behaviour

Psychosocial risk and protective factors for youth problem behavior are associated with food addiction in the Generation Z

ObjectiveFood Addiction (FA) and other well-known risk behavior as substance misuse tend to co-occur and may share similar risk and protective factors. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the diagnosis/severity of FA and psychosocial domains typically related to risk behavior syndrome in a large, nationally representative community sample of Generation Z underage Italian students.MethodThe sample consisted of 8,755 students (3,623 from middle schools, 5,132 from high schools). A short version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 was administered to evaluate FA. Risk and protective factors related to demographic, personality, behavior, and family variables were examined. Stepwise multivariate logistic and linear regressions were conducted.ResultsThe prevalence of FA was 30.8%. Female gender, social anxiety and depression symptoms, social withdrawal risk, Internet gaming disorder, social media addiction, current substance use, social challenge engagement and experienced doxing boosted the chance of FA diagnosis, whereas eating fruit and vegetables, playing competitive sports and an average sleep duration of 7–8 h per night reduced these odds. FA severity was significantly and positively associated with trait impulsiveness, social anxiety and depressive symptoms, risk of social withdrawal, recent substance use, social media, and gaming addiction, doxing suffered and risky social challenges participation. Negative associations between the severity of FA and fruit and vegetable diet habits were found.ConclusionOur findings confirm that FA is widespread among Italian adolescents. The associations between the diagnosis and severity of FA and psychosocial risk factors for health, including, addictive and deviant behaviors related to digital misuse, suggest its belonging to the risk behavior constellation. Health promotion schemes based on a multicomponent strategy of intervention should consider the inclusion of FA and its psychosocial correlates

Internet users beware, you follow online health rumors (more than counter-rumors) irrespective of risk propensity and prior endorsement

Purpose—The Internet is a breeding ground for rumors. A way to tackle the problem involves the use of counter-rumors—messages that refute rumors. This paper analyzes users’ intention to follow rumors and counter-rumors as a function of two factors: individuals’ risk propensity and messages’ prior endorsement. Design/methodology/approach—The paper conducted an online experiment. Complete responses from 134 participants were analyzed statistically. Findings—Risk-seeking users were keener to follow counter-rumors compared with risk-averse ones. No difference was detected in terms of their intention to follow rumors. Users’ intention to follow rumors always exceeded their intention to follow counter-rumors regardless of whether prior endorsement was low or high. Research limitations/implications—This paper contributes to the scholarly understanding of people’s behavioral responses when unbeknownstly exposed to rumors and counter-rumors on the Internet. Moreover, it dovetails the literature by examining how risk-averse and risk-seeking individuals differ in terms of intention to follow rumors and counter-rumors. It also shows how prior endorsement of such messages drives their likelihood to be followed. Originality/value—The paper explores the hitherto elusive question: When users are unbeknownstly exposed to both a rumor and its counter-rumor, which entry is likely to be followed more than the other? It also takes into consideration the roles played by individuals’ risk propensity and messages’ prior endorsement

Adolescent Perspectives on Media Use: A Qualitative Study

This qualitative study looks at adolescents’ engagement with media and explores their perceptions of how media plays a role in their lives. For the purpose of this study, media includes watching television shows, watching and reading the news, and involvement in various types of social media. The influence of parents and peers is also explored to examine adolescents’ views of whether parent and peer opinions affect the types of media with which the adolescent participants choose to engage. The study used a semi structured interview to collect data with participants from a Massachusetts public high school. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which broke the data into various clusters and themes