Social media is widely used and easily accessible for adolescents, it has the potential to increase STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) identity in girls. We aimed to investigate the effects of exposure to counter-stereotypical portrayals of women in STEM on social media on the STEM identity of adolescent girls. The study concluded that social media alone may not be an effective tool to increase STEM identity in girls. Social media can still be used as a complementary tool to support and encourage women in STEM, but it should not be relied upon solely to address the gender disparity in STEM fields.
Read More...Browse Articles
Analysis of Technology Usage of Teens: Correlating Social Media, Technology Use, Participation in Sports, and Popularity
Social media usage is predicted to impact teen well-being and emotional status. This study sought to assess the impact of teen technology usage on their social lives. Surveys of 8th and 9th graders were used to assess compare technology usage between males and females as well as and how social media usage impacts the perception of social environment at school.
Read More...Fitness social media is positively associated with the use of performance-enhancing drugs among young men
Here the authors investigated the relationship between fitness-related social media and the high usage of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) specifically by men in the US age 18-35. In a survey with 149 participants they identified that young men that use fitness-related social media are more likely to use PEDs. Their results suggest the necessity to consider potential risk behaviors which may be related to social media consumption.
Read More...The influence of purpose-of-use on information overload in online social networking
Here, seeking to understand the effects of social media in relation to social media fatigue and/or overload in recent years, the authors used various linear models to assess the results of a survey of 27 respondents. Their results showed that increased duration of use of social media did not necessarily lead to fatigue, suggesting that quality may be more important than quantity. They also considered the purpose of an individual's social media usage as well as their engagement behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read More...Analyzing the Relationships Between Internet Usage, Social Skill, and Anxiety Severity in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Here the authors investigate the use of social media in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in affecting their ability and opportunities to interact with others. They found that higher usage of Internet correlated with less severe anxiety symptoms and improved social skills.
Read More...Public Perception of the Effects of Artificial Sweeteners on Diabetes Based on YouTube Comments
Artificial sweeteners are rising in popularity, in part due to the influence of social media platforms like YouTube. However, YouTube commenters often repeat information about artificial sweeteners that is not supported by scientific research. To investigate how misinformation about sweeteners spreads through social media, Kim and Yoo conduct a content analysis of YouTube comments to reveal how many comments repeat misinformation about artificial sweeteners' effects.
Read More...An explainable model for content moderation
The authors looked at the ability of machine learning algorithms to interpret language given their increasing use in moderating content on social media. Using an explainable model they were able to achieve 81% accuracy in detecting fake vs. real news based on language of posts alone.
Read More...The role of furry friends in facilitating social interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption in social interactions. In this study, the authors tested if walking a dog will change human interactions and found that walking with a dog increased social interaction.
Read More...Changing electronic use behavior in adolescents while studying: An interventional psychology experiment
Here, the authors investigated the effects of an interventional psychology on the study habits of high school students specifically related to the use of electronic distractions such as social media or texting, listening to music, or watching TV. They reported varying degrees of success between the control and intervention groups, suggesting that the methods of habit-breaking for students merits further study.
Read More...How are genetically modified foods discussed on TikTok? An analysis of #GMOFOODS
Here, the authors investigated engagement with #GMOFOODS, a hashtag on TikTok. They hypothesized that content focused on the negative effects of genetically modified organisms would receive more interaction driven by consumers. They found that the most common cateogry focused on the disadvantages of GMOs related to nutrition and health with the number of views determining if the video would be provided to users.
Read More...