Communities and Social Media

Because peer to peer support groups on social media offer anonymity and the choice to selectively disclose information, the benefits of accessibility and overcoming distance and time barriers outweigh the risks of potential negative attitudes and misinformation.

Ortiz_15025438_A1_Conference_Paper_SP1_2021Download Introduction Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter allow users to create peer to peer support groups which can cater to diverse communities, such as people with severe mental illnesses or chronic diseases and their carers, parent support groups and early career teachers. In the context of peer to peer support, social media platforms allow users to connect over large geographical distances at times that are convenient for them Read more […]

Communities and Social Media

How social media is facilitating hyper-personal communication and how this can be damaging to physical skills and relationships, yet also the mental wellbeing of individuals.

Hyper-personal communication refers to communication instigated by the internet, allowing people to connect in an extremely personal and even intimate manner. It explores the idea that individuals begin to idealize these online relationships, especially as they develop a confidence from interacting from the safety of behind a screen. However, this form of communication is having a dramatic negative impact, especially on our younger generations, with hyper-personal relationships and anonymity facilitating Read more […]