University of Michigan: Tuning the tension: Negative feedback could moderate extreme views on social media, per U-M research. “‘Downvotes’ and ‘dislikes’ from peers could moderate extreme rhetoric and mitigate echo chambers among social media users, according to new research from the University of Michigan. The study finds such ‘feedback can serve as the whip that regulates the polarization of opinions by encouraging users to moderate their tone.’ Conversely, the research doesn’t find evidence of equivalent moderation effects from positive feedback.”
Tag Archives: peer pressure
Florida International University: Teens more likely to use alcohol and marijuana if they see their friends post about it on social media
Florida International University: Teens more likely to use alcohol and marijuana if they see their friends post about it on social media. “Peer pressure hasn’t gone away. It’s just gone digital. Through surveys of more than 260 high school freshmen and sophomores, FIU Center for Children and Families researchers found friends still hold the greatest power over teens’ substance use decisions — rather than influencers, celebrities and other people on social media.”
The Conversation: Teenage brains are drawn to popular social media challenges – here’s how parents can get their kids to think twice
The Conversation: Teenage brains are drawn to popular social media challenges – here’s how parents can get their kids to think twice. “Almost all American teens today have access to a smartphone and actively use multiple social media platforms – with YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat being the most popular among this age group. Meanwhile, the teenage years are linked to an increase in risk-taking. The human brain isn’t fully developed until a person reaches their mid-20s, and the parts of the brain that relate to reward and doing what feels good develop more quickly than areas linked to decision-making.”
New York Times: Some in Missouri Seek Covid-19 Shots in Secret, Doctor Says
New York Times: Some in Missouri Seek Covid-19 Shots in Secret, Doctor Says. “Even as the more contagious Delta variant drives a surge in infections, the Covid-19 vaccination effort has become so polarized in Missouri that some people are trying to get shots in secret to avoid conflicts with friends and relatives, a doctor there said.”
WATCH: Staten Island grocery shoppers drive out woman who refuses to wear a mask in the store (Raw Story)
Raw Story: WATCH: Staten Island grocery shoppers drive out woman who refuses to wear a mask in the store. “A group of angry shoppers at a Staten Island ShopRite were captured on video driving out a woman in the store who refused to wear a face mask. The 20-second video clip shows masked shoppers swarming around a shopper who is pushing her cart around without any kind of face covering.”
PsychCentral: Social Media Messages to Inspire Exercise May Backfire
PsychCentral: Social Media Messages to Inspire Exercise May Backfire. “A new Australian study suggests an Instagram movement to promote better health is flawed. Researchers discovered the images associated with an online program appear to make many women feel worse about themselves and their bodies rather than inspiring them to exercise.”
SFGate: Your friends’ social media posts are making you spend more money, researchers say
SFGate: Your friends’ social media posts are making you spend more money, researchers say. “…a team of American and Canadian economists have proposed a new explanation for the declining savings rate, one rooted in individual psychology. At its heart lies a simple observation: Personal spending is a lot more visible to others than not spending. Changes in the media landscape have made other people’s spending more visible than ever. That, in turn, is making all of us spend even more – and save even less.”
CNBC: Social media may be making you overspend—and it’s not just because of the ads
CNBC: Social media may be making you overspend—and it’s not just because of the ads. “Rent, credit card bills and student loans call can make it more difficult to save money, especially for younger people. Now, according to a new study from the Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, you can add social media to that list, too.”