Browsing by Subject "Social media"

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How news audiences allocate trust in the digital age: A figuration perspective
(2024) Mangold, Frank; Bachl, Marko; Prochazka, Fabian; Mangold, Frank; GESIS—Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences, Köln, Germany; Bachl, Marko; University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Prochazka, Fabian; University of Erfurt, Germany
The article enriches the understanding of trust in news at a time when mass and interpersonal communication have merged in the digital sphere. We propose disentangling individual-level patterns of trust allocation (i.e., trust figurations ) across journalistic media, social media, and peers to reflect the multiplicity among modern news audiences. A latent class analysis of a representative survey among German young adults revealed four figurations: traditionalists, indifferentials, optimists, and cynics. Political characteristics and education corresponded with substantial heterogeneity in individuals’ trust in news sources, their inclination to differentiate between sources, and the ways of integrating trust in journalistic and non-journalistic sources.
Stigmatisation of gambling disorder in social media: a tailored deep learning approach for YouTube comments
(2025) Singer, Johannes; Singer, Johannes; Gambling Research Center, University of Hohenheim, Schwerzstraße 44, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
Background: The stigmatisation of gamblers, particularly those with a gambling disorder, and self-stigmatisation are considered substantial barriers to seeking help and treatment. To develop effective strategies to reduce the stigma associated with gambling disorder, it is essential to understand the prevailing stereotypes. This study examines the stigma surrounding gambling disorder in Germany, with a particular focus on user comments on the video platform YouTube. Methods: The study employed a deep learning approach, combining guided topic modelling and qualitative summative content analysis, to analyse comments on YouTube videos. Initially, 84,024 comments were collected from 34 videos. After review, two videos featuring a person who had overcome gambling addiction were selected. These videos received significant user engagement in the comment section. An extended stigma dictionary was created based on existing literature and embeddings from the collected data. Results: The results of the study indicate that there is substantial amount of stigmatisation of gambling disorder in the selected comments. Gamblers suffering from gambling disorder are blamed for their distress and accused of irresponsibility. Gambling disorder is seen as a consequence of moral failure. In addition to stigmatising statements, the comments suggest the interpretation that many users are unaware that addiction develops over a period of time and may require professional treatment. In particular, adolescents and young adults, a group with a high prevalence of gambling-related disorders and active engagement with social media, represent a key target for destigmatisation efforts. Conclusions: It is essential to address the stigmatisation of gambling disorder, particularly among younger populations, in order to develop effective strategies to support treatment and help-seeking. The use of social media offers a comprehensive platform for the dissemination of information and the reduction of the stigmatisation of gambling disorder, for example by strengthening certain models of addiction.
The influence of social norms on expressing sympathy in social media
(2024) Graf-Drasch, Valerie; Gimpel, Henner; Bonenberger, Lukas; Blaß, Marlene; Graf-Drasch, Valerie; University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Gimpel, Henner; University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Bonenberger, Lukas; Branch Business & Information Systems Engineering of Fraunhofer FIT, Augsburg, Germany; Blaß, Marlene; Branch Business & Information Systems Engineering of Fraunhofer FIT, Augsburg, Germany
Increasingly, people are turning to social media to express grief. By and large, however, the social media community can do little more than improvise reactions, not quite sure how to use the old familiar social scripts as guides to lending effective support. To examine the role of social media in the grieving process, we used a mixed-methods approach: 12 interviews with “social media grievers” reveal the expectations of the bereaved regarding other users’ behavior. By way of two online experiments with 1058 participants, we tested how these expectations are met by the messaging of social media providers in accordance with social norm theory. We found that injunctive social norm messages are particularly effective, whereas descriptive social norm messages vary in their effectiveness, depending on which information is presented and how prominently so. What our study shows, then, is that both are potent socio-technical tools that can guide users towards more empathetic behavior when dealing with the bereaved, so while social media may not be a substitute for therapy, they can offer profound comfort for those of us dealing with bereavement and grief.