With schools currently closed, kids and grandkids are home with more time than ever to be on the Internet. Here are some words of caution. The last decade has seen a boom in social media. We’ve seen the rise and fall of once-popular apps like Vine. We watched Google Plus shudder after it was projected… Continue reading Keeping Kids Safe in the Information Age: Caution Regarding Some Apps
Tag: social media
Social Media Buffers Depression Among Older Adults with Pain
With a few finger strokes or swipes on a computer or cell phone, seniors with pain reduce the risk of depression when visiting social media sites. That is the finding of a 2018 University of Michigan study published in the Journals of Gerontology, Series B. A release from the univerisyt notes that the researchers reported… Continue reading Social Media Buffers Depression Among Older Adults with Pain
Electronic Health Records Need Social-Media Upgrade
Although electronic health record (EHR) systems were once seen as a technological advance, an analysis shows they have increased rather than decreased physicians’ workload, contributed to physicians’ burnout and resulted in little improvement to health care quality. To remedy those failings, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine called for a basic change:… Continue reading Electronic Health Records Need Social-Media Upgrade
Social Media Sites and Discrimination Against Women
Although social media has ushered in a new age of sharing and revelation, some very old-fashioned prejudices exist, from men’s greater popularity on Twitter to African Americans’ lower acceptance rates on Airbnb. Now, using the photo-sharing site Instagram as a test case, Columbia researchers demonstrate how two common recommendation algorithms amplify a network effect known… Continue reading Social Media Sites and Discrimination Against Women
Strategies for Solo Travelers
Solo travel will always represent one of the largest segments of the travel market. If you’re thinking of hitting the road by yourself, here are some tips from Stan Sandberg, travel expert and co-founder of Travel Insurance.com: Let someone know where you are going and how to contact you. Designate at least one emergency contact… Continue reading Strategies for Solo Travelers
We Understand That Social Media Doesn’t Equal Social Interaction
If you worry that people today are using social media as a crutch for a real social life, a study done at the University of Kansas in Lawrence will set you at ease. An August 2016 release from the university explains that Jeffrey Hall, associate professor of communication studies, found that people are actually quite… Continue reading We Understand That Social Media Doesn’t Equal Social Interaction
Online Comments May Influence Your Opinions on Health Issues
A study published in the April 2016 edition of Health Affairs reveals that one-sided comments posted on online news articles may influence readers’ opinions about health-related topics. This raises questions about how health social media should be moderated, especially considering the potentially polarized nature of these forums. In this study led by Holly Witteman, an… Continue reading Online Comments May Influence Your Opinions on Health Issues
“Thinspiration” Images on Social Media May Be Harmful
Some of the most popular social media sites are filled with images of extremely thin women that might be harmful to those who view them, whether they are seeking them or not, according to research from the University of California, Davis. The images are often cropped to remove heads or focus on just a few… Continue reading “Thinspiration” Images on Social Media May Be Harmful