Mapping sociocultural controversies across digital media platforms: One week of #gamergate on Twitter, YouTube, and Tumblr

Social media play a prominent role in mediating issues of public concern, not only providing the stage on which public debates play out but also shaping their topics and dynamics. Building on and extending existing approaches to both issue mapping and social media analysis, this article explores ways of accounting for popular media practices and the special case of ‘born digital’ sociocultural controversies. We present a case study of the GamerGate controversy with a particular focus on a spike in activity associated with a 2015 Law and Order: SVU episode about gender-based violence and harassment in games culture that was widely interpreted as being based on events associated with GamerGate. The case highlights the importance and challenges of accounting for the cultural dynamics of digital media within and across platforms.

Scalable Overlay Multicast Tree Construction for QoS-Constrained Media Streaming

Overlay networks have become popular in recent times for content distribution and end-system multicasting of media streams. In the latter case, the motivation is based on the lack of widespread deployment of IP multicast and the ability to perform end-host processing. However, constructing routes between various end-hosts, so that data can be streamed from content publishers to many thousands of subscribers, each having their own QoS constraints, is still a challenging problem. First, any routes between end-hosts using trees built on top of overlay networks can increase stress on the underlying physical network, due to multiple instances of the same data traversing a given physical link. Second, because overlay routes between end-hosts may traverse physical network links more than once, they increase the end-to-end latency compared to IP-level routing. Third, algorithms for constructing efficient, large-scale trees that reduce link stress and latency are typically more complex. This paper therefore compares various methods to construct multicast trees between end-systems, that vary in terms of implementation costs and their ability to support per-subscriber QoS constraints. We describe several algorithms that make trade-offs between algorithmic complexity, physical link stress and latency. While no algorithm is best in all three cases we show how it is possible to efficiently build trees for several thousand subscribers with latencies within a factor of two of the optimal, and link stresses comparable to, or better than, existing technologies.

Exploring the relationship between social network sites and the consumption of cultural goods through the lens of affordances

This thesis presents research theorising the use of social network sites (SNS) for the consumption of cultural goods. SNS are Internet-based applications that enable people to connect, interact, discover, and share user-generated content. They have transformed communication practices and are facilitating users to present their identity online through the disclosure of information on a profile. SNS are especially effective for propagating content far and wide within a network of connections. Cultural goods constitute hedonic experiential goods with cultural, artistic, and entertainment value, such as music, books, films, and fashion. Their consumption is culturally dependant and they have unique characteristics that distinguish them from utilitarian products. The way in which users express their identity on SNS is through the sharing of cultural interests and tastes. This makes cultural good consumption vulnerable to the exchange of content and ideas that occurs across an expansive network of connections within these social systems. This study proposes the lens of affordances to theorise the use of social network sites for the consumption of cultural goods. Qualitative case study research using two phases of data collection is proposed in the application of affordances to the research topic. The interaction between task, technology, and user characteristics is investigated by examining each characteristic in detail, before investigating the actual interaction between the user and the artifact for a particular purpose. The study contributes to knowledge by (i) improving our understanding of the affordances of social network sites for the consumption of cultural goods, (ii) demonstrating the role of task, technology and user characteristics in mediating user behaviour for user-artifact interactions, (iii) explaining the technical features and user activities important to the process of consuming cultural goods using social network sites, and (iv) theorising the consumption of cultural goods using SNS by presenting a theoretical research model which identifies empirical indicators of model constructs and maps out affordance dependencies and hierarchies. The study also provides a systematic research process for applying the concept of affordances to the study of system use.

Social Networks Usage Profile: Descriptive study with students in the University of Murcia

Telematic tools are very important for our lives in the present era and moreover this idea is made more evident if we analyse young people behaviours. However, it seems that the possibilities that these tools allow subjects from a professional point of view, beyond the purely playful aspects, are still not fully exploited both by subjects, neither by educational institutions where they learn. Our work studies the uses of social media in the context of university students. In order to this we have designed a research based on quantitative methodology with a survey. We have applied a questionnaire to students in the University of Murcia. The questionnaire was answered by 487 students in the first half of 2014. The survey results confirm our hypothesis that social networks are part of the basic and habitual tools of communication between the youth of our university and eminently used for leisure purposes, and that the tools used for more academic activities are those allowing greater control of privacy.

Social networks applied to training

In this article, we address the importance and relevance that social networks exhibit in their use as an educational resource.  This relevance relies in the possibility of implementing new learning resources or increasing the level of the participant's connectivity, as well as developing learning communities.  Also, the risk entailed from their use is discussed, especially for the students that have a low technological education or those having excessive confidence on the media.  It is important to highlight that the educational use of social networks is not a simple extension or translation of the student's habitual, recreational use, but that it implies an important change in the roles given to teachers as well as learners; from accommodative learning environments that only encourage memorization to other environments that demand an active, reflective, collaborative and proactive attitude, that require the development/acquisition of technological as well as social abilities, aptitudes and values.  It is also important to highlight that a correct implementation and adequate use will not only foment formal learning, but also informal and non-formal learning.

Social networks and lifelong learning in older people

Various socio-demographic factors are causing our society to coexist every day with a group of elderly population that remains active and inserted into the daily dynamics. However, it is believed that there are certain barriers that make this group of people to not adequately address the technologies and even social networks. The creation of the University Programs for the Elderly (PUM), however, is leading to a new stage, since older people who participate come into contact with all kinds of content and rigor, updating own university education, thus changing the way to tackle the most innovative and different situations. In this study, we analyze what is the knowledge and use of older people, PUM, attending the University of Jaen have of the social networks and the assessment made of the need for these programs. To achieve this, we used a methodology in which qualitative and quantitative processes were articulated, through the analysis of data obtained from interviews and a focus groups with program Aquad 7. The data collected show that there is still some ignorance about social networks by older people, but everyone values their usefulness and necessity. Participants believe that they will be least affected of the risks of these technologies and demand a greater training in these contained within the PUM.

Extending Customer Relationship Management into a Social Context

Informed by the resource-based view, this study draws on customer relationship management (CRM) and value co-creation literature to develop a framework examining the impact of social networking sites on processes to manage customer relationships. Facilitating the depth and networked interactions necessary to truly engage customers, social networking sites act as a means of enhancing customer relationships through the co-creation of value, moving CRM into a social context. Tested and validated on a data set of hotels, the main contribution of the study to service research lies in the extension of CRM processes, termed relational information processes, to include value co-creation processes due to the social capabilities afforded by social networking sites. Information technology competency and social media orientation act as critical antecedents to these processes, which have a positive impact on both financial and non-financial aspects of firm performance. The theoretical and managerial implications of these findings are discussed accordingly.

A utilização de smartphones numa experiência turística em Portugal : estudo sobre a participação nos media sociais através de aplicações para dispositivos móveis

O turismo é uma das maiores indústrias do mundo que gera receitas muito elevadas, sendo uma das principais áreas de atividade económica num número alargado de países e, por isso, torna-se essencial prestar um serviço eficiente e eficaz aproveitando, sempre que possível, as soluções e tendências tecnológicas disponíveis. A utilização dos media sociais através dos smartphones numa experiência turística vai acrescentar valor não só às viagens dos utilizadores como também ao turismo em si, pois há uma troca de experiências e opiniões entre todos os intervenientes. A presente investigação tem por objetivo geral identificar as atividades participativas realizadas por portugueses nos media sociais em smartphones nas diversas fases de uma experiência turística em Portugal, ou seja, no antes, no durante e no depois da mesma. Como hipóteses de investigação admite-se que as atividades realizadas em media sociais, o tipo de media publicado e partilhado da autoria do próprio utilizador e da autoria de terceiros e as aplicações utilizadas em smartphones diferem consoante a fase da experiência turística em que o utilizador se encontra. Assim, tornou-se essencial questionar sobre quais as atividades que são realizadas por portugueses a nível de partilha de informação através de smartphones numa experiência turística em Portugal. Apresenta-se uma análise e reflexão crítica sobre a importância da utilização dos media sociais em smartphones numa experiência turística. Primeiro procedendo-se a uma revisão do estado da arte sobre a problemática da investigação tendo como base os conceitos chave definidos anteriormente, para posteriormente fazer o estudo não só de aplicações portuguesas gratuitas para smartphones que utilizam o sistema operativo Android e que de alguma forma acrescentam valor a uma experiência turística de um utilizador, através de uma grelha de observação, mas, também, o estudo da utilização dos media sociais em smartphones numa experiência turística em Portugal, através de um inquérito por questionário. Um dos objetivos desta investigação é contribuir para o estudo e compreensão das dinâmicas de interação, a nível da partilha de informação, que os utilizadores mais recorrem nas diferentes fases de uma experiência turística e obter indicações, que se esperam úteis, sobre boas práticas e estratégias que podem ser adotadas por entidades turísticas com o objetivo de incluir os media sociais nas suas atividades de marketing e comunicação.

A integração de media sociais nas organizações de gestão de destinos: proposta de um modelo orientador para a utilização de media sociais nas atividades de comunicação com os turistas

Sendo o turismo um dos setores económicos onde a informação desempenha um papel fundamental, é, também, um dos mais afetados com a chegada da nova realidade que são os media sociais. Atualmente, devido à utilização generalizada de aplicações da Web 2.0 e, sobretudo, devido ao crescimento exponencial da utilização de aplicações de media sociais, verifica-se que esta utilização está a provocar alterações significativas na promoção dos destinos turísticos, com uma estratégia clara destes passarem a utilizar os conteúdos gerados pelos utilizadores na Internet. Perante este novo paradigma, as Organizações de Gestão de Destinos, como organizações dinâmicas cujo objetivo é a promoção dos destinos turísticos, têm que se adaptar de forma a enquadrar esta nova realidade. O presente trabalho pretende, pois, analisar a forma como as Organizações de Gestão de Destinos portuguesas utilizam a Internet, e em particular as aplicações da Web 2.0/media sociais nas suas estratégias de comunicação. Assim, pretende-se fazer uma análise da situação atual em que se encontram as Organizações de Gestão de Destinos Portuguesas, na utilização deste tipo de aplicações para, a partir daí, se desenvolver uma proposta de modelo orientador para a utilização de media sociais nas atividades de comunicação com os turistas, que permita explorar ao máximo este enorme potencial. Como resultado desta investigação, espera-se contribuir para uma melhor compreensão de como as Organizações de Gestão de Destinos Portuguesas devem usar as aplicações de media sociais nas suas estratégias de comunicação por aplicação da proposta de modelo desenvolvida.

'Team GB', 'Team England' or 'Team Scotland'? Media Representations of 'Britishness', 'Englishness' and 'Scottishness' in London 2012 and Glasgow 2014

Given the timing of the Scottish independence referendum in September 2014, the hosting of both the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games coincided with a period of considerable political turmoil and reflection within the United Kingdom. The extensive levels of public, political and media scrutiny of both of these major sporting events can therefore be framed within a wider consideration of the contemporary dynamics of the political union between the constituent nations of the UK, as well as the multifarious forms of national identities expressed within the various regions of the ‘nation-state’. Despite the growing influence of social media forms within contemporary society, politics and sport within the UK, the ‘traditional’ print media retain a central (although arguably diminishing) role in the dissemination of information relating to major societal, political and sporting issues to the British public. This paper will therefore critically reflect upon the nature of print media representations of ‘Britishness’, ‘Englishness’ and ‘Scottishness’ at London 2012 and Glasgow 2014 from both London-based and Scotland-based publications, drawing upon empirical data from completed and ongoing doctoral theses from the respective authors. In particular, the implications of the contrasting competitive structures of each event will be considered, given the symbolic differences between the unitary ‘Team GB’ at the London 2012 Olympics and the separated representative teams for Scotland and England at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Inferring Big 5 Personality from Online Social Networks

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2014

Georg Lukács as a Communications Scholar: Cultural and Digital Labour in the Context of Lukács’ Ontology of Social Being

The task of this work is to apply thoughts from Georg Lukács’ final book, the Ontology of Social Being, for the theoretical analysis of cultural and digital labour. It discusses Lukács’ concepts of work and communication and relates them to the analysis of cultural and digital work. It also analyses his conception of the relation of labour and ideology and points out how we can make use of it for critically understanding social media ideologies. Lukács opposes the dualist separation of the realms of work and ideas. He introduces in this context the notion of teleological positing that allows us to better understand cultural and digital labour as well as associated ideologies, such as the engaging/connecting/sharing-ideology, today. The analysis shows that Lukács’ Ontology is in the age of Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter still a very relevant book, although it has thus far not received the attention that it deserves. This article also introduces the Ontology’s main ideas on work and culture, which is important because large parts of the book have not been translated from the German original into English. Lukács’ notion of teleological positing is crucial for understanding the common features of the economy and culture.

Para lá dos jornalistas: influencer relations, uma nova era de Media Relations

Dissertação apresentada à Escola Superior de Comunicação Social como parte dos requisitos para obtenção de grau de mestre em Gestão Estratégica das Relações Públicas.

Mining social individuals movements and friends based on mobile devices

Trabalho de Projeto realizado para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informática e de Computadores

The consumption of media contents through mobile devices in Finland

O campo dos media na Finlândia encontra-se num processo de mudanças aparentemente imparáveis, com os dispositivos móveis, tal como os smartphones e tablets, a influenciarem cada vez mais os padrões de produção e consumo de media. Nesta dissertação é defendido que esta situação é influenciada por factores históricos, sociais e culturais: desde os livros e jornais como meio de manter a língua finlandesa até aos benefícios da Segurança Social que permitiram que até as pessoas com menos rendimentos comprassem o jornal para se manterem a par dos desenvolvimentos do país, bem como a grande tradição de leitura que é associada aos finlandeses, assim como as condições que ao longo da história fazem fizeram com que os finlandeses sejam fascinados pelas novas tecnologias. Adicionalmente, presto especial atenção às estratégias que são adoptadas pelas cada vez mais convergentes companhias de media para enfrentarem a competição de elementos como os social media.