Search Results (6,354)

Many countries ban direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs due to potential health and financial risks. However, the internet and social media now offer new ways for pharmaceutical companies to share information and promote products. Covert marketing—indirectly promoting products through news media—has emerged as an alternative. This study explores the digital news landscape for prescription drugs in Latin America, a region that prohibits DTCA. Through content analysis, it examines prescription drug coverage in both traditional and digital news media published between 1 January 2017 and 1 January 2019, as well as its spread via social media platforms in the region’s six largest economies. The findings show that over 62% of news posts lacked neutrality, with articles on new treatments 74% less likely to be neutral, 64% less likely to mention adverse effects, and over eight times more likely to be promotional. Brazilian news had the highest social media sharing rate, with an emphasis on regulatory topics. Overall, digital news in Latin America leans toward promotional content rather than balanced reporting on drug risks and benefits. To support responsible journalism and reduce corporate influence, stronger pharmacovigilance and adherence to professional guidelines prioritizing accuracy, independence, and integrity are needed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Childhood obesity is a consistent public health issue, which often persists into adulthood. This study determined risk factors of childhood obesity and associated comorbidities in German school children. Methods: Data of 1956 primary school children (7.1 ± 0.6 years,) were analysed. Anthropometrics were taken on site, other (health) parameters were assessed using a parental questionnaire. Binary logistic regression models were calculated, controlling for age, gender, family education level, and migration background. Results: Father’s physical illness (OR 1.092 [1.177; 3.073], p = 0.009) and a child’s chronic illness (OR 1.687 [1.077; 2.644], p = 0.022), maternal and paternal overweight (OR 2.180 [1.492; 3.185]; OR 2.494 [1.547; 4.022], p< 0.001, respectively), as well as maternal and paternal smoking (OR 1.942 [1.306; 2.889]; OR 1.972 [1.334; 2.917], p = 0.001, respectively) were significantly associated with the child being overweight. Also associated with the child being overweight were physical activity, regular screen media use (OR 0.605 [0.408, 0.896], p = 0.012; OR 2.029 [1.306; 3.152], p = 0.002, respectively), the mother and/or father thinking their child is too fat (OR 2.213 [1.504; 3.258], p < 0.001; OR 1.537 [1.048; 2.253], p = 0.028), the father’s physical inactivity (OR 1.69 [1.133; 2.521], p = 0.010), and if the child has not been breastfed (OR 1.632 [1.056; 2.521], p = 0.027), the mother smoked during pregnancy (OR 1.992 [1.224; 3.246], p = 0.006) as well as if the mother and/or father admonished their child about their weight (OR 25.521 [14.578; 44.680]; OR 19.448 [11.865; 31.877], p < 0.001, respectively). Children of unemployed mothers and in low-income households had an increased risk of being overweight (OR 4.811 [1.642; 14.096], p = 0.004; OR 2.203 [1.360; 3.568], p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: This study shows that parental health, lifestyle, and social behaviours matter in determining childhood obesity. Understanding those is essential to promoting a healthy lifestyle. Full article

Practical challenges and special threats from scam-related fraud exist for regional and local communities in Southeast Asia during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise in pig-butchering operations in Southeast Asia is a major concern due to the increased use of digital technology and online financial transactions. Many of these operations are linked to organized crime syndicates operating across borders, posing challenges for law enforcement. As a first study in Vietnam, we combined the primary and secondary databases to unveil the nature of transnational scam-related fraud. Findings show that scammers are using advanced methods such as phishing, fraudulent investments, and identity theft to maximize their sophisticated tactics for achieving financial possession. There are organized crime rings operating in Vietnam and Cambodia, with Chinese groups playing a leading role behind the scenes. Social media and its various applications have become common platforms for these criminal activities. This study also calls for practical recommendations to consider specific challenges in combating these crimes, including building a strong framework with clear policies, encouraging multiple educational awareness campaigns in communities, enhancing effective cooperation among law enforcement and others, and supporting evidence-based approaches in research and application. While we recognized and assumed that pig-butchering operations with scam-related fraud are a complex problem that requires a well-rounded and coordinated response, the exact approach would depend on each country’s specific circumstances. Full article

The increasing prevalence of disinformation has become a global challenge, exacerbated by the rapid dissemination of information in online environments. The present study conducts a bibliometric analysis of scholarly efforts made over time in the research papers associated with the disinformation field. Thus, this paper aims to understand and help combat disinformation by focusing on methodologies, datasets, and key metadata. Through a bibliometric approach, the study identifies leading authors, affiliations, and journals and examines collaboration networks in the field of disinformation. This analysis highlights the significant growth in research on disinformation, particularly in response to events such as the 2016 U.S. election, Brexit, and the COVID-19 pandemic, with an overall growth rate of 15.14% in the entire analyzed period. The results of the analysis underscore the role of social media and artificial intelligence in the spread of disinformation, as well as the importance of fact-checking technologies. Findings reveal that the most prolific contributions come from universities in the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), Spain, and other global institutions, with a notable increase in publications since 2018. Through thematic maps, a keyword analysis, and collaboration networks, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving field of disinformation research, offering valuable insights for future investigations and policy development. Full article

Social media platforms fostering a closer and more intimate bond between celebrities and their fan bases has opened up diverse avenues for product placement. In light of this, this study endeavors to explore the profound influence of parasocial interaction (PSI) and product placement on the effectiveness of celebrity endorsement within the social media landscape. The results derived from an online experiment unveil the positive impact of parasocial interaction on consumers’ attitudes and purchase intention. Notably, the potency of PSI is enhanced when product placement is prominent. The results also uncover the crucial role of brand recall as a mediator in the relationship between parasocial interaction and endorsement outcomes. These findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms governing the influence of parasocial interaction and social media celebrity types in the realm of social media endorsement while also providing valuable insights into the moderating role of product placement. From a practical standpoint, the results underscore the critical importance of carefully selecting celebrity endorsers and strategically positioning products. Armed with this knowledge, marketers and advertisers can better explore the complex landscape of social media endorsement with greater efficacy and precision. Full article

Sentiment analysis is a well-known task that has been used to analyse customer feedback reviews and media headlines to detect the sentimental personality or polarisation of a given text. With the growth of social media and other online platforms, like Twitter (now branded as X), Facebook, blogs, and others, it has been used in the investment community to monitor customer feedback, reviews, and news headlines about financial institutions’ products and services to ensure business success and prioritise aspects of customer relationship management. Supervised learning algorithms have been popularly employed for this task, but the performance of these models has been compromised due to the brevity of the content and the presence of idiomatic expressions, sound imitations, and abbreviations. Additionally, the pre-training of a larger language model (PTLM) struggles to capture bidirectional contextual knowledge learnt through word dependency because the sentence-level representation fails to take broad features into account. We develop a novel structure called language feature extraction and adaptation for reviews (LFEAR), an advanced natural language model that amalgamates retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) with a conversation format for an auto-regressive fine-tuning model (ARFT). This helps to overcome the limitations of lexicon-based tools and the reliance on pre-defined sentiment lexicons, which may not fully capture the range of sentiments in natural language and address questions on various topics and tasks. LFEAR is fine-tuned on Hellopeter reviews that incorporate industry-specific contextual information retrieval to show resilience and flexibility for various tasks, including analysing sentiments in reviews of restaurants, movies, politics, and financial products. The proposed model achieved an average precision score of 98.45%, answer correctness of 93.85%, and context precision of 97.69% based on Retrieval-Augmented Generation Assessment (RAGAS) metrics. The LFEAR model is effective in conducting sentiment analysis across various domains due to its adaptability and scalable inference mechanism. It considers unique language characteristics and patterns in specific domains to ensure accurate sentiment annotation. This is particularly beneficial for individuals in the financial sector, such as investors and institutions, including those listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), which is the primary stock exchange in South Africa and plays a significant role in the country’s financial market. Future initiatives will focus on incorporating a wider range of data sources and improving the system’s ability to express nuanced sentiments effectively, enhancing its usefulness in diverse real-world scenarios. Full article

Recently, more and more companies are using machine learning platforms offered by cloud service providers to build sentiment analysis models that can then be used to analyze public opinions via social media. This paper aims to conduct a comparative analysis of two of the most popular cloud computing platforms, namely Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, in terms of their sentiment detection services through the complex analysis of multiple texts. The comparative analysis was carried out by implementing an application that integrates both the sentiment analysis (SA) solutions provided by Amazon Web Services and those offered by Microsoft Azure. To evaluate the services offered by the two platforms, different evaluation metrics were analyzed and compared, such as accuracy, precision, recall, and other relevant characteristics. Also, the paper examines the costs and limitations of the two platforms, Amazon Comprehend and Azure AI Language Text, when they are used to implement solutions for analyzing the sentiments of product reviews. The results obtained highlighted the advantages and disadvantages between the two platforms from several perspectives, such as performance, the quality of the answers provided, or their accuracy. All these aspects help to obtain a clear picture of the advantages and limitations of each service offered by the two cloud platforms. Full article

Accessibility to cultural heritage is crucial for fostering inclusive urban environments and preserving historical and cultural identities. This study addresses the gap between heritage conservation and urban accessibility with two objectives: (1) to identify tangible and intangible cultural heritage elements based on user preferences from the social media platform Foursquare, and (2) to assess the impact of accessibility on public engagement using Space Syntax analysis. The historic centres of Valencia and Alicante, Spain, were chosen as case studies for their rich cultural heritage and dynamic urban contexts. A novel urban cultural heritage (UCH) taxonomy was developed to categorise heritage elements into buildings, public spaces, elements, and events/festivities. Findings indicated that social media data offer valuable insights that complement official heritage catalogues, providing a richer understanding of cultural assets and public engagement. The results showed that higher public engagement was concentrated (1) in and around key heritage sites, (2) in heritage sites that combine cultural significance with multifunctional public use, (3) in public spaces and urban nodes that are highly accessible and well connected to the urban structure, (4) in areas where clusters of heritage elements are located close together, and (5) around sites of architectural prominence and cultural significance. This emphasised that accessibility is as important as historical significance for attracting public interest. The study suggested that improving accessibility and integrating social media data with traditional methods can enhance heritage conservation strategies and support sustainable urban development by fostering stronger identity values within cities. Full article

Australia’s current food system does not equitably or sustainably feed all Australians. Coupled with the rising costs of essential goods, it raises concerns around the cost of living and food security. This study aimed to investigate Reddit user perspectives on the current cost of food and groceries in Australian subreddits. Posts related to the costs of groceries within Australian subreddits were collected using Reddit’s Application Programming Interface (API) and Python Reddit API Wrapper python package (version 7.7.1). Posts (n = 1727) were screened, and the included posts (n = 583) underwent thematic analysis. Australian Reddit users reported concerns over the increasing prices of groceries and identified supermarket pricing tactics including price gouging, shrinkflation, and misleading price displays. Reddit also served as an important platform providing support and a method to disseminate budgeting strategies to help others to overcome rising costs of living. The findings highlighted the challenges faced by Australians in managing food and grocery expenses and the strategies they employ to cope with rising costs, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to improve food affordability and accessibility. Full article

The decision to share deeply personal experiences of sexual violence publicly is complex and multifaceted. This study provides valuable insights into this phenomenon. Interviews conducted with fifteen victims of sexual assault in Israel provide insights into the decision-making pathways of victims. The existing literature on sexual victims of sexual assault in Israel offers insights into their decision-making pathways but often lacks integration between theoretical concepts and practical outcomes. This article contributes to this field by proposing a detailed cognitive map that illuminates the specific decisions made by victims in choosing where to disclose their assault. The cognitive map presented in this study provides a comprehensive view of victims’ decision-making pathways. This study is part of a larger research project that involves interviewing communication consultants and analyzing posts from the social network platform Instagram to better understand the perceptions and behaviors of sexual assault victims. The interviews brought up four main themes: the existence of communicative justice and its importance as an arena for achieving justice; social media is critical for achieving justice, sometimes even more than the institutional arena; procedural justice is more important than outcome justice; voice is a leading principle in procedural justice principles. Full article

The conclusions drawn from commonly used topic modeling and sentiment analysis of COVID-19 vaccination discussions on social media often hinge on researchers’ interpretation. These methods inadequately capture the nuanced real-world human emotions and struggle with identifying sarcasm and handling mixed sentiments. This study uses OpenAI API and its Large Language Models (LLM) to analyze tweets to further the discussion on improving vaccination literacy and fostering public trust. We employed LLM to uncover underlying topics associated with non-polarized sentiments to understand public concerns and factors eroding public confidence in vaccination. In addition, the city and regional level analysis provides a more detailed breakdown of spatial differences in the physical realm. Our results showed a blend of positive sentiments toward COVID-19 vaccination in New York State, with an underlying sense of concern. Our topic analysis reveals that social media platforms, which facilitate personal experience sharing, can influence both vaccination acceptance and hesitancy in positive and negative ways. Our method was able to better capture the nuanced emotions of real-world individuals. This approach is less subjective and more consistent than traditional models as it employs ChatGPT’s extensive pre-trained databases instead of relying on individual researchers’ judgments. Full article

In a hyperproductive interactive environment, where speed and cost-effectiveness often overshadow accuracy, the media’s role is increasingly shifting towards an educational function, beyond its traditional informative and entertaining roles. This shift, particularly through the promotion of science and education, aims to bridge the gap between educational institutions and the labor market. In this context, the importance of 21st-century competencies—encompassing a broad range of knowledge and skills—becomes increasingly clear. Educational institutions are now expected to equip students with relevant, universally applicable, and market-competitive competencies. This paper proposes using a combination of principal component analysis (PCA) and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) to rank 21st-century competencies developed throughout the educational process to improve the system. The highest-ranked competency identified is the ability to manage information—specifically, gathering and analyzing information from diverse sources. It has been shown that respondents who developed “soft skills” and media literacy during their studies are better able to critically assess content on social networks and distinguish between credible and false information. The significance of this work lies in its focus on the damaged credibility of online media caused by user-generated content and the rapid spread of unverified and fake news. Denying such discourse or erasing digital traces is therefore futile. Developing a critical approach to information is essential for consistently identifying fake news, doctored images, and recordings taken out of context, as well as preventing their spread. Full article

In recent years, the rapid growth of e-commerce and on-demand delivery services has placed a significant strain on urban logistics systems. Technological advances such as unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based logistics systems have thus emerged as promising solutions in urban environments and are increasingly being piloted worldwide. However, the implementation of UAV logistics risks exacerbating social inequities, particularly in marginalized communities that may disproportionately bear the noise and safety risks. To mitigate these risks, it is crucial to integrate social equity considerations into urban UAV logistics. This study explores social equity factors through a systematic literature review and social media analysis of Xiaohongshu (the Little Red Book), a popular Chinese social media platform known for its extensive user base and active discussions on social issues. This literature review involves a full-text examination, while latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modeling is used to analyze social media comment datasets. Each method identifies social equity factors and separately assesses their relative importance, resulting in the final identification of 24 key factors that provide a holistic view of public sentiment and academic discourse. The findings reveal a divide between academic concerns around systemic risks and a public focus on immediate needs. By synthesizing these insights, this study provides a social equity landscape for urban UAV logistics and actionable references for policymakers and stakeholders. Full article

The interdisciplinary teaching of contemporary physics has become increasingly common in physics education, especially for high school students and teachers. This approach, which integrates content and methodologies from various disciplines, fosters scientific reasoning, enhances creativity, and increases student motivation and interest in physics. The use of digital technologies, such as social media platforms, supports these educational goals by facilitating the inclusive and cost-effective dissemination of scientific knowledge and the development of soft skills. This paper introduces the “Gravitas” project, an initiative that employs an interdisciplinary approach to present contemporary physics topics to high school students through social media. Coordinated by the Cagliari Division of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) in Italy, the “Gravitas” project offers a non-traditional learning environment where students explore modern physics and philosophy and the history of science. Through the creation of educational materials, such as social media posts, students actively engage in their learning. In 2022, around 250 students from 16 high schools across Sardinia, Italy, participated in this project. This paper discusses the learning outcomes, highlighting the potential of integrating formal high school curricula with innovative educational and digital tools. Full article

The widespread use of social media among children has raised concerns about its impact on their dietary habits and health. This systematic review investigates the negative effects of social media on children’s diets to inform evidence-based interventions and policies. A search of peer-reviewed studies from 2020 to 2024 was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies involving children aged 5–18 and examining social media’s influence on diet were included. Two independent reviewers screened the studies, and data extraction and quality assessment were done using standardized methods. Of 945 identified studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria. The key themes included (1) exposure to unhealthy food advertisements, (2) peer influence promoting energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, (3) distorted body image perceptions leading to unhealthy eating, and (4) reduced mealtime quality due to social media distractions. Stronger associations were observed for marketing exposure and peer influence on food choices. The review highlights social media’s negative effects on children’s diets, emphasizing the need for interventions, stricter food marketing regulations, and educational programs to enhance media literacy. Future research should explore the long-term impacts and protective factors to guide policies for creating healthier digital environments for children. Full article