Digital Commons Network^™

The Complex And Multifaceted Nature Of Social Media: Perspectives From Young Adolescents, Parents And Experts, Cindy Branch-Smith, Diarmuid Hurley, Nasim Salehi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study explores the complex and multifaceted nature of social media use among young adolescents, drawing on the perspectives of young adolescents, parents and experts. It examines both the benefits and risks of social media and associated implications for adolescent mental health, self-development and social relationships. Methodology: A qualitative, interpretive design was utilised, using interviews across three stakeholder groups, with data analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: The analysis identified a range of perceived opportunities, benefits and challenges associated with adolescent social media engagement. Participants highlighted its role in fostering connection, education and self-expression, alongside significant risks, including cyberbullying, …

Reclaiming Presence: An Anthropological Study Of Digital Disconnection And Meaning-Making, Leslie De Paz

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Human attention is increasingly at risk in an unregulated digital ecosystem where overconsumption shapes neurological function, social interaction, and the ways people make meaning of everyday life. Dominant discourse around digital overuse tends to medicalize the problem, framing it as individual addiction or clinical dysfunction. In this thesis, I argue that such framing obscures what a cultural phenomenon is fundamentally, one in which people are actively questioning their relationship with technology, building awareness, and developing practices that help them slow down and reclaim agency within algorithmically mediated environments. This study draws on 22 semi-structured interviews with Gen Z and millennial …

The Influence Of Social Media Interactions On Consumer Behavior In Influencer Vs. User-Generated Destination Content: The Role Of Source And Content Factors, Elmira Listiawardany, Rifelly Dewi Astuti

ASEAN Marketing Journal

Based on Service Dominant Logic, Value Co-Creation, and the Information Adoption Model, this research model examines the influence of Social Media Interactions on destination content on Visit Intention and Behavioral Engagement, involving Source Credibility, Homophily, and Content Quality as mediators in this relationship. To provide more specific implications, this study also compares how the model applies to two different types of content, namely influencer content and user-generated content (UGC).

This research uses a survei questionnaire method and obtained 313 samples that meet this research criteria, which are those who located in Indonesia, age 17 to 43, using social media, and …

The Impact Of Social Media Activities On ‘Labubu The Monsters' Brand Awareness And Brand Image, Grace Javiera Sadihin, Patricia Evelyn Angelika, I Ketut Rangga Wardana Putra, Fari Agil Aryaputra, Theodorus Otniel

ASEAN Marketing Journal

This study aims to investigate the impact of social media activities on brand image and brand awareness. A quantitative study was conducted using a validated questionnaire distributed to a sample of 348 respondents of Gen Z, Gen Y, and Gen X who use social media and are familiar with Labubu The Monsters. Multiple regression analysis was performed using SPSS version 27 to test the hypotheses. The results revealed a significant impact of social media activities on brand awareness and brand image. It was found that entertainment, trendiness, and influencers affect brand awareness, while entertainment, EWOM, trendiness, and influencers affect brand …

Impact Of Gestalt And Reality Counseling On Reducing Junior High School Students’ Anger In Social Media, Julia Vika Andriani Marpaung, Muslihati Muslihati, Imanuel Hitipeuw, V. Valdez

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

Adolescent emotional development can be enhanced by effectively managing conflicts in everyday life, such as those encountered on social media. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Gestalt group counseling with Rehearsal techniques and Reality group counseling with Expressive Writing techniques in mitigating anger emotions in students' social media interactions. Conducted as an experimental research with a pre-test-post-test two-treatment design, the study utilized purposive sampling to select 16 eighth-grade students from State Junior High School 2 Wagir, Malang Regency, Indonesia who demonstrated high levels of anger in social media. The participants were divided into two groups: one receiving Gestalt …

Associations Between Social Media Usage, Physical Activity And Flourishing In Rural University Students, Anna Dysart, Minu Sara Thomas

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Most adolescents and young adults report significant use of social media.^1-3 However, there is limited research on the effect of social media use, specifically on physical activity and flourishing.

Purpose: This pilot research study examines the correlation between social media usage and the physical activity and flourishing levels of college students at a rural university in Appalachia.

Methods: The authors conducted a survey including the validated Secure Flourishing Index and Stanford Leisure-Time Activity Categorical Item, containing questions on social media use and demographics. Spearman’s rho was used for nonparametric correlations. Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the correlation …

Spatial Conversations: Opportunities To Share Geographic Knowledge, L. Jesse Rouse, Barbara L. Maclennan, Susan J. Bergeron, H. Franklin Lafone

Anthropology and Geography

For more than twenty years geographers have taken advantage of “new media” to share information, make connections, and expand the “spatial conversation.” As blogs opened the door for informal self-publishing and communicating about narrow, focused topic areas, geographers began to use emerging media platforms to present ideas to a broader audience, more quickly and interactively, as new data and technologies became available. Audio podcasts and videos broadened the platforms for dissemination and provide a greater level of immersion through digital media. Between the open publishing and subscription opportunities, and interaction provided through comments and social media engagement, a dialectic was …

The Impact Of Instagram Exposure On The Beauty Standards And Body Images Of Young Black American Women, Chiquila Tonelle Arrington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the phenomenological study was to explore the impact of Instagram exposure on the beauty standards and body image of young Black American women. Drawing from literature highlighting the negative psychological effects of social media, such as comparison, body surveillance, and negative emotions, the research aimed to capture the experiences of Black women navigating beauty ideals in digital communication spaces. The study focused on Instagram because of the visual nature of the content and its alignment with the visual nature of the construct of beauty. The study explored behaviors, intentions, and habits associated with Instagram use.

The research …

Examining Diversity Messaging Practices Of Division I Athletic College Sports Communicators, David Cassilo

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

In recent years, college athletic communication departments have been tasked with more messaging related to race and diversity. This research used semi-structured interviews to understand the message creation practices of Division I athletic communication departments when generating diversity and social justice messaging. The research was examined within the context of the theory of racialized organizations. Interviews were conducted with 11 athletic communication staff members at Division I universities. Five themes were constructed related to diversity and social justice messaging of athletic communication departments at Division I universities. These are (a) a White world, (b) need to represent collegiate athletes, (c) …

Fake News Y Redes Sociales: Cómo El Algoritmo En Torno A La Migración Afecta La Salud Mental, Maria F. Alarcon

Capstones

Las redes sociales son la principal fuente de información para migrantes latinos en Estados Unidos, pero también son un terreno fértil para fake-news que afectan la salud mental y desinforman.

Modern Technology Addiction: Developer Duty Of Care, Jonah Hampton

Honors College Theses

Technology addiction includes any frequent use of technology which interferes in the user’s life. The subject continues growth as an epidemic and research field, yet prior literature does not often analyze the role of technology developers. This study performs a literature and legal synthesis to evaluate user and company responsibility, implications of responsibility, and promising solutions. Post 2020 literature was selected for coverage on context, addictive features, effects, solutions, or perspectives on law. Legal examples from different addiction industries were also selected for analysis to understand previous precedents. The study found a pattern of addictive traits, persuasive design, and recurring …

Reel Me In: An Analysis Of Self-Presentation On Linkedin And Instagram, Katie Vanhouten

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine how Communication and Digital Studies (CDS) seniors tailor how they self-present on social media on a social app compared to a professional one. As seniors are transitioning from student life to professional life, it is significant to understand how that meaningful shift influences how they present themselves online. This study employs a qualitative content analysis of Instagram and LinkedIn profiles, including two posts from each platform, belonging to four CDS seniors at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The findings suggest three themes in self-presentation, which are personality, communication style, …

Disclosures, Disclaimers, And Disinformation Advertising, Areeb Asif

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

Every regular internet user in the United States has been exposed to fake news at some point. Most of them, if not all, would agree that this problem needs a solution. Nevertheless, even as fake news has taken on unforeseen prominence in recent years, very little concrete action has been taken to curb its impact on American society. Some scholars have chalked this up to the Supreme Court’s expansive conception of the First Amendment, which makes it incredibly challenging to regulate political speech. Others posit that the problem is Section 230, which allows platforms to profit from fake news without …

Social Media Classifications: The Impact On Sports Content Consumption, Katie Schmitz

Honors Projects

This study examines how classifications of social media content influence consumer engagement within the context of collegiate athletics. Focusing on the Bowling Green State University football team's official Instagram account, the research analyzes posts from the 2025 football season by exploring how content type, post format, and engagement metrics relate to visibility and reach. Guided by theoretical frameworks including vividness, interactivity, and the Theory of Planned Behavior, the study employs a quantitative analysis using publicly available engagement metrics. This research contributes to growing literature on sport and social media by addressing a gap in classification-based engagement analysis. Findings provide a …

Determining The Internal And External Barriers That Small Antique Retail Business Owners In East Texas Face, Which Influence Their Decisions To Underutilize Or Not Adopt Social Media As A Promotional Tool, Mitchell Edward Korolewicz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The specific problem addressed in this study was that some small antique retail business owners in East Texas are potentially underutilizing or not adopting social media as a promotional tool, resulting in possible decreased competitiveness. The purpose of this flexible design, single case study was to determine the internal and external barriers that small antique retail business owners in East Texas face, which influence their decisions to underutilize or not adopt social media as a promotional tool. Rogers’s (1962) diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory and its innovation decision process (IDP) model provided the theoretical foundation for this study. Data were …

Social Media/Cyberbullying Correlation To Adolescent Eating Disorders, Nicoli A. Panelo

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Social media is very prevalent in today’s society, particularly in adolescents. This time period is crucial for this age group in terms of developing a sense of purpose and identity. Although social media may keep many of our children entertained, they also can create negative impacts on them and ultimately hinder their overall development both mentally and physically through negative body image and unrealistic self-expectations. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find the correlation between social media use and the rise of eating disorders in adolescents. Doing so would allow us to find ways to lower the …

X Versus Reality: Data Suggests Political Posts On X Are Inconsistent With Voter Behavior, Bond Benton, Yi Luo, Jin-A Choi

College of Communication and Media Scholarship and Creative Works

This study from Montclair State University researchers in the Joetta Di Bella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication in the College of Communication and Media shows that the volume of political posts on X (formerly Twitter) may not reflect actual voter behavior. The gap between post volume about candidates and real election votes was nearly 40% in the analyzed case of the New Jersey gubernatorial election. Contributing factors to this gap may include the volume of ostensibly “American” political accounts that are foreign sourced, bot-based activity, and overall platform infrastructure/algorithms. Results identified 108,640 posts for Mikie Sherrill …

Echo Chambers In Encryption: How Germany's Netzdg Law Displaced Far-Right Discourse And Bolstered Afd Support On Private Platforms, Jackson Pace Campbell

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This study examines the relationship between social media political engagement and support for Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party in 2021, arguing that the 2017 Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) inadvertently displaced anti-immigration discourse from moderated public platforms into private encrypted spaces, fostering echo chambers and radicalization. Drawing on data from the German Longitudinal Election Study pre-election survey (N=5,119 nationally representative voters), logistic regression analyses test associations between AfD support and social media political use, controlling for socio-demographic and attitudinal factors. Findings confirm hypotheses: overall social media political engagement nearly doubles AfD support odds; private encrypted apps like Telegram and …

A Comprehensive Digital Marketing Strategy Guide For Independent Musicians, William Elree Hilburn

Theses

Creating and implementing a sound digital marketing strategy is a crucial element to consider as an independent musician. In this thesis report and the strategy guide that follows, a number of current digital marketing strategies are discussed at length. The strategies that are discussed in this report and within the strategy guide have been gleaned through semi-structured qualitative interviews with two separate up-and-coming music artists. The information shared by these case studies has been documented and synthesised into this report, as well as, into a comprehensive strategy guide that has been written to aid fledgling music artists in their digital …

Tools Of The Trade: Exploring Precision Agriculture, Social Media, And Support Services In Modern Farming, Virginia Wayt

All Theses

We need to know more about farmers’ relationships to tools that can help them, including Precision Agriculture (PA) tech from within the field, human service providers (SPs), and social media (SM). To evaluate these relationships, three research projects were conducted. Two were surveys focusing on perceptions - one was on technology and the other was on social media. The technology survey was on vegetable growers and aimed to understand how open and interested they were in PA, which are agricultural technologies that use data to make life easier. They could monitor soil or weather, steer vehicles, limit water, and more …

Exploring The Relationship Between Social Media And Anxiety In Deaf Community Students: A Mixed-Methods Approach., Gigi Zheng

Theses

The mental health of Deaf individuals, particularly in relation to social media engagement, is an understudied area amid growing global concerns about anxiety disorders. Deaf individuals face unique challenges, including communication barriers, social isolation, and stigma, all of which can heighten anxiety levels. Although social media offers valuable opportunities for connection and self-expression, it may also amplify stress and feelings of inadequacy when accessibility barriers persist. This mixed-methods study examined anxiety among Deaf college students and explored the cultural validity of two widely used anxiety measures—the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Quantitative data were collected …

Does Social Media Undermine Trust? Institutional Trust In Civil Society And Governance Institutions, Christianna Sirindah Parr

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

What is the relationship between social media use and trust in civil society and governance institutions? In many parts of Asia, trust in government remains high despite limited political accountability and civil liberties. This study examines whether online political expression reshapes institutional trust in governance institutions and civil society organizations. The analysis considers the dual role of social media as a site for civic engagement and a channel for disaffection with formal authority. Using data from the Asian Barometer, the findings show that political expression on social media is associated with lower trust in governance institutions and higher trust in …

Methodologies For Generating Passive Income As A Digital Artist, Levi Stone

Master of Fine Arts in Digital Media Culminating Experience

This research provides an in-depth exploration of 3D workflow methodologies for digital merchants, how and why to implement them, and their correlation with passive income earnings. Digestible strategies regarding the development, packaging, marketing, and sale of assets for digital marketplaces are explored at length. Motivated by the state of the digital media industry, this research demonstrates that secondary income is possible through consistent, applied methodologies. Topics include environmental storytelling, the importance of being user friendly, material variance, and much more. The author demonstrates the impact of reframing your approach when designing products with the intention to sell, and explores the …

From The Bench To The Feed: Conflict Between Public Official Accounts And The First Amendment, Betty Yu

Washington Law Review

Imagine one day waking up, opening Facebook, and discovering that the official White House account blocked you because you left a comment expressing a viewpoint. In this case, your First Amendment right to free speech would most likely be violated. However, what happens if your local official blocks you or deletes your comments? Are your First Amendment rights violated? Well, it depends.

Historically, public officials have used public forums such as town halls to meet with citizens and answer questions. However, as social media platforms like X and Facebook have become increasingly crucial tools for communication, the distinction between personal …

Review Of Information Literacy And Social Media: Empowered Student Engagement With The Acrl Framework, Rebecca M. Mccall

Communications in Information Literacy

Review of Santamaría, M., & Pfannenstiel, N. (2024). Information literacy and social media: Empowered student engagement with the ACRL Framework. Association of College and Research Libraries.

Educators’ Perceptions Of Mental Health Services For Middle School Students In A South Texas District, Norma Araceli Cabrera

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to examine teachers' and administrators' perceptions of school-based mental health services in one school district in South Texas. Within-case sampling was utilized to select the participants. The study examines educators' perceptions of the availability and effectiveness of mental health services for middle school students. Middle school is a period of intense social development, during which students strive to navigate peer relationships. Middle school children, aged 12-14, also undergo emotional development as they manage intense emotions, develop self-awareness, and learn to cope with stressors related to school, friends, and self-identity. Studies found that …

Cyberbullying Victimization And Suicide Behavior: The Roles Of Social Anxiety And Body-Related Comparison Among Young Latina Adults, Monica Elena Ochoa

Theses and Dissertations

Suicide behavior rates have increased over the years in the United States among Latinas and adolescents/young adults. Previous research has identified relationships between various body-related concerns, (e.g., body dissatisfaction, appearance comparison, and body shame) cyberbullying, social anxiety, and suicidal ideation, yet minimal research has examined the relationship of these factors and how they interrelate to explain suicide risk in Latina young adults. This study investigated whether body dissatisfaction, appearance comparison, and body shame had indirect effects on suicide behaviors through the interaction of cyberbullying victimization in 194 Latina college students. The results of this study found that cyberbullying victimization mediated …

Social Media Participation And Scholarly Success In Law, Julian Nyarko, David E. Pozen

Faculty Scholarship

Using a novel dataset on Twitter activity as well as a novel corpus of law journal publications, this paper examines the impact of social media activity on the scholarly success of U.S. law professors. We find that joining Twitter increases citation counts by an average of 22% per year and improves article placements by up to 10 ranks for law professors, relative to a synthetic control group. These positive returns apply across nearly all classes of scholars and are magnified for those who post frequently about their own work. The identified citation boost would be even larger than 22% if …

Is Political Information Over Facebook Credible? A Look At The 2020 Presidential Election, Kristina Harrison, Shawn Thelen, Boonghee Yoo, John B. Ford

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

Much controversy still exists surrounding the events before, during, and after the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Some of this is attributable to voters’ uncertainty, driven by conflicting messages transmitted over social media, about the credibility of information surrounding the candidates and election results. Examining data collected shortly before the 2020 election, this study investigates how consumers perceive political information presented on Facebook. Drawing from Source Credibility Theory and the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), the research tests a model that includes medium dependency, medium interactivity, information quality, information presentation, personal expertise, and power perception. Data from 407 participants were analyzed using …

Looking At The Nose: Gender, Jewishness, And The Politics Of Visual Mediation, Laura Glitsos

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The nose is a multisensory organ and a powerful bodily technology that helps orient the experience of consciousness in the material world, and yet, we have come to a socio-technological context so driven by ocularcentrism, largely as a result of the visual nature of social media and new media, that the nose is often reduced to just an idealised ‘shape’. This article explores how the contemporary construction and representation of the nose, especially on social media, is seated in a very long history of gendered and racialised politics. By examining the cultural and political implications of the nose through critical …