#Social Media17
Why social media shows exciting moments
Researchers studied why social media feeds often show exciting, unusual events instead of everyday life. They describe a concept called "rareness bias diffusion" and say human choices and platform dynamics make rare posts look common.
Photo by Merakist, Unsplash
How social media in China shapes eating disorders
Online communities on platforms like Xiaohongshu use codes and posts that normalise strict eating and extreme thinness. Research shows more Chinese teenagers now show signs of eating disorders and experts say removal of posts is not enough.
Shared social media and changing networks in rural families
A study of rural students and one of their parents finds that university often increases who young people meet, while social media usually broadens networks. Sharing platforms between parents and children has mixed effects on network diversity and tolerance.
Tool that Reorders X Feed Reduces Partisan Rancor
Researchers built a browser extension that scans an X feed for antidemocratic and partisan posts and reorders them without removing content or platform cooperation. Tests during the 2024 election showed small but measurable improvements in attitudes toward the other party.
Small pause to slow misinformation on social media
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen propose a small pause before sharing on platforms like X, Bluesky and Mastodon. A computer model shows that a short delay plus a brief learning step can reduce reshares and improve shared content quality.
Social media can give early warning of displacement
Researchers find that analysing social media posts can give early warning of population movements and help humanitarian agencies respond faster. The study in EPJ Data Science tested methods across three case studies using nearly 2 million posts on X.
Why Many Moroccan Students Are Studying in China
Many Moroccan students choose to study in China because economic and social pressures at home make staying difficult. High youth unemployment, low graduate pay, social media and agencies drive the trend, but visas and scams create risks.