Tag: COVID-19

  Abstract  In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a subsequent surge of misinformation has created a public health crisis. Social media platforms like WhatsApp have contributed to amplifying the spread of unsound health advice about COVID-19, drowning out of reliable information from scientific research advice. This has resulted in communities losing trust in our healthcare system, diminishing helpful advice based on rumours and conspiracy theories. This conference paper intends Read more [...]
Social media algorithms and popular trends have influenced the perception of COVID-19 more than the truth. We are in an era where everything – news, entertainment, education, and social interaction is at our fingertips. It is not just instant accessibility to an endless pool of information, but it is also having the power to access these things whenever we want. Seeking the truth about issues such as COVID-19 will increasingly become an effort for users, as they navigate the web full of Read more [...]
Maintaining levels of fitness during the COVID-19 pandemic became a worldwide problem as many gyms were forced to close. Failing to maintain fitness was a cause of many health-related problems, including mental health issues. One way to overcome the problem was fitness centres moving their classes and other programs online, but there were no guidelines or rules for doing so. This paper investigates the way in which some fitness centres used social media platforms to alleviate the problem of falling participation levels in the fitness industry. This paper examines numerous scholarly texts that looked at the third place and how that is increasingly including online spaces; texts that investigated the social aspects of both YouTube and Facebook as virtual third places; and texts that evaluated the motivations for engaging in fitness activities through online communities. These studies suggest that fitness programs can be moved online, providing all the right criteria are met, such as: social interaction and a sense of belonging, access to infrastructure, digital knowledge, and a sense of community. Without all of these factors, using social media platforms as online third places for people to engage in fitness programs, is likely to fail. Read more [...]
Empowering Communities_ConferencePaper_PDF   Abstract: Social Networking Sites like Twitter and Instagram have enabled museums to engage with community groups during periods of government mandated lockdowns. By focusing on the creation of a strong digital identity museums are able to forge a greater connection with their external stakeholders. It is the purpose of this paper to examine the ways that museums are intrinsically linked with the notion of community, and to argue that Social Read more [...]
Abstract    Fandoms have existed on online spaces, such as social media, for decades, but experienced a significant growth following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. By analysing the ways in which different fandoms have been affected by the pandemic, we can assess how fan communities evolve and operate on social media platforms. Recent technologies were implemented so that fans could partake in their interests from the safety and comfort of their homes during the pandemic, Read more [...]