Digital Commons Network^™

Self-Disclosure And Social Support In A Web-Based Opioid Recovery Community: Machine Learning Analysis, Yu Chi, Huai Yu Chen, Khushboo Thaker

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: The opioid crisis remains a critical public health challenge, with opioid use disorder (OUD) imposing significant societal and health care burdens. Web-based communities, such as the Reddit community r/OpiatesRecovery, provide an anonymous and accessible platform for individuals in recovery. Despite the increasing use of Reddit for substance use research, limited studies have explored the content and interactions of self-disclosure and social support within these communities. Objective: This study aims to address the following research questions: (1) What content do users disclose in the community?; (2) What types of social support do users receive?; and (3) How does the content …

Meta’S Ai Bias To What Extent Do Meta's Algorithmic Processes For Classifying And Processing Information Related To Acts Of Racism Impact Fairness, Bias, And Social Justice Across Its Platforms?, Shanique Foster

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Algorithmic processing and classification of racism-related content have become increasingly prevalent across Meta's platforms. While these algorithms aim to create safer online environments, their effectiveness and impact on fairness remain understudied. This research examines how Meta's algorithmic processes for classifying racist content affect fairness, bias, and social justice across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Using qualitative research methodology, the study conducted focus groups with diverse platform users to understand their experiences with content moderation. The research also analyzed theoretical frameworks related to algorithmic bias, fairness metrics, and social justice in digital spaces.

Key findings revealed significant variations in algorithmic effectiveness across …

From Likes To Enrollment: How Social Networking Sites Shape College Decision-Making, David Hermann

Theses and Dissertations

This study applied Chickering and Reisser’s seven vectors of student development (1993), MacMillan’s existential framework (2009), and Chickering and Gamson’s principles for good practice in undergraduate education (1999) as guiding theoretical and conceptual frameworks. These perspectives informed the analysis of voices from young adults in rural communities and explored how recently graduated high school students perceived their use of social networking sites (SNSs) in the college search and decision-making process. I developed five overarching themes from the qualitative data: 1) informational role of social media, 2) visual media and campus impressions, 3) authenticity, peer influence, and human connection, 4) frustrations, …

Learning About The Transit Passenger Experience From Microblogging Posts, Egbe Etu Etu, Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Jordan Larot, Chaitanya Tatipigari, Imokhai Theophilus Tenebe

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Transit agencies often track delays and malfunctions but may overlook riders’ real-time social experiences. To fill this gap, we analyzed 559 tweets from 2020 to 2023 that captured personal accounts of public transport use. Using thematic analysis, we found that 74% of posts criticized other passengers’ behavior, far outweighing comments on transit ride quality, such as complaints about delays (25%). Notably, 86% of tweets expressed negative sentiment, though some highlighted exceptional service. These findings demonstrate that interpersonal dynamics are a key contributor to riders’ experiences and illustrate the nature of the interactions that riders like and dislike.

An Updated Social Media Users’ Crisis Response Framework, Violetta Wilk, Francesca Stocco, Saiyidi Mat Roni, Ferry Jie

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This exploratory study aims to investigate social media users’ reactions via user-generated content (UGC) to crisis-affected supply chains, through the lens of Situational Crisis Communication Theory, to: (1) ascertain whether the Social Media Users' Crisis Response (SMUCR) Framework is applicable to a prolonged, multi-brand, global crisis and (2) whether there is any evidence of online brand advocacy (OBA) and online brand detraction (OBD). Design/methodology/approach: Natural language processing (NLP) with Leximancer, enabled thematic and sentiment analyses of 295,024 X (Twitter) posts extracted over a three-year period. Findings: This study found that there were nine stages in social media users’ response …

The Monstrous-Digital: Data Necropolitics, Social Media, And The Assassination Of Brian Thompson, Laura Glitsos

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This research article examines the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the ensuing social media attention on the alleged shooter Luigi Mangione. I argue that the incident can be read as a cultural moment that captures the essence of an emergent sensibility that I call the “monstrous-digital” because of its layered and complex interconnections with the digital apparatus as a space of control and contestation. Specifically, I connect it to the biopolitical weaponization of computational systems, McQuillan’s (2015) algorithmic states of exception, and Pele and Mulholland’s (2023) data necropolitics. I approach this research using a qualitative case study method, …

The Importance And Role Of Public Relations In The Marketing Department At Mangkuluhur Artotel Suites, Habibillah Fitran, Mohammad Ridha

Jurnal Vokasi Indonesia

ABSTRACT The purpose of writing this research is to explain the role of Public Relations in the Marketing Communication Department regarding how to improve brand image, improve marketing and advertising to be more optimal, publish various information and promotions at Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites through various information media and social media, and how to respond to customer complaints, as well as obstacles that occur in hotels related to various customer complaints and poor communication by several individuals within the hotel employees are also accompanied by appropriate solutions. To complete this research, the author collected data by conducting observations accompanied by interviews …

Shalom In Social Media Marketing, Jill Risner, Thomas Betts

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

This paper will examine social media and the ways in which it currently does and does not contribute to shalom through an examination of both the platforms themselves as well as the content shared through them. As Christ’s ambassadors in the world and the primary funders of social media, marketers have power and an obligation to consider social media’s impact on shalom in the world and to use it in ways that contribute to shalom. This paper will provide several recommendations of how marketers can do this including posting content that intentionally contributes to shalom, engaging on platforms that support …

The Analysis Of Maratua Island Tour Package As A Main Destination In Pt. Kakaban Trip, Mazayahalwa Erta Pranoto

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

ABSTRACT

Indonesia is an archipelagic country that has many marine tourism destinations. One of the most popular marine tourism is Maratua. This study aims to find out what are the attractions of Maratua that make Maratua the most popular tour. In addition, it also aims to find out the marketing strategy and constraints on the Maratua tour package. The research method used is qualitative research with data collection techniques, namely observation, interviews, and literature studies. The results of this study reveal that the main attraction in Maratua is the marine biota and its resorts which are similar to the Maldives. …

Shalom In Social Media Marketing Shalom In Social Media Marketing, Jill R. Risner, Thomas Betts

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

This paper will examine social media and the ways in which it currently does and does not contribute to shalom through an examination of both the platforms themselves as well as the content shared through them. As Christ’s ambassadors in the world and the primary funders of social media, marketers have power and an obligation to consider social media’s impact on shalom in the world and to use it in ways that contribute to shalom. This paper will provide several recommendations of how marketers can do this including posting content that intentionally contributes to shalom, engaging on platforms that support …

Tweeting Over Time: Twitter/X For Communication, Assessment, And Growth In Middle Level Teacher Education, Toni M. Williams

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This article shares how preservice Middle Level teacher candidates used social media, specifically Twitter/X as both a resource and a tool and how that tool became important in assessing student growth and knowledge building which, in turn, informed instructional planning for the teacher education classroom. This is paramount for teacher educators and the future educators they teach, as they are preparing to create a variety of engagements for learning in teacher education programs and in middle level classrooms. Creating an online community is a means in which all preservice teachers can use their voices while at the same time having …

The Influence Of Social Media On Adolescent Mental Health, Sally Diomande

Psychology Student Publications

This paper goes through the difficult relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health, focusing on both the positive and negative impacts. It discusses how social comparison, amplified by social media, can lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and depression, particularly due to the idealized representations of others lives.The paper also highlights the dangers of cyber-bullying, which exacerbates mental health issues and even leads to suicidal thoughts in some adolescents.

If It Was Good Enough To Work Against The Nazis . . . : Revitalizing The Foreign Agents Registration Act To Regulate Modern Foreign Electioneering, Troy Mccurry

Catholic University Law Review

News headlines from the 2016 election to the present have described an ongoing political scandal that is unmatched in modern history: continued attempts of foreign interference in U.S. elections. It is fairly obvious that the United States lacks adequate restrictions to prevent foreign interference in U.S. elections. It therefore needs a law that—while passing constitutional scrutiny—prohibits more foreign political activity than what is currently covered, especially in relation to social media. This should be a simple and effective legislative fix, a return to the core aspects of the original Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) that focuses on potential electioneering of …

“I Had Not Really Considered This At All”: Preservice Teachers Critique Media Creators Using Five Key Questions, Johnny Allred, Lauren Mcclanahan

Journal of Media Literacy Education

We have a responsibility, now more than ever, to develop media literacy skills and to help the younger generation develop them as well. This essay tells the story of how two teacher educators invited their preservice teachers to use the Center for Media Literacy’s (2009) Five Key Questions to critically analyze and reflect on the media and messages they interact with on a regular basis. The authors suggest that classroom activities like this can help future teachers—and, in turn, their young students—develop habits of mind to become more critical consumers of digital media.

How To Design An Effective Mooc To Promote Media Literacy: A Study Based On The Educational Design Research Approach, Lílian Tropiano, Pedro Reis

Journal of Media Literacy Education

The research aims to establish a conceptual framework to design a MOOC to promote media literacy in the context of information disorder. Information disorder is a phenomenon that mainly occurs from the large flow of false or incorrect content posted on the internet. Promoting media literacy is a way of helping citizens to face the challenges of disinformation processes. The educational design research involves the development of a MOOC prototype based on the literature review and improvement through successive iterations with groups of experts and MOOC participants. The first stage of investigation is the literature review for the development of …

The Island Literature Museum In Korea, Inseop Shin

Kritika Kultura

The literature museum serves as a unique locale that emits the symbolism and cultural essence of literature, enhancing the image of a region. However, in Korea, islands have long been estranged from literature due to insufficient literary infrastructure. Conversely, from a mainland-centric perspective, islands have often been considered as peripheral cultural spaces for poetry and novels. This study focuses on the regional characteristics of islands in Korea and examines the relationship between literature and islands through case studies of Jeju Island’s Literature Museum, Yun Seon-do Literature Museum of Bogildo, and Literary Island Nodo. Each of these island literature museums presents …

Navigating Life After The Nicu: A Developmental Guide For Preterm And High-Risk Infants And Toddlers, Reagan Lachaussee, Mary Jan Greer Phd, Otr, Theresa Mensi

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

Premature and medically fragile infants are at high risk for developmental delays and benefit from ongoing support. Parents often feel overwhelmed and uncertain about how to support their child’s development at home. This project addressed gaps in caregiver education and support by developing the PEARLS Program (Promoting Early Achievements, Resilience, and Life Skills), a practical resource tailored to the needs of families and healthcare providers.

A needs assessment and provider feedback guided the program’s development, identifying challenges such as information overload, confusion around corrected age, and feeding difficulties. The PEARLS Program empowers families with digestible, actionable resources, including …

Social Media Intelligence: Responding To Crime And Violence In The Digital World, Chloe Lynn Sitton

Theses

The integration of social media into everyday life has transformed how crime is committed, communicated, and investigated. This capstone project examines the emerging field of social media intelligence and its growing influence on modern policing, surveillance, and the community. Drawing from sociological theory, law enforcement practice, legal analysis, and community-based research, this project offers a far-reaching interdisciplinary view of how social media is shaping crime and justice in the United States.

Exploring Teacher Strategies Regarding Multilingualism On Popular Social Media Platforms Such As Tiktok And Instagram, Victoria Raposo

Honors Program Theses and Projects

As a teacher, the scale of knowledge acquisition is endless. In an ever-changing world, social media becomes more prevalent every day. Not only does it become more popular and common with children and adults in their everyday lives, but there is even a social media uprising in the learning environment. English language learners benefit from social media use in learning in many ways, many of which will be discussed in this project. Teachers can also use social media for tips on teacher strategies, especially with ELs in their classrooms. This project will address the question of how social media can …

Microservice Architecture For Social Media Data Collection, Analysis, And Dashboarding, Sai Ram Manohar Koya

Theses and Dissertations

This research presents a novel methodology for the collection, processing, and analysis of social media data using a microservices-based architecture. The proposed system integrates multiple data streams from various social media platforms, transforming this information into a unified, JSON-based DataObject model for seamless processing and analysis. Unlike monolithic architectures, the microservices approach offers scalability and flexibility, allowing the system to handle the high velocity, variety, and volume of unstructured social media data, including text, images, and videos. By leveraging NoSQL databases like MongoDB, the methodology efficiently manages data in a semi-structured format, supporting real-time analytics such as sentiment analysis, toxicity …

Stitch Incoming: Lindke V. Freed’S Impact On Social-Media-Blocking Litigation, Clare R. Norins, Mark L. Bailey

Washington and Lee Law Review Online

Since at least 2016, social-media-blocking litigation against government officials who censor their online critics has been an evolving battleground for First Amendment rights of free speech and petition. In 2024, the United States Supreme Court issued its first substantive opinion on social media blocking, holding that government officials’ social media activity, even on a personal account, constitutes state action triggering constitutional scrutiny if (1) the official possessed actual authority to speak on the State’s behalf, and (2) purported to exercise that authority when she spoke on social media.

In this Article, we explain the Court’s novel two-part test for determining …

Falling Victim To The Beauty Algorithm, Niti Majethia

Capstones

As life on the internet becomes the new normal, the impact of social media becomes more pervasive and relentless. This story delves into how platforms like Instagram and TikTok can amplify the societal pressures on women to live up to an impossible beauty standard. Various experts weigh in on how this pressure affects women of all ages — from little girls to grown-up, established influencers. This timely narrative underscores the steep cost of society’s obsession with beauty as a measure of value and whether there is an escape to it at all.

The Leadership Identity Presented On Linkedin, Carl L. Tolbert

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

LinkedIn has evolved in a way similar to other social media platforms but is unique in that it focuses on professional networking and careers. Many professionals seek to showcase their leadership skills and philosophies as part of a publicly showcased online persona. This paper aimed to examine the posts specific to leadership and thematically investigate presentation strategies, motivation, and purposes behind the posts. The paper begins with a historical review from the inception of LinkedIn through pivotal milestones in the history of the company. Key concepts from the literature are then reviewed specific to social media use and motivations behind …

Detransitioners: Dealing With The False Promises Of Gender Transition, Diane M. Roselli

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Until recently, sex change surgery was rarely performed and on adults only; however, the discovery of cross-sex hormones, advances in plastic surgery, and the Dutch protocol contributed to the use of a treatment regimen for children consisting of puberty blockers (GnRHa), cross-sex hormones, and sex reassignment surgery, known as gender-affirmative treatment (GAT). A growing number of individuals, who opted to undergo the transition process, are detransitioning by ceasing hormone therapy or requesting corrective/reconstructive surgery. Their lived experiences are relatively unknown because most detransitioners drop out of treatment, are silenced by trans activists, and are not acknowledged by medical organizations. This …

Dermatologic Data From The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2019 And The Patientslikeme Online Support Community: Comparative Analysis, Mindy D. Szeto, Lina Alhanshali, Chandler Rundle, Madeline J. Adelman, Michelle Hook Sobotka, Emily Woolhiser, Jieying Wu, Colby L. Presley, Jalal Maghfour, John Meisenheimer, Jaclyn B. Anderson, Robert P. Dellavalle

Student Publications

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study aims to characterize the worldwide prevalence and morbidity of major diseases, while PatientsLikeMe (PLM) is an online community providing patient-generated insights into lived experiences; for dermatologic conditions, quantitative comparisons of GBD and PLM data revealed expected demographic differences but also notable correlations, highlighting their potential as complementary data sources elucidating unmet patient needs and priorities.

A Qualitative Analysis Applying Uses And Gratifications Theory To Explore The Types Of Spaces Within Facebook Post Comments Regarding Mental Illness And Suicide, Melissa Rice

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The current study investigated spaces created within Facebook comments on posts related to mental illness and suicide. The uses and gratification theory and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs served as the framework for this qualitative study utilizing content analysis to analyze 14,186 comments from 175 Facebook posts. This study highlights how user comments on specific posts create engagement spaces that turn positive or negative based on Facebook users' need for fulfillment. The findings also suggest that users engage with posts to meet various needs, such as seeking validation and attention, fulfilling a desire to feel valued, connecting with others through shared …

What Is Known And Not Known About The Impact Of Social Media On Self-Esteem: Systematic Literature Review Of Research On Adolescents (2014-2024), Kailen Mokhantha-Sopraseuth

Honors Theses

Prior research has found social media can impact how users feel about themselves and can influence how individuals perceive the world around them. Due to the increase in adolescent usage of social media, a systematic literature review of research available through Western Michigan University’s library was conducted. This study was aimed at summarizing and critically evaluating research on the impact of social media use on adolescent’s self-esteem using a qualitative systematic literature review from the last decade, with some quantitative analysis. Specifically, this study examined 1) what methods of data collection was used, 2) research designs implemented, and 3) results …

Unveiling The Shadows: The Influence Of Anonymity And Fake Accounts On Cyberbully Intention In Social Media, Muzdalini Malik, Hapini Awang, Nur Suhaili Mansor, Mohamad Fadli Zolkipli, Khuzairi Mohd Zaini, Abdulrazak F. Shahatha Al-Mashhadani

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Cyberbullying has arisen as a prevalent and worrying issue in the digital age, substantially influencing the well-being and mental health of social media users. Previous studies have identified several factors and theories of cyberbullying. Still more in-depth research is required to understand the key factors influencing cyberbullying intention in social media. This study aims to identify the factors influencing cyberbullying intention in social media and examine the moderating effect of fake accounts on cyberbullying intention. An extensive literature review has been conducted to examine the gaps in existing studies on cyberbullying intention. As a result, this study uses the Theory …

Who Is Most At Risk?: Identifying The Risks For Mental Health Problems Related To Social Media, Jessica L. Hamilton, Kaylee P. Kruzan, Hannah Szlyk, Jazmin Reyes-Portillo, Candice Biernesser, Michaeline Jensen, Jamie Zelazny, Brian Primack, John Torous

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Although most adolescents use social media, not all experience negative effects on their mental health. Identifying which youths are most vulnerable to mental health problems related to social media remains a critical area of research to inform prevention. Currently, there is insufficient examination of the potential moderators of the relationship between social media use and mental health outcomes, limiting our understanding. Research has primarily focused on which youths are most at risk on the basis of demographic factors and preexisting mental health problems. Findings suggest that cisgender girls, youths with minoritized identities, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or with …

The Grizzly, December 5, 2024, Kate Horan, Zach Cosme, Ashley Adam, Renee Washart, Emily Veasey, Sidney Belleroche, Hadley Whitman, Adam Denn

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

The Case of the Missing Lower Wismer Doors • Seen the Zine? • SAAC's Annual Holiday Food Drive • Representation Exploration: Capstone Excerpt • Campus Squirrels Pack Up for the Holidays • The Yap With Emily Veasey: #WomenInMaleFields • PSA: Students' Healthy Holidays • Field Hockey Concludes Spectacular Season • Women's Basketball Blasts Out to Hot Start!