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300+ Social Media Research Topics

Social media has become an integral part of our lives, and it has transformed the way we communicate, share information, and interact with each other. As social media platforms continue to evolve and gain popularity, they have also become a rich source of data for researchers. Social media research is a rapidly growing field that encompasses a wide range of topics , from understanding the psychological and social effects of social media to analyzing patterns of user behavior and identifying trends in online conversations. In this era of data-driven decision-making, social media research is more important than ever, as it provides insights into how we use and are influenced by social media. In this post, we will explore some of the most fascinating and relevant social media research topics that are shaping our understanding of this powerful medium.

Social Media Research Topics

Social Media Research Topics are as follows:

The effects of social media on mental health
The role of social media in political polarization
The impact of social media on relationships
The use of social media by businesses for marketing
The effects of social media on body image and self-esteem
The influence of social media on consumer behavior
The use of social media for education
The effects of social media on language use and grammar
The impact of social media on news consumption
The role of social media in activism and social change
The use of social media for job seeking and career development
The effects of social media on sleep patterns
The influence of social media on adolescent behavior
The impact of social media on the spread of misinformation
The use of social media for personal branding
The effects of social media on political participation
The influence of social media on fashion trends
The impact of social media on sports fandom
The use of social media for mental health support
The effects of social media on creativity
The role of social media in cultural exchange
The impact of social media on language learning
The use of social media for crisis communication
The effects of social media on privacy and security
The influence of social media on diet and exercise behavior
The impact of social media on travel behavior
The use of social media for citizen journalism
The effects of social media on political accountability
The role of social media in peer pressure
The impact of social media on romantic relationships
The use of social media for community building
The effects of social media on gender identity
The influence of social media on music consumption
The impact of social media on academic performance
The use of social media for social support
The effects of social media on social skills
The role of social media in disaster response
The impact of social media on nostalgia and memory
The use of social media for charity and philanthropy
The effects of social media on political polarization in developing countries
The influence of social media on literary consumption
The impact of social media on family relationships
The use of social media for citizen science
The effects of social media on cultural identity
The role of social media in promoting healthy behaviors
The impact of social media on language diversity
The use of social media for environmental activism
The effects of social media on attention span
The influence of social media on art consumption
The impact of social media on cultural values and norms.
The impact of social media on mental health
The impact of social media on mental health.
The impact of social media on body image and self-esteem.
The use of social media for political activism and social justice movements.
The role of social media in promoting cultural diversity and inclusivity.
The impact of social media on romantic relationships and dating.
The use of social media for customer service and support.
The impact of social media on mental health and well-being among young adults.
The impact of social media on political polarization and partisanship.
The use of social media for health communication and behavior change.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards vaccination.
The impact of social media on political participation and civic engagement.
The impact of social media on political polarization and echo chambers.
The use of social media for political campaigning and the manipulation of public opinion.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards vaccination and public health.
The impact of social media on news consumption and trust in journalism.
The use of social media for promoting sustainable fashion practices and ethical consumption.
The role of social media in influencing beauty standards and body image.
The impact of social media on the music industry and the role of social media influencers.
The use of social media for promoting mental health and well-being among healthcare professionals.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards gun violence and gun control policies.
The impact of social media on social activism and advocacy.
The use of social media for promoting cross-cultural communication and intercultural understanding.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards climate change and environmental policies.
The impact of social media on public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The use of social media for promoting financial literacy and access to financial services for low-income individuals.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards immigration policies and refugee crises.
The impact of social media on political activism and social movements.
The use of social media for promoting digital literacy and technology education in developing countries.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards gender and sexual orientation.
The impact of social media on consumer behavior in the food and beverage industry.
The use of social media for promoting mental health and well-being among first responders.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards racial justice and police brutality.
The impact of social media on privacy concerns and data security.
The use of social media for promoting interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards income inequality and economic justice.
The impact of social media on the film and television industry and consumer behavior.
The use of social media for promoting mental health and well-being among military personnel.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards privacy and data security.
The impact of social media on the hospitality industry and consumer behavior.
The use of social media for promoting intergenerational communication and understanding.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards animal welfare and animal rights.
The impact of social media on the gaming industry and gamer behavior.
The use of social media for promoting digital literacy and technology skills among seniors.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards renewable energy and sustainability.
The impact of social media on the advertising industry and consumer behavior.
The use of social media for promoting mental health and well-being among children and adolescents.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards online privacy and security.
The impact of social media on the beauty industry and consumer behavior.
The use of social media for promoting cultural preservation and heritage tourism.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards criminal justice reform.
The impact of social media on the automotive industry and consumer behavior.
The use of social media for promoting mental health and well-being among marginalized communities.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards sustainable development goals.
The impact of social media on the fashion industry and consumer behavior.
The use of social media for promoting intercultural communication in the workplace.
The role of social media in shaping public attitudes towards mental health policies.
The impact of social media on the travel industry and sustainable tourism practices.
The use of social media for health information seeking and patient empowerment.
The role of social media in promoting environmental activism and sustainable practices.
The impact of social media on consumer behavior and brand loyalty.
The use of social media for promoting education and lifelong learning.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards mental health issues.
The impact of social media on the fashion industry and fast fashion practices.
The use of social media for promoting social entrepreneurship and social innovation.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards gun control.
The impact of social media on the mental health and well-being of adolescents.
The use of social media for promoting intercultural exchange and understanding.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards climate change.
The impact of social media on political advertising and campaign strategies.
The use of social media for promoting healthy relationships and communication skills.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards police brutality and racial justice.
The use of social media for promoting financial literacy and personal finance management.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights.
The impact of social media on the music industry and fan engagement.
The use of social media for promoting mental health and well-being among marginalized populations.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards immigration and border policies.
The impact of social media on the professional development and networking of journalists.
The use of social media for promoting community building and social cohesion.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards healthcare policies.
The impact of social media on the food industry and consumer behavior.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards gender equality.
The impact of social media on the sports industry and athlete-fan interactions.
The use of social media for promoting financial inclusion and access to banking services.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards animal welfare.
The use of social media for promoting mental health and well-being among college students.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards privacy and data security.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards income inequality and poverty.
The use of social media for promoting digital literacy and technology skills.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards renewable energy.
The use of social media for promoting mental health and well-being among elderly populations.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards online privacy and security.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards criminal justice reform.
The impact of social media on online activism and social movements.
The use of social media for business-to-business communication and networking.
The role of social media in promoting civic education and engagement.
The impact of social media on the fashion industry and sustainable fashion practices.
The use of social media for promoting cultural diversity and inclusion.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards police reform.
The impact of social media on the mental health and well-being of frontline healthcare workers.
The use of social media for promoting financial literacy and investment education.
The role of social media in promoting environmental sustainability and conservation.
The impact of social media on body image and self-esteem among adolescent girls.
The use of social media for promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards immigration policies and refugees.
The impact of social media on the professional development and networking of healthcare professionals.
The use of social media for promoting community resilience and disaster preparedness.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards the Black Lives Matter movement.
The impact of social media on the music industry and artist-fan interactions.
The use of social media for promoting healthy eating habits and nutrition education.
The role of social media in promoting mental health and well-being among college students.
The impact of social media on the entertainment industry and consumer behavior.
The use of social media for promoting workplace diversity and inclusion.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards climate change policies.
The impact of social media on the travel industry and consumer behavior.
The use of social media for promoting mental health and well-being among military veterans.
The role of social media in promoting intergenerational dialogue and understanding.
The impact of social media on the professional development and networking of educators.
The use of social media for promoting animal welfare and advocacy.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards reproductive rights.
The impact of social media on the sports industry and fan behavior.
The use of social media for promoting financial inclusion and literacy among underprivileged populations.
The role of social media in promoting mental health and well-being among LGBTQ+ populations.
The impact of social media on the food and beverage industry and consumer behavior.
The use of social media for promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards gun ownership.
The use of social media for promoting mental health and well-being among caregivers.
The role of social media in promoting sustainable tourism practices.
The impact of social media on the gaming industry and gamer culture.
The use of social media for promoting cultural heritage tourism and preservation.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards public transportation policies.
The use of social media for promoting mental health and well-being among homeless populations.
The role of social media in promoting mental health and well-being among immigrants and refugees.
The use of social media for promoting financial literacy and entrepreneurship among youth.
The use of social media for political mobilization and participation in authoritarian regimes.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards immigration policies.
The impact of social media on the professional development of teachers and educators.
The use of social media for emergency communication during public health crises.
The role of social media in promoting LGBTQ+ rights and advocacy.
The impact of social media on body positivity and self-acceptance among women.
The use of social media for public diplomacy and international relations.
The impact of social media on the mental health and well-being of marginalized communities.
The use of social media for crisis management and disaster response in the corporate sector.
The role of social media in promoting environmental activism and conservation.
The impact of social media on the professional development and networking of entrepreneurs.
The use of social media for medical education and healthcare communication.
The role of social media in promoting cultural exchange and understanding.
The impact of social media on social capital and civic engagement among young adults.
The use of social media for disaster preparedness and community resilience.
The role of social media in promoting religious pluralism and tolerance.
The use of social media for promoting healthy lifestyles and wellness.
The use of social media for fundraising and philanthropy in the non-profit sector.
The role of social media in promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding.
The impact of social media on the travel and tourism industry and consumer behavior.
The use of social media for customer engagement and brand loyalty in the retail sector.
The impact of social media on the political attitudes and behaviors of young adults.
The use of social media for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The use of social media for promoting animal welfare and adoption.
The role of social media in promoting mental health and well-being among the elderly.
The impact of social media on the art industry and artist-fan interactions.
The use of social media for promoting healthy food choices and nutrition.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards income inequality.
The use of social media for promoting political satire and humor.
The role of social media in promoting disability rights and advocacy.
The use of social media for promoting voter registration and participation.
The role of social media in promoting entrepreneurship and small business development.
The use of social media for promoting mental health and well-being among incarcerated populations.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards gun violence prevention.
The use of social media for promoting cultural heritage and preservation.
The impact of social media on mental health and well-being.
The relationship between social media use and academic performance.
The use of social media for emergency communication during natural disasters.
The impact of social media on traditional news media and journalism.
The role of social media in shaping public opinion and discourse.
The use of social media for online learning and education.
The impact of social media on the fashion and beauty industry.
The use of social media for brand awareness and marketing.
The impact of social media on privacy and security.
The use of social media for job searching and recruitment.
The impact of social media on political polarization and extremism.
The use of social media for online harassment and cyberbullying.
The role of social media in promoting environmental awareness and sustainability.
The impact of social media on youth culture and identity formation.
The use of social media for travel and tourism marketing.
The impact of social media on consumer behavior and decision-making.
The role of social media in shaping beauty standards and body positivity.
The use of social media for crisis communication and disaster response.
The impact of social media on the music industry.
The use of social media for fundraising and philanthropy.
The role of social media in promoting healthy lifestyles and wellness.
The impact of social media on sports fandom and fan behavior.
The use of social media for political lobbying and advocacy.
The impact of social media on the entertainment industry.
The use of social media for healthcare communication and patient engagement.
The role of social media in promoting gender equality and feminism.
The impact of social media on the restaurant and food industry.
The use of social media for volunteerism and community service.
The role of social media in promoting religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue.
The impact of social media on the art industry.
The use of social media for political satire and humor.
The role of social media in promoting disability awareness and advocacy.
The impact of social media on the real estate industry.
The use of social media for legal advocacy and justice reform.
The role of social media in promoting intercultural communication and understanding.
The impact of social media on the automotive industry.
The use of social media for pet adoption and animal welfare advocacy.
The role of social media in promoting mental health and wellness for marginalized communities.
The impact of social media on the retail industry.
The use of social media for promoting civic engagement and voter participation.
The impact of social media on the film and television industry.
The use of social media for fashion and style inspiration.
The role of social media in promoting activism for human rights and social issues.
The effectiveness of social media for political campaigns.
The role of social media in promoting fake news and misinformation.
The impact of social media on self-esteem and body image.
The impact of social media on romantic relationships.
The use of social media for online activism and social justice movements.
The impact of social media on traditional news media.
The impact of social media on interpersonal communication skills.
The impact of social media on the fashion industry.
The use of social media for social support and mental health awareness.
The use of social media for political lobbying and activism.
The impact of social media on travel and tourism behavior.
The use of social media for customer feedback and market research.
The impact of social media on the restaurant industry.
The role of social media in political activism
The effect of social media on interpersonal communication
The relationship between social media use and body image concerns
The impact of social media on self-esteem
The role of social media in shaping cultural norms and values
The use of social media by celebrities and its impact on their image
The role of social media in building and maintaining personal relationships
The use of social media for job searching and recruitment
The impact of social media on children and adolescents
The use of social media by political candidates during election campaigns
The role of social media in education
The impact of social media on political polarization
The use of social media for news consumption
The effect of social media on sleep habits
The use of social media by non-profit organizations for fundraising
The role of social media in shaping public opinion
The influence of social media on language and communication patterns
The use of social media in crisis communication and emergency management
The role of social media in promoting environmental awareness
The influence of social media on music preferences
The impact of social media on body positivity movements
The role of social media in shaping beauty standards
The influence of social media on sports fandom
The use of social media for health promotion and education
The impact of social media on political participation
The role of social media in shaping parenting practices
The influence of social media on food preferences and eating habits
The use of social media for peer support and mental health advocacy
The role of social media in shaping religious beliefs and practices
The influence of social media on humor and comedy
The use of social media for online activism and social justice advocacy
The impact of social media on public health awareness campaigns
The role of social media in promoting cultural diversity and inclusion
The influence of social media on travel behavior and decision-making
The use of social media for international diplomacy and relations
The impact of social media on job satisfaction and employee engagement
The role of social media in shaping romantic preferences and dating behavior
The influence of social media on language learning and language use
The use of social media for political satire and humor
The impact of social media on social capital and community building
The role of social media in shaping gender identity and expression
The influence of social media on fashion and beauty advertising.

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234 Social Media Research Topics & Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

Social media research encompasses a broad range of different topics that delve into the ever-evolving digital landscape. People investigate the impact of social platforms on society, exploring subjects, such as online identity formation, self-presentation, the psychology of virtual interactions, and others. Additionally, studies examine the influence of social media on politics, activism, and public opinion, uncovering patterns of information dissemination and polarization. Privacy concerns, cyberbullying, and online safety are also explored in-depth, seeking strategies to mitigate the associated risks. In this article, people can find many social media research topics, ideas, and examples.

Hot Social Media Research Topics

Impacts of Social Media and Internet Algorithms on User Experience
The Rise of TikTok: A Socio-Cultural Analysis
Dealing With Cyberbullying: Strategies and Solutions
Understanding the Phenomenon of Social Media ‘Cancel Culture’
NFTs and Social Media: The Future of Digital Art?
Ethical Concerns in the Era of Influencer Marketing
Social Media’s Role in Accelerating E-Commerce Growth
Impacts of Internet and Social Media on Journalism and News Reporting
Understanding the Psychology of Viral Challenges on Social Platforms
Cryptocurrency and Social Media: The Intersection
Mitigating Misinformation and ‘Fake News’ on Social Media
Augmented Reality (AR) in Social Media: A Game Changer?
Evaluating the Impact of Social Media on Political Campaigns
Social Media’s Influence on Fashion and Beauty Trends
Privacy, Safety, and Security Concerns in the Age of Social Networking
Roles of Free Access and Social Media in Promoting Sustainable Practices
Implications of Social Media Addiction on Mental Health
Examining Social Media’s Role in Crisis Communication
The Power of User-Generated Content in Branding
Influence of Social Media on Food Culture and Dining Trends

Easy Social Media Research Topics

Impacts of Online Videos and Social Media on Mental Health
Influencer Marketing: Efficacy and Ethical Concerns
Evolution of Privacy Policies Across Social Platforms
Understanding Virality: What Makes Content Shareable?
Cyberbullying: Prevalence and Prevention Strategies
Social Media and Political Polarization: An In-Depth Study
Role of Social Media in Modern Business Strategies
Effect of Social Media on Interpersonal Relationships
Social Platforms as Tools for Social Change
Navigating Online Hate Speech: A Legal Perspective
Emerging Trends in Social Media Advertising
Online Identity Construction and Self-Presentation
The Psychology of Social Media Addiction
Social Media’s Role in Crisis Management and Communication
Sentiment Analysis in Social Media and Its Implications
Social Media Algorithms: Bias and Implications
The Phenomenon of Cancel Culture on Social Platforms
Cybersecurity Threats in the Era of Social Media
Analyzing Adverse Impacts of Social Media on Consumer Behavior

Interesting Social Media Research Topics

Evaluating the Effects of Social Media on Language and Communication
Roles of Social Media in Fostering Political Engagement
Misinformation and Propaganda Spread Through Social Platforms
Analyzing the Shift From Traditional Media to Social Media
Dark Patterns in Social Media: Hidden Manipulative Tactics
Social Media and Digital Activism: Revolutionizing Advocacy
Augmented Reality (AR) and Its Impact on Social Networking
Exploring Cybersecurity Issues in Social Media Platforms
Roles and Effects of Social Media and News in Mental Health Promotion
Strategies for Effective Social Media Crisis Management
The Power of Live Streaming for Brands and Influencers
Using Social Media to Enhance Classroom Learning
Analyzing the Influence of Memes on Internet Culture
Impacts of Social Media Algorithms on User Behavior
Assessing the Correlation Between Social Media and Loneliness
Geotagging and Its Implications for Personal Privacy
Social Media and E-commerce: A Cross-Industry Study
The Ethics of Digital Advertising on Social Platforms
Understanding the Psychology of Social Media Trolls
The Cultural Shift Caused by Social Media Localization

Social Media Research Paper Topics for High School

The Phenomenon of Cyberbullying: Prevention and Strategies
How Does Social Media Influence Teen Body Image?
Evaluating the Educational Potential of Social Media Platforms
Impacts of Social Media on Adolescents’ Self-Esteem
Roles of Free Connection and Social Media in Modern Political Activism
Exploring the Concept of ‘Digital Citizenship’ Among Teenagers
The Ethics of Social Media Privacy: User Rights and Responsibilities
Social Media Addiction: Understanding Its Causes and Effects
Influence of Social Media on Modern Communication Styles
Analyzing Positive Roles of Social Media in Promoting Reading Culture
Social Media and Mental Health: Correlation or Causation?
The Role of Social Media in Global Environmental Awareness
Examining Social Media’s Impact on Real-Life Social Skills
Social Media Platforms: Tools for Personal Branding or Narcissism?
Influence of Social Media Trends on Youth Fashion Choices
Impacts of Social Media on Teenagers’ Sleep Patterns
Online Safety: The Role of Parents and Schools in Social Media Usage
How Does Social Media Influence Teenagers’ Views on Relationships?
Social Media and Empathy: Does Online Interaction Decrease Compassion?

Social Media Research Paper Topics for College Students

Evaluating the Impact of Social Media on Body Image and Self-Esteem
The Influence of Social Media on Voting Patterns Among Young Adults
Social Media as a Valid Tool for Social Change: A Case Study Approach
Unveiling the Psychology of Social Media Addiction
Social Media’s Role in Modern Journalism: Opportunities and Challenges
Privacy Implications of Data Collection on Social Media Platforms
Cyberbullying in the Age of Social Media: Scope and Solutions
The Ethical Aspects of Social Media Influencer Marketing
Roles and Effects of Social Media in Crisis Communication and Management
Social Media and Its Effects on Interpersonal Communication Skills
Analyzing Social Media Strategies of Successful Businesses
Impacts of Internet Use and Social Media on Mental Health Among College Students
The Roles That Social Media Has in Modern Political Campaigns
Understanding the Social Media Algorithm: Bias and Implications
Social Media and Consumer Behavior: The Power of Influencer Marketing
Fake News, Authors, and Disinformation Spread Through Social Media Platforms
Exploring Direct Links Between Social Media Use and Academic Performance
Social Media’s Role in Promoting Sustainable Lifestyle Choices
Regulation of Hate Speech and Offensive Content on Social Media
The Power and Peril of Virality in the Age of Social Media

Social Media Research Paper Topics for University

The Effect That Social Media Has on Global Politics
The Ethics of Data Mining in Social Media
Roles of Social Media in Business Marketing Strategies
Social Media, Internet Use, and Their Impacts on Mental Health: A Systematic Review
Algorithmic Bias in Social Media Platforms: Causes and Consequences
The Influence of Colors and Social Media on Consumer Behavior
Exploring Possible Relationships Between Social Media Use and Academic Performance
Privacy, Morality, and Security Concerns in the Age of Social Media
Social Media as a Platform for Digital Activism
Impacts of Social Media on Interpersonal Communication and Relationships
Cyberbullying on Social Media: Scope, Impact, and Preventive Measures
The Role of Social Media in Spreading Health-Related Misinformation
Analyzing the Effect of Social Media on Journalism Practices
Understanding the Influence of Social Media on Body Image Perceptions
Social Media’s Role in Crisis Management: Case Studies
The Power and Effectiveness of Influencer Marketing on Social Media
Fake News and Disinformation in the Social Media Age
Regulatory Approaches to Hate Speech on Social Media Platforms
The Economic Implications of Social Media: From Startups to Giants

Social Media Research Paper Topics for Masters

Advanced Algorithms and Their Role in Shaping Social Media Interactions
Evaluating the Impact of Social Media on Democratic Processes Globally
The Intersection of Privacy, Data Mining, and Ethics in Social Media
Quantitative Analysis of Social Media’s Impact on Consumer Buying Behavior
Cybersecurity Threats in Social Media: Mitigation and Prevention Strategies
Analyzing the Psychological Implications of Social Media Addiction
Using Social Media Data to Predict Market Trends: An Econometric Approach
Role of Social Media in Crisis Management: A Comparative Study
The Sociolinguistic Impact of Social Media on Communication
Machine Learning and AI in Social Media: An Examination of Emerging Trends
Social Media as a Valid Tool for Public Health: Opportunities and Challenges
Social Media’s Influence on Modern Journalism: A Critical Analysis
Mapping Social Networks: A Graph Theory Approach
Evaluating the Efficacy of Social Media Campaigns in Social Change Movements
Analyzing the Role of Social Media in Corporate Reputation Management
Data Privacy Laws and Social Media: A Comparative Study
The Use of Small and Big Data Analytics in Social Media Marketing
Social Media and Its Role in Strengthening Democracy: A Deep Dive
The Impact of Social Media on Cultural Assimilation and Identity
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Social Media Content Moderation

Social Media Research Paper Topics for Ph.D.

Analyzing the Impact of Social Media Algorithms on User Behavior and Perceptions
Deciphering the Influence of Social Media on Political Campaign Strategies
Examining the Role of Social Media in Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives
Social Media and Mental Health: A Comprehensive Analysis of Recent Studies
Effects of Social Media and Internet Use on Consumer Buying Behavior: An Econometric Approach
Social Media and Digital Diplomacy: A Critical Analysis
Ethical Implications of Data Mining Techniques in Social Media Platforms
Unpacking the Psychological Mechanisms of Social Media Addiction
Role of Social Media in Contemporary Journalism: Opportunities and Challenges
Social Media and Privacy: A Comparative Study of Data Protection Laws
Machine Learning and AI in Social Media: Identifying Future Trends
Social Media’s Possible Influence on People, Body Image, and Self-Esteem: A Meta-Analysis
Analyzing the Role of Social Media in Crisis Management and Communication
Impacts of Social Media on Different Language and Communication Styles
Cybersecurity in Social Media: An Analysis of Current Threats and Mitigation Strategies
Social Media as a Good Tool for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Effects of Social Media on Children and Their Parents: Social Skills and Interpersonal Relationships
Roles of Social Media in Promoting Gender Equality and Women’s Rights
Social Media and its Influence on Cultural Assimilation and Identity Formation

Social Media Research Topics for Argumentative Papers

Impacts of Social Media on Social and Political Discourses: Enhancing or Hindering Democratic Engagement?
Social Media and Mental Health: Exploring the Association Between Excessive Usage and Psychological Well-Being
Fostering Online Activism and Social Movements: The Role of Social Media
Balancing Personal Information Sharing and Data Protection: Social Media and Privacy
Exploring the Effects of Social Media on Body Image and Self-Esteem
Social Media and Political Polarization: Reinforcing Echo Chambers or Encouraging Diverse Perspectives?
Youth Culture and Identity Formation: The Influence of Social Media
Fake News and Misinformation: Combating Inaccurate Information in the Era of Social Media
Social Media and Cyberbullying: Examining the Impact on Mental Health and Well-Being
The Ethics of Social Media Research: Privacy, Informed Consent, and Ethical Considerations
Relationships in the Digital Age: Exploring the Influence of Social Media Use
The Influence of Internet, Technology, and Social Media on Consumer Behavior and Buying Decisions
Analyzing the Role of Online Platforms in Elections: Social Media and Political Campaigns
Social Media in Education: Exploring the Benefits and Challenges of Integration in the Classroom
Impacts of Social Media and Interface on News Consumption and Journalism Practices
Body Politics in the Digital Space: Examining Representations of Gender, Race, and Body Image on Social Media
Addressing Ethical and Security Concerns in the Digital Age: Social Media and Cybersecurity
Shaping Consumer Behavior and Brand Perception: The Role of Social Media Influencers
Civic Engagement in the Digital Era: Assessing the Role of Social Media Platforms
The Influence of Social Media Algorithms on Information Consumption and Personalization

Social Media Research Topics for Persuasive Papers

The Power of Social Media in Driving Social and Political Change
Promoting Digital Literacy: Empowering Users to Navigate the Complexities of Social Media
Social Media as a Catalyst for Social Justice Movements: Amplifying Marginalized Voices
Countering Fake News and Misinformation on Social Media: Strategies for Critical Thinking
Harnessing the Influence of Social Media for Environmental Activism and Sustainability
The Dark Side of Social Media: Addressing Online Harassment and Cyberbullying
Influencer Marketing: Ethical Considerations and Consumer Protection in the Digital Age
Leveraging Social Media for Public Health Campaigns: Increasing Awareness and Behavioral Change
Social Media and Mental Health: Promoting Well-Being in a Hyperconnected World
Navigating the Privacy Paradox: Balancing Convenience and Personal Data Protection on Social Media
Roles of Social Media and Internet in Fostering Civic Engagement and Democratic Participation
Promoting Positive Body Image on Social Media: Redefining Beauty Standards and Empowering Individuals
Enhancing Online Safety: Developing Policies and Regulations for Social Media Platforms
Social Media and the Spread of Disinformation: Combating the Infodemic
Roles of Social Media and Technology in Building and Sustaining Relationships: Connecting in a Digital Era
Influencer Culture and Materialism: Examining the Impact on Consumer Behavior
Social Media and Education: Maximizing Learning Opportunities and Bridging the Digital Divide
The Power of Viral Hashtags: Exploring Social Movements and Online Activism
Social Media and Political Polarization: Bridging Divides and Encouraging Constructive Dialogue

Social Media Topics for Pros and Cons Research Papers

Examining the Social Effects of Digital Connectivity: Pros and Cons of Using Social Media
Balancing Privacy Concerns in the Digital Age: Evaluating the Cons and Risks of Social Media Use
Information Sharing in the Digital Era: Uncovering the Advantages of Social Media Platforms
Building Online Communities: Analyzing the Strengths and Weaknesses of Social Media Interaction
Navigating Political Discourse in the Digital Age: The Disadvantages of Social Media Engagement
Mental Health in the Digital Sphere: Understanding the Benefits and Drawbacks of Social Media
Combating Cyberbullying: Addressing the Negative Side of Online Social Interactions
Personal Branding in the Digital Landscape: Empowerment vs. Self-Objectification on Social Media
Establishing Meaningful Connections: Exploring the Pros and Cons of Social Media Relationships
Leveraging the Educational Potential of Digital Platforms: Examining the Benefits of Social Media in Learning
Body Image and Self-Esteem in the Age of Social Media: Weighing the Positives and Negatives
From Digital Activism to Political Change: Assessing the Opportunities and Limitations of Social Media
Unraveling the Influence: Social Media and Consumer Behavior in the Digital Marketplace
Misinformation in the Digital Landscape: The Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Spread of Disinformation
Crisis Communication in the Digital Age: Navigating the Benefits and Challenges of Social Media
Tackling Fake News: Navigating Misinformation in the Era of Social Media
Maximizing Business Opportunities: Evaluating the Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media Marketing
The Psychology of Social Media: Analyzing the Upsides and Downsides of Digital Engagement
Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Socialization: Benefits, Drawbacks, and Implications
Online Activism: The Power and Limitations of Social Media Movements

Social Media Topics for Cause and Effect Research Papers

Enhancing Political Activism: Exploring the Relationship Between Social Media and Civic Engagement
The Psychological Effects of Digital Connectivity: Investigating the Relationship Between Mental Health of People and Social Media Use
Political Polarization in the Online Sphere: Understanding the Impact of Digital Networks
Disrupted Sleep Patterns in the Digital Era: Exploring the Role of Online Platforms
Digital Distractions and Academic Performance: Analyzing the Effects of Online Engagement
Navigating Online Relationships: Understanding the Impacts of Digital Interactions
The Digital Marketplace: Exploring Consumer Behavior in the Age of Online Platforms
The Loneliness Epidemic: Investigating the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Social Isolation
Redefining Political Participation: The Influence of Digital Networks on Democracy
Unmasking Digital Identities: The Psychological Effects of Social Media Use
News Consumption in the Digital Era: Exploring the Impacts of Online Platforms
Cyberbullying in the Virtual World: Analyzing the Effects of Online Interactions
The Digital Campaign Trail: Investigating the Influence of Online Platforms on Voter Behavior
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) in the Digital Age: Exploring the Psychological Consequences
Body Dissatisfaction in the Digital Sphere: Understanding the Impacts of Online Presence
Information Overload: Coping With the Digital Deluge in the Information Age
Privacy Concerns in the Online Landscape: Analyzing the Implications of Digital Footprints
Unveiling the Dark Side: Exploring the Relationship Between Online Activities and Substance Abuse
Bridging the Political Divide: The Impact of Digital Networks on Sociopolitical Polarization

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111 Popular Social Media Research Topics & Ideas

In today’s blog, we will discuss social media research topics. Social media is a big part of life today. It changes how we connect, talk to each other, and share things. Researchers want to understand how social media affects us.

There are many topics to study. Some look at how social media impacts mental health. Others see how it changes political talks. There are endless possibilities! This article explores exciting social media research topics.

If you’re interested in marketing, online groups, or privacy, there’s something for you. Social media research covers many areas. The field is constantly changing. By studying it, we can understand social media’s role in society. This makes the research important for many fields.

What is Social Media Research?

Table of Contents

Social media research involves studying how people and organizations use social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Researchers examine the posted and shared content, how it spreads, and the motivations and impacts of social media use. Some key areas where social media research is essential include:

Marketing

Understanding social media helps companies identify influencers, analyze customer sentiment, promote products, and drive engagement. It provides insight into customer needs and reactions.

Public relations

Organizations can identify public perceptions, address issues and misinformation, and build relationships through social media. Research helps craft messaging and engagement strategies.

Politics

Social platforms are vital for understanding voter attitudes, political campaigns, misinformation, and civic engagement. Research provides insight into political behavior and discourse.

Health communication

Analysing social media conversations helps identify health trends, understand public health attitudes, and spread credible information. This is crucial for public health initiatives.

Social sciences

Social media offers social scientists new avenues to study human interaction, relationships, group dynamics, and more on a large scale.

Digital Humanities

Scholars use social media data mining to study language use, cultural trends, human behavior, etc.

Journalism

Social media allows journalists to find stories, sources, and public reactions as events unfold. Research helps understand news propagation.

So, in summary, social media research provides valuable insights across fields. It is essential for understanding user experiences, communication patterns, cultural trends, and collective human behavior and attitudes in the digital era.

The large amount of data generated by social platforms offers opportunities for meaningful analysis in many disciplines. In the upcoming paragraphs, we will provide the social media research topics.

Key Considerations for Choosing Social Media Research Topics

Here are some key considerations when choosing social media research topics:

Relevance – Choose a topic that is timely, significant, and interesting. Look at current events, social trends, and developments in social media platforms.
Originality – Avoid overdone topics and try to come up with a unique angle or perspective. Contribute something new to the existing research.
Feasibility – Consider access to data sources, ethical implications, and whether you have the skills/resources to study the topic adequately. Choose something that can be researched within your means.
Audience – Who will be interested in or care about this research? Pick a topic that will appeal to and engage your target readers.
Purpose – Decide on the goals and aims of your research. This will help narrow down options and guide how you approach the topic.
Methods – Determine what research methods and data sources will be required to examine your topic effectively. Ensure your topic can be studied appropriately.
Scope – The topic should be focused enough for an in-depth study within size limitations (e.g., article length). Avoid topics that are too broad.
Significance – The research should provide valuable insights and meaningful impact on the field. Choose a topic that matters.

Social Media Research Topics

Social media has become a ubiquitous part of modern life. Nearly 80 to 90% of adults are active on social media. But despite its widespread adoption, there is still much we don’t understand about social media and its impacts.

This presents exciting opportunities for researchers across disciplines to explore new directions in social media research. So, here is a list of 111 social media research topics.

Technology and Social Media

Impact of artificial intelligence on social media algorithms
Influence of virtual reality in shaping social media experiences
Privacy concerns in the age of social media and big data
Role of blockchain technology in securing social media data
Evolution of social media platforms: From Web 1.0 to Web 3.0
The rise of ephemeral content: Snapchat, Instagram Stories, etc.
Augmented reality filters and their effects on self-image perception
Principles of data collection and usage by social media platforms
Cybersecurity challenges in social media ecosystems
Adoption and implications of 5G technology in social media usage

Psychology and Social Media

Psychological effects of social media addiction on mental health
Effect of social media on body image and self-esteem
Role of social media in shaping individuality formation among adolescents
Psychological factors influencing online behavior and interactions
Comparison of online and offline social support networks
Influence of social media on social isolation and loneliness
The phenomenon of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) on social media
Cyberbullying: Prevalence, effects, and preventive measures
Social media and emotional contagion: Spread of emotions online
Influence of social media platforms on interpersonal connections and communication

Marketing and Social Media

Significance of influencer marketing on the social media platforms
Social media analytics: Measuring engagement, reach, and ROI
The role of user-generated content in brand building on social media
Targeted advertising on social media: Ethics and Effectiveness
Social media trends: Predictive analysis for marketing strategies
Impact of social media platforms on consumer purchasing behavior
Content strategies for different social media platforms
Social commerce: The intersection of e-commerce and social media
Micro vs. macro influencers: A comparative analysis for brands
Crisis management in the age of social media: Case studies and strategies

Politics and Social Media

Role of social media in political activism and mobilisation
Spread of fake reports and misinformation on social media platforms
Influence of social media echo chambers on political discourse
Political polarisation on social media: Causes and consequences
Principles of political advertisement on social media platforms
Online political participation and civic engagement via social media
Impact of social media on electoral outcomes and voter behaviour
Government surveillance and privacy concerns in social media
Social media censorship: Balancing freedom of speech and regulation
Comparative analysis of social media use in democratic vs. authoritarian regimes

Education and Social Media

Integration of social media in formal education: Benefits and challenges
The role of social media in everyday learning and knowledge sharing
Social media as a tool for teacher-student interaction and engagement
Digital citizenship education: Navigating social media responsibly
Using social media for collaborative learning and group projects
Social media literacy: Teaching critical thinking and online etiquette
Impact of social media distractions on academic performance
Student perspectives on social media policies in educational institutions
Professional development through social media networks
Addressing cyberbullying and online harassment in educational settings

Health and Social Media

Impact of social media platforms on health behaviours and lifestyle choices
Role of social media in disseminating health news and misinformation
Online patient communities: Support and information exchange on social media
Social media interventions for mental health promotion and therapy
Use of social media in public health campaigns and disease prevention
Impact of social media on health-related stigma and discrimination
Physician-patient communication in the age of social media
Ethical considerations in promoting health products on social media
Online health influencers: Credibility, trust, and responsibility
Privacy concerns in health-related discussions on social media

Culture and Social Media

Representation of diversity and inclusion on social media platforms
Cultural appropriation on social media: Issues and controversies
Impact of social media platforms on language use and evolution
Diaspora communities and identity maintenance through social media
Influence of social media platforms on cultural norms and values
Viral trends and their role in shaping popular culture via social media
Online activism for cultural preservation and heritage awareness
Social media as a platform for global cultural exchange
Indigenous perspectives on social media and digital sovereignty
Impact of globalization on local cultures through social media

Environment and Social Media

Role of social media platforms in environmental activism and awareness
Online environmental campaigns: Strategies and effectiveness
Social media and climate change communication
Influence of eco-friendly influencers on sustainable living
Virtual environmental communities: Advocacy and action on social media
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) promotion on social media
Impact of social media on attitudes towards environmental issues
Greenwashing: Detecting and countering false environmental claims on social media
The role of citizen science projects on social media platforms
Social media as a platform for eco-friendly lifestyle influencers

Economics and Social Media

The gig economy: Impact of social media on freelance work
Social media entrepreneurship: Opportunities and challenges
The function of social media platforms in shaping consumer trends and market behaviour
Online brand communities: Building loyalty and trust on social media
Social media as a platform for crowdfunding and fundraising
The sharing economy and peer-to-peer transactions facilitated by social media
Impact of social media influencers on product sales and brand image
User-generated content and its economic implications for businesses
Social media monetization strategies for content creators
The future of advertising revenue models on social media platforms

Ethics and Social Media

Privacy rights and data protection in the age of social media
Ethical considerations in conducting research using social media data
Deception and authenticity: Ethical issues in social media interactions
Social media and online anonymity: Balancing privacy and accountability
Digital citizenship: Rights, responsibilities, and ethics online
Algorithmic bias and fairness in social media content distribution
The Ethics of Persuasive Design and Behavioural manipulation on social media
Online hate speech and combating extremism on social media platforms
Ethical implications of social media surveillance and monitoring
Regulatory frameworks for addressing ethical concerns in social media use

Gender and Social Media

Gender representation and stereotypes on social media platforms
Feminist activism and empowerment through social media
Gender-based violence online: Prevention and intervention strategies
LGBTQ+ representation and visibility on social media
Online dating and gender dynamics in social media interactions
The gender pay gap in influencer marketing on social media
Gender differences in social media usage patterns and behaviours
The role of social media in challenging traditional gender norms
Online feminism: Intersectionality and inclusivity on social media
Gendered harassment and cyberbullying on social media platforms
LGBTQ+ influencers: Representation and influence on social media

This comprehensive list of social media research topics covers various categories, making it suitable for researchers and academics interested in exploring social media from different perspectives.

Emerging Trends and Future Directions

Here are some potential emerging trends and future directions in social media research:

How social media affects mental health: Looking at how social media might lead to more anxiety, depression, loneliness, addiction, body image issues, etc.
Privacy and ethics: Studying how social media companies collect, share, and use user information. Examining privacy risks.
Algorithms and filtering: Research how social media sites’ algorithms decide what users see. Issues around being in a filter bubble.
Spread of false information: Analysing how wrong or misleading information spreads on social media. Ways to fact check.
Politics: Studying how social media changes political debates, campaigns, and user involvement.
Visual communication: Understanding the impact of images, selfies, and live video in social media messaging.
FOMO: Researching how social media creates fear of missing out on experiences.
Influencers: Critically examining the rise of influencers and their effects.
Activism: Exploring how social media helps or limits activism around causes like climate or racial justice.
Relationships: Investigating how social media shapes relationships with friends, family, and partners. Effects on social connections .
User experience design: Improving interfaces to address information overload, distraction, and addiction.

We may see more research in psychology, sociology, and media studies. The focus may shift to user well-being rather than just analyzing platforms and usage.

Final Remarks

Social media research is an important field that helps us understand our digital world. It examines how social media impacts mental health, politics, relationships, misinformation, privacy, and more. This research shows how social media shapes people and society.

As social media keeps evolving, we need more research to guide us through the digital age. By studying social media research topics, we can create better policies and tools to improve wellbeing.

Overall, exploring diverse topics in this field gives us critical insights into social media and how it influences our lives. Continued research will help us handle the complexities of social media and make it more favorable for individuals and society.

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74 Best Social Media Research Paper Topics

Whether in college or high school, you will come across research writing as a student. In most cases, the topic of research is assigned by your teacher/professor. Other times, students have to come up with their topic. Research writing in school is inescapable. It’s a task you are bound to undertake to fulfill your academic requirements. If you are in college, there are several topics for research depending on your discipline. For high school students, the topic is usually given. In this article, we focus on social media and topics about social media.

A social media paper is a research paper about social media that studies social media generally or an aspect of it. To write research papers on social media, you’ll need to conduct thorough research for materials and scholarly materials that’ll assist you. For social media, most of the scholarly works will be media-focused.

Sometimes, Professors or teachers ask students to write an essay or research a topic without narrowing it down. In that case, students will have to develop specific research topics. If you’re writing a paper on social media, we’ve provided you with helpful topics to consider for research.

How to Start a Social Media Research Paper

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Before giving a research writing, Professors and teachers believe students already know how to write one. Not every student knows how to write a research paper in most cases.

Research writing follows a systematic pattern, which applies to research on social media. Below is the pattern of a research paper to use;

Paper title
Introduction
Statement of problem
Research methodology
Research objective
Critical analysis
Results and discussion

Every research follows this basic pattern, and it also applies to your research paper on social media.

Social media has become a powerful tool for engagement of various kinds. Before now, social media was merely apps used for interpersonal affairs. Today, with the modification of digital technology, social media encompasses a lot more. Below are some social media topics to write about.

The impact of social media in promoting interpersonal relationships
A study on how social media is a vital tool for social change
Social media censorship: A new form of restriction on freedom of speech
The constantly growing oversharing nature of social media
Social media is a vital tool for political campaign
The proliferation of social media platforms into a buying space
The juxtaposition of personal engagement and business on social media platforms

There is a wide range of topics to coin from social media for college students because social media is a platform with diverse issues that can form into topics. Here are some research topics about social media to consider.

Breach of Privacy: A study on the ability of the government to monitor personal affairs on social media
A study of the toxicity brewing within social media
The increased cyberbullying perpetrated on social media platforms
The evolution of Twitter into a space for diverse conversations
A study of the emergence and growth of social media over the years
Effects of social media: How social media is breeding laziness amongst children
Social media as a distraction tool for students

If you are searching for interesting topics, there are many interesting research topics on social media. Examples of research paper topics that sound fun to choose from include;

A study on how the emergence of social media and social media advertising has infiltrated its primary purpose
An evaluation of how social media has created employment opportunities for people
Social media influence and its negative impact on society
Advertising on social media: Will influencer businesses take over advertising agencies?
A study on ways to improve advertisement for social media engagement
A look into how social media creates a distorted view of real life
Social media and real-life: Does social media obscure reality?

Research questions are helpful when carrying out research in a particular field. To know more about your thesis on social media, you will need to create research questions on social media to help inform your writing. Some social media research questions to ask are;

Are social media platforms designed to be addictive?
What is a social media Algorithm, and how to navigate it?
To what extent are personal data stored on social app databases protected?
Can social media owners avoid government monitoring?
Should parents allow their children to navigate social media before they are 15?
Have social media jobs come to stay, or are they temporary?
Is social media influencer culture overtaking celebrity culture?
To what extent can social media help to curb racism and homophobia?
Does social media exacerbate or curb discriminatory practices?
Is social media an effective tool for learning?

Everyone has access to social media apps until they’ve reached a certain age. There are several social media essay topics for high school students to write about. Some social media titles for essays include;

How social media affects the academic performance of students
Why the use of social media is prohibited during school hours
Why students are obsessed with Tiktok
Running a profitable social media business while in high school and the challenges
The dangers of overusing editing apps
A critical essay on how editing apps and filters promote an unrealistic idea of beauty
The death of TV: how social media has stolen student’s interest

The challenge students have with their topic ideas for research papers is that they’re broad. A good social media thesis topic should be narrowed down. Narrowing a topic down helps you during research to focus on an issue.

Some narrow social media topics for the research paper include;

A study of how social media is overtaking Television in entertainment
A study of how social media has overtaken traditional journalism
An evaluation of the rise of influencer culture on Instagram
YouTube and how it has created sustainable income for black content creators
A comparative study of social media managers and content creators
A study of the decline of Instagram since the emergence of Tiktok
How Twitter breeds transphobic conversations

There are several areas of social media to focus your research on. If you are looking for some social media marketing topics, below are some social media research paper topics to consider;

Influencer culture and a modified model of mouth-to-mouth marketing
The growth of video marketing on Instagram
Social media managers as an essential part of online marketing
A study on how social media stories are optimized for marketing
An analysis of social media marketing and its impact on customer behavior
An evaluation of target marketing on social media

There are so many topics to choose from in this aspect. Some social issues research paper topics to explore are;

The growth of cyberattacks and cyberstalking in social media
Social media and how it promotes an unrealistic idea of life
Social media and the many impacts it has on users and businesses
Social media detox: Importance of taking scheduled social media breaks
How social media enable conversation on social challenges

Writing a research paper on social issues touches on various areas. Some are challenging, while others are easier to navigate.

Below are some of the easy social issues topics to choose from.

The growing issue of women’s and trans people’s rights
Religious bigotry and how it affects social progress
Sustainable living and why it’s important to the society
The social impact of climate change and global warming

Social science is a broad discipline. If you are looking for social science essay topics, below are some social science topics for research papers to look into;

Consumerism and how it’s perpetrated on social media
How religious beliefs impact social relationships
Inflation and how it affects the economy of a nation
A study of the limited availability of work opportunities for minority groups
A look into the concept of “low wage” jobs

Research writing is not always technical or challenging. Sometimes, it can be fun to write. It all depends on your choice of topic. Below are some topics on social media that are fun to work on;

The importance of social media branding for small businesses
A look into the monetization of Instagram
User engagement and how it can be converted into business leads
The study of emojis and their role in social media engagement
From Instagram to Tiktok: the poaching nature of social media apps

Research writing on social media networking studies social networking and its design and promotion on social media platforms. Some research papers on social media networking are;

The impact of social media networking on business owners
Social media networking and how it impacts influencer culture
Social media and how it’s used to build and develop social relationships
How social media made social networking services easier

Social media research writing is one of the most interesting research to conduct. It cuts across several interesting areas. The writer can handle almost every aspect of the dissertation or thesis statement about social media . But, students who find it challenging should seek professional help. You can reach out to our expert team of writers to help you handle every element of your writing. We have the best on our team who are always ready to give you their best.

147 Best Social Media Research Topics To Beat The Trend In 2023

With the advancement of technology, social media has become an essential part of our lives. It provides a platform for people to express themselves and share their thoughts with others. It also allows people to connect on a global scale. Social media has helped to make the world smaller and more connected.

Social Media is essential in many industries today – from marketing, advertising, and public relations to education, healthcare, and even entertainment. Social Media is now so widespread that it has become a necessity for businesses.

As writers who have a lot of knowledge regarding custom writing services would share what we know about social media research topics that can make your day.

Table of Contents

Social Media Research: Related To Trends, Privacy, Psychology and more

We are rooting for you to leave your competition behind in your research. That is why we have 147 of the most engaging social media research topics that work as a muse and introduce you to an uncanny inspiration. Let’s go ahead and discover together!

Trendy Social Media Research Topics

Have you been following the trends lately? If the answer is no, you don’t need to panic. We’ve extracted all of the trendy social media topics for you.

What is quality management for social media?
Branding and Social Media? How does it work? What are the best strategies?
Use of the Internet networks, social networks, and mobile in 2021
Facebook as a source of distribution of content and remote communication
Training of professionals toward their audiences for social media platforms
Facebook: A place of digital socialization among top social media sites
The place of social networks in journalistic information
The positive aspects of the Internet and social networks
Increasing impact and importance of social media networks
The future of social media: Would Facebook remain a monopoly?
The negative aspects of social media sites and the internet
Instagram vs. Facebook: A complete research on features. Which is better?
The rise in popularity of TikTok
Role of social media politics in the society

Social Media Platforms Research Topics Related Journalism

Social media and journalism go side by side. How can it be? Well, these research topics for social media research papers will give you an idea:

News and citizenship in the digital age
Mutations in journalism in the digital age
What is multimedia journalism? How can social media be a part of it?
Rise of influence of journalists with social media sites
Do we still need journalists in the time of social media sites?
What role can social media sites play in overcoming the impact of toxic journalism?
How to deal with the swarming misinformation on social media?

Social Media Research Topics For Psychology

Social media research can be written for many psychological research topics as well.

Temptations of Social Media and its effects on marriages
Is social media leading spouses to infidelity?
The Internet is a free universe without any control. How to make your mental health a priority in the social media dilemma?
Social media addiction and its impact on mental health
Has social media increased the cases of mental health problems? Prove write or wrong with analytics and data.
How Social Media is isolating children from parents and teachers
The psychology behind social media addiction
The positive aspects of the Internet and social networks on mental health
Do you think that the Internet, in general, and social networks pose Psychological risks for an individual?
How social media is affecting family mental health
Mental health problems in adolescents caused by Social Media
Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness in people who spend 3-6 hours a day on Social Media
Best and safest social media websites
The dangers of social media addiction to mental health
Isolation and radicalization are rising because of Social Media
How social media is different than mass media?
Nazi and fascist presence on social media: Campaigns against minority
The psychology behind online hate speech and bullying
Can social media lead to lower self-esteem?

Social Behavior And Social Media Research Topics

Social media has been a significant impact on our social behavior. Writing a research paper on this topic could do wonders. Let’s explore more on that.

The benefits of social networks in social lives
Why do young people use social networks?
How people’s behavior differs on multiple social media websites
Behavior of people who have been victims of cyberbullying on social networks
The social response to cyberbullying and online harassment through social networks
An examination of the mental health implications of social networks
What is the impact of Social Media on our happiness?
As a result of social media, we need more time to concentrate.
As a result of the extensive use of social media, we experience a decline in the quality of our sleep.
The adverse effects of Instagram and Snapchat on our self-esteem and self-confidence
As a result of social media, people are more likely to experience depression, loneliness, and isolation.
Virtual worlds pose a threat to our brains because of the overload of information they provide
What are the chances of social networks improving for us in the future?
Which social networks are trustworthy, and which are untrustworthy?
How much time do we spend on social media, and is it bad for us?

Social Media Research Topics Related To Activism

Be it social work topics or activism themes, you can see that social media papers has helped us in more than one way.
Respect for freedom of expression
The wave of publications of feminist works powered and empowered by social Media.
Social Media is the origin of vast protest movements.
Role of social media in Arab Spring
How Wael Ghonim changed the fate of Egypt with the help of Social media?
Conduct relevant campaigns based on an analysis of digital news
A campaign that conveys solid values and convictions is an activist marketing campaign.
Activists can use social platforms as practical tools.
Increasingly engaged social media users can spread moral messages more widely.
As fake news becomes more prevalent, activism becomes more critical.
Youth of Generation Z: more aggressive than ever? In what ways does online aggression originate?
How social media creates more opportunities for marginalized societies
Managing a positive social media political campaign
The most effective way to be a better ally for people of color
What role does body diversity play outside of fashion?
Even though sexual racism affects everyone, it is a phenomenon that must be addressed

Social Media Research Topics On Cyber Security and Privacy

Security and privacy are now a fundamental human rights in the virtual world. You can contribute by writing a thesis for your research paper to promote online security awareness.

Security regulation of social networks
The essential protection of Internet users and social cohesion
Security risks involved in using social networks like Facebook
Can terrorists use social media to provoke violence? How can we deal with it?
The morality of social networks, sensitivity, and responsibility
Bullying and Harassment in social mass media
How to get over the social media addiction
How to promote cyber security?
Professional and private life: How to maintain family safety on Social Media
How social media poses a threat to family privacy and security
Barriers between professional and private life diminishing with social networks
How secure privacy settings on social media are?
Is social media impenetrable for hackers? The hanging sword of data leaks
GBWhatsApp Data Leaks: A study on insecure methods leading to harmful privacy dangers
Cybercrimes on social media: Identity theft

Social Media Criminology Research Papers Topics

Cybercrime is one of the most talked about issues among criminal justice research topics . Here are some of the most critical topics for social media criminology:

How to report and prosecute cyberbullying in Social Media
Using social networks to process information
Advertising on YouTube is a popular method of cybercrime
Using automatic publication functions on certain sites and forums for malicious purposes
In the age of cybercrime, Twitter has become the preferred platform for advertising
Cybercrime can be dealt with by acquiring both human and technical skills
Definition, characteristics, and types of Social Media
The Characteristics, Motivations, and Strategies of Cybercrime from a Criminological Perspective
What are the forms of cyberbullying on social media and what can be done to prevent it?
Defamation, the most common cybercrime handled by law enforcement
Facebook and social media users should be aware of cybercrime and hoax information
Cases of child prostitution on social media during the lead-up to elections
Using Social media is dangerous because of hoaxes and low trust
The use of information technology facilities as a means of committing crime
Using social media to commit cybercrime is common
Fraud Committed Through Social Media in Online Shops
Child pornography and pedophilia: The Darkside of Social Media
How can we control and put a stop to the rise of cyberbullying against children on social media ?

Read More: High School Research Paper Topics

University Social Media Research Paper Topics

Whether you’re writing for a university or researching for high school research topics, you can always talk about social media. Won’t you love to write something about one of the favorite parts of your life, that is social media?

The uses of digital social networks in the context of socio-educational support
The contributions of social network analysis to the management of communities
Social Media is a useful tool for evaluating and improving the functioning of piloted communities
How can students deal with social media addiction?
Innovation and social networks: new sociabilities for another sociality
Creating a Science of the network through social media: A Case Study
The social network as a space of hodological individuation
Learning through social networks. How has social media presence helped adapt to changes after COVID?
Role of Social Media in the time of the Coronavirus Pandemic

Read More: Political Science Research Topics

Social Media Marketing Research Paper Topics

Next to business research topics , most of the orders we receive are for social media marketing research. You would like some of the following examples for sure when writing for a social media research topic:

The different types of advertisements used on social networks
The presence of companies on social networks in the era of digitalization
How to counter competition on social networks?
How to deal with negative social media effect on your business
Why is it essential to be able to stand out from others, and how to achieve this?
How can such a social media marketing strategy have a lasting impact on a company’s reputation on the Internet?
How does influencer marketing add value to brands?
How the influencers have formed and transformed the modern market for gen-z entrepreneurs?
Social media vs. mass media: Pros and cons for each of them
Building your audience based on tweets, occupation, interests, and location
How to define and manage audiences when working on social media marketing?
How can social media insights keep you updated with modern trends?
How to establish your analytical milestones while working with social media?
How has Google Trends helped a business into a global transformation? A Case study
Beating the boundaries with social media platforms. The global business boost on Facebook marketing
Competition and social networks: how do companies stand out?
How do companies choose the advertising method that suits them best?
How has digitization made the use of the internet essential for the success of a company?

Social Media transformed our lives into something amazing. However, everything comes at a price. Regardless, of whatever aspects of social Media you are looking for, we are sure that you will find them in our social media research topics. If you need any further help, you can talk to us through Paper Perk contact page. We can help you with finding your research topics , or any research help that you need.

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193 Great Social Media Research Topics For Successful Paper

Social media sites are those that facilitate the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through virtual networks or communities. Social media is internet-based and gives users effective electronic communication of content. On social media sites, you can send messages, images, documents, videos, or other forms of data. The various large social media networks include; Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.

Characteristics of a Good Social Media Research Paper

To write a good social media research paper, follow this procedure:

Check The Instructions: Check the instructions on what is required. You also need to consult the professor to know what is expected. This will help you to choose the right topic that will lead to a proper research paper. You can check whether the essay needs to be persuasive, engaging, or argumentative.
Choose A Topic: Choose a topic that is not too complex. Additionally, it should be something that you are passionate about. Browse various sample papers online to know the best topic to use.
Research Well: Once you choose a topic and seek approval from your professor, you now need to do proper research. You can use scholarly articles, documentaries, films, and other data to find the relevant needed information.
Draft It Out: Write out the key points and know how the introduction body and conclusion will be. If doing a project, thesis, or dissertation, write a great abstract. The draft should contain all the relevant information. Remember to write titles that correspond to the main points.
Write The Final Paper: Once you are done, write the final paper and proofread to ensure that everything you’ve written is as it should be.

Social Media Research Topics

Social media is a great place to interact with friends, colleagues, family, bloggers, and even celebrities. They make the world seem a bit smaller with the amount of information you can get from it.

The factors that lead to the growth of social media sites.
Evaluate how social media fuels rebellion among teenagers.
How are social network websites used for political affairs?
The best ways to deal with children’s addiction in social sites.
How can social media sites be used during certain country disasters?
Evaluate how data protection is done on social media sites.
In your own opinion, do you think there should be an age restriction on the use of social networks?
Evaluate the various reasons that companies are opting to advertise more on Facebook.
The major factors that lead to the popularity of social media sites like Instagram.
Evaluate the growth of social media in the past 10 years – what has changed?
Is there a relationship between social media and mental problems?
Discuss how the major changes that have occurred in communication are due to social media sites.
Evaluate the evolution of Twitter from its inception to date.
The best tactics to build a strong social media presence.

Social Media Research Questions

Did you know that social media sites can play with the psychology of a teen? They will see society differently than they were used to.

Which are the best ways to monitor children’s access to social media platforms?
Among all the social media platforms, which is the best to use when starting a business?
Which are the positive and negative effects of using social media sites?
How do social networks make people commit suicide?
Which are the negative effects of children using social media sites?
How can addiction to social media occur? The best methods to use to curb it.
Which are the advantages and disadvantages of parents monitoring their children’s social media presence?
How do social media networks help whenever there is a disaster?
How effective is Twitter when providing some information globally?
Do you think that social media connects and disconnects people equally?
How do social media networks facilitate kidnapping and assaults?
How effective is the social media network when providing good PR?
How effective is data protection on the internet?
Is it safe to do a job on any of the social media platforms?

Research Papers On Social Media

Have you ever come across a social media political campaign? Well, yes, there are social media politics. A couple of politicians have gained popularity through social media exposure.

Evaluate the changes that have occurred in human values after social media prevalence.
Should there be a restriction on social media activities for both adults and children?
Does social media enhance or prevent stereotyping?
The best way to recognize valid advertisements and spam.
The best way social media can help to stop racism.
The effects of online games.
The negative effects of social media on crime cases.
The best way to manage social media pressure among celebrities globally.
How do social media sites boost personal branding?
The positive effects of social media on improving the corporate image.
How does influence marketing help in boosting businesses?
The influence of chatbots in boosting communication in companies.
The best strategies to use to create a strong online presence.
Evaluate the evolution of social media.

Interesting Social Media Research Topic

There is a close relationship between social media and relationships. This is because it plays a major role in how people relate. This is in families, couples, friends, and colleagues.

The power of online communities.
The impact of business branding in increasing sales.
The major roles of images in boosting online communication.
The best methods to use to monitor kids’ activities on social media.
Social empowerment on the use of social media sites.
The impact of social media in boosting spirituality in individuals.
The major impacts of social media on job creation.
The effects of cybercrime on different individuals.
How do social media relationships occur?
The safety of social media relationships in the modern age.
The importance of social media in new products marketing.
How does social media help in marketing?
The negative and positive impacts of social media in religious missions.
The role of social media in breaking news to the public.

Social Media Research Papers

Of late many people have been indulging in the social media business. This is because of its diversity. There is a lot of areas that still require exploration in the digital world.

Evaluate the impact of social media on modern times.
The effectiveness of government communication through social media.
How has social media influenced education?
The impact of social media in journalism.
The effectiveness of mobile technology in marketing.
The various regulations put in place for online activities.
The most effective email marketing strategies.
How is social media being used to boost food security?
How does social media affect the behaviors of children at school and home?
The global regulations on online activities.
The various online marketing modes used by various social media marketers.
The best way to use social media networks to boost your content visibility.
How can startups use social media to boost their customer service experience?
Do you think information overload influences our health?

Research Topic On Social Media

These are some of the best media topics. You can also find some multimedia topics that you can use for your research paper. Digital media is interesting and you get a lot of information from it.

Evaluate business growth in the past and present due to social media networks.
How does social media help us to find inspiration?
The amount of time to use when using social media sites.
Why do you think people always crave likes on social media sites?
Why do you think people are often aggressive when using social media sites?
Why do you think cyberbullying is rampant on social media?
What do you think makes marketing great on social media?
Has social media influenced what is considered beautiful and what is not?
The best way to depoliticize is through social media.
The best ways to interact positively with people through social media.
Do you think it is effective to find a relationship partner through social media?
It is recommended for employers to always check the social media accounts of their employees?
Do you think it is wise to check a candidate’s social media presence before hiring?
The best way to boost your social media presence as a brand ambassador.

Informative Research Questions On Social Media

Are you looking for good and interesting research questions on social media? Look no further! You can start with these. Also, remember to do thorough research to meet the end goal.

Which are the lessons gotten from social media network usage?
The only time when children should be allowed to use social sites.
The best way to raise funds for sick people using social media.
The best ways social media can be used for acts of mercy.
How social media is a new culture.
Do you think social media makes us accept violence easily?
How do you think social media sites are used to plan crimes?
The relation between social media and violence.
The relation between social media and culture.
The most popular kinds of posts on social media sites.
The influence of Instagram on women.
The best way to find your perfect target audience.
How are social media sites used to unite human beings?

Best Social Media Paper Ideas

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Why do some accounts gain more followers than others?
How businesses can use social media in client service development?
The best methods to stop cyberbullying on social media sites.
Do you think it is recommended to trust bloggers’ views before making a purchase?
How have social sites become a platform for new business destinies?
The best methods to use to become a celebrity on media sites.
Should teachers keep their accounts closed to prevent students from knowing them?
The various professions emerged due to the developing of social media.
How to find your perfect social media audience.
Customer engagement on social media platforms.
The best way social media can be used is to make students more aware of their surroundings.
How can social media be used to track a lost person?
The use of mass media on the development of the education system.
Why do you think people love reading gossip on various social media sites?

Argumentative Research Topics About Social Media

These research topics about social media will make you think deeper and see the online world differently. Through research, you will also learn why the” future is digital.”

How do social media sites help in enriching students with presentation skills?
The best way social media can be used to educate students on real-life scenarios.
The best way to reduce theft on social media sites.
The best way to crowdsource different people to achieve something,
How do social media sites invade people’s privacy?
Which should be an age limit for using certain social media sites?
The best way to learn through social media.
The policies and regulations needed for social media usage.
The effectiveness of social media sites during elections
How has social media led to family breakups?
How easy is it to get information online?
Evaluate all the Twitter limitations.
How do people fake it on social media?
Evaluate how to make the online space safe.

Amazing Social Media Paper Topics

As a student, you need to strive to achieve diligently in your course units. Here are some amazing topics that you can use.

The amount of bandwidth used when using social media.
The negative effects of joining social media platforms when too young.
The network connectivity issues that occur on social sites.
The best legislations that can be put in place for social media
The best way to earn through online games.
The effectiveness of digital dating sites on boosting relationships.
Data protection policies on social media sites.
The best way start-ups can use to boost their companies online.
Do you think social media networks are increasing suicide cases?
The best way to gain followers on Twitter.
The various causes of addiction on social media.
The best way to reduce addiction to social media among the youth.
The best way to improve social sites for all ages.
The various ways Twitter has been used to save lives

Engaging Social Networks Topics

Social media emerged as a way to interact with family and friends. However, with time, businesses started to take advantage of the popular new communication method.

The diverse relation between social sites and religion.
Is it ethical to monitor your employee’s social networks?
The various modes being used to improve interaction online.
Is parent-child protection necessary while online to prevent bullying?
The dangers of posting pictures online.
Evaluate how social media is disconnecting people?
The censorship policies that are being put in place for mass media.
The mass media bias during elections.
How does cyberbullying occur online?
The business of mass media during elections in different regions of the world.
The various important mass media ethics.
Evaluate phone journalism
How are images important when giving a story on social media sites?
The interrelation between politics and media.
The history of mass communication

Unique Social Networking Topics

Social media sites have made it easier to get real-time information fast. Additionally, you get to learn about the latest trends and technologies.

The impact of fake news on modern society.
How does accreditation of journalists occur online?
Evaluate the currency of news.
The advantages and disadvantages of mass communication.
The relation between mental illnesses and social media
The relation between media, ethics, and public relation.
The relation between media, fashion, and aesthetics.
The positive and negative effects of media cliché.
How can media be used as an instrument of propaganda?
The relation between terrorism and media.
The common major media industries.
The movement rules and politics about media.
The relation between reality shows, privacy, and ethics
How does media get information overloading?
How are social media sites making us lonely?

Social Media Research Paper Thesis

Social media marketing has grown over time and is slowly gaining popularity. These are some of the best social media research papers that you can use for your thesis.

The best way to protect children online.
Evaluate the world-famous influencers on social media.
The effect of social media on our relationships.
Evaluate addiction in social media in different age groups.
How does social media use lead to anxiety?
The negative and positive effects of social media on the youth.
The importance of social media presence on recruitment.
The real value of social media
The effects of social media on human beings.

Trying To Finish Your Social Media Paper?

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The Top 10 Most Interesting Social Media Research Topics

Finding social media research topics you’re interested in is tricky. Social media is a fairly new field, and the constant arrival of new technology means that it’s always evolving. So, students have a lot to think about in their search for topics.

In this article, we’re going to walk you through social media research paper topics that are timely and relevant. We’ll also show you examples of social media research topics you can get inspiration from. Lastly, we’re going to lay out some social media research questions you can ponder while formulating your topic.

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What makes a strong social media research topic.

A strong social media research topic requires clarity of focus. This means that your topic must be timely, relevant, and coherent. This allows your research topic to be compelling and easily understandable to others.

Tips for Choosing a Social Media Research Topic

Know the trends. Learning what social media topics are trending allows you to know the relevant issues and emergent themes in the field of social media. This also lets you know what topics are well-researched and which ones are still emerging.
Explore knowledge gaps. Knowing what previous researchers have written prevents you from repeating knowledge that has already been explored and shared. Nobody wants to reinvent the wheel when doing research. Exploring knowledge gaps lets you increase the impact of your work and identify opportunities for further research.
Choose something that you’re interested in. Diving deep into a topic that you’re interested in motivates you to learn more about it. The research process becomes more engaging when you know you care about your topic.
Be specific. Knowing what you want to research and what you don’t want to research are keys to the research process. This entails narrowing down your topic to a specific area, subject, theme, or relationship. You want to know the scope and the limitations of your study.
Check your timeframe. Limiting your topic to a specific timeframe helps in narrowing down what you need to study. For example, you can decide to study a phenomenon that has emerged in just the last three years. By doing this, you’re making sure that your research is both specific and relevant.

What’s the Difference Between a Research Topic and a Research Question?

The difference between a research topic and a research question is in the scope. Research topics tend to be broader than research questions. Research topics focus on a specific area of study within a larger field, while a research question further narrows down what you are researching. A good research question allows you to write on your topic with greater precision.

How to Create Strong Social Media Research Questions

The key to creating strong social media research questions is learning enough about your topic to know where the gaps are. This means that you have to conduct a thorough social media literature review, reading previous studies until you have a handle on what’s been said and what questions are still unanswered. Your question will emerge from this preliminary research.

2. The Influence of Social Media on Mental Health

Mental health has been an important topic in social media research these past few years. Social media use and its connection to mental health has even been the subject of systematic reviews. This means that there’s a huge body of previous studies that you can look to when developing your research question.

Exploring both the positive effects and negative impacts of social media sites on mental health helps people and firms establish guidelines that help user communities. This research topic might also cover strategies for helping social media users improve their mental health.

3. The Role of Social Media in Political Campaigning

Social media is a new tool for political campaigning. Exploring what social media strategies have been conducted by politicians running for office helps in determining how social media aids in political campaigning. Studying new strategies like user-generated content for political campaigning allows you to know how voters interact with political candidates.

4. The Role of Social Media in Disinformation

The rise of fake news has coincided with the rise of social networking websites. This topic involves dissecting how social media technologies allow certain types of online content to thrive and make it easier for bad actors to spread disinformation.

5. How Social Media Can Benefit Communities

More and more social issues have been popularized through online content. Diving deep into how social media can facilitate organizational networking lets you compare the traditional and new organizing strategies being created in digital spaces. It also lets you understand how social media activity influences trends in virtual communities.

6. The Effects of Social Media Exposure on Child Development

Children also use social media sites. Some children use social networking sites under the supervision of their parents, and some do not. Social interaction, online or not, affects how children develop. Studying the psychological effects of social media exposure lets you know how social media may improve or derail the growth of children.

7. How Communication Has Evolved Through Social Media

Body language, tone of voice, and other non-verbal cues are absent in online forms of communication. In their place, emojis and other new ways to express thoughts and emotions have appeared. Learning how social media changes the way we talk to one another allows you to develop a theory of communication that takes into account the role of digital communities.

8. Social Media Platforms as Primary News Sources

A lot of people now are getting their daily dose of news and current events through social media. News networks have also established their social media presence on platforms that they can use to deliver news and current events to their audiences. Researching this topic lets you investigate the changes and innovations in information dissemination.

9. How Social Media Paves Way for Non-Traditional Advertising

Regular social media posts, advertisements, and other forms of online content aren’t the only ways businesses market to their audiences. Social media has paved the way for user-generated content and other non-traditional types of online marketing. With this topic, you can learn social media marketing strategies that have been capitalized on the social connection fostered by social networking websites.

10. Impacts of Social Media Presence on Corporate Image

More businesses increasingly build and curate their digital presence through various social networks. Knowing how a business can improve its corporate image through social media influence clarifies the role of technology in modern economics and online marketing.

Social Media Research Questions

How was Facebook used as a political campaigning tool in the 2020 United States presidential election?
What social platforms are the most effective in influencing consumer behavior?
How does user-generated content boost the credibility of a business?
How do different types of online content disseminated through popular networks affect the attention span of people?
What are the most effective forms of online content and social media strategies for increasing sales conversions for small businesses?

Choosing the Right Social Media Research Topic

Choosing the right social media research topic helps you create meaningful contributions to the discipline of social media studies. Knowing the most popular topics in the field can make you an expert on social media. By reading up on previous studies, you will not only be more informed but you will also be in a position to make a positive impact on future studies.

Studying the relationship between social media and different fields produces valuable knowledge. Even if you’re only interested in exploring one social platform or a single social media event or phenomenon, your research can help people better understand how social media engagement changes the face of social relationships in the world at large.

Social Media Research Topics FAQ

Social media is a computer-based technology that allows digital communities to exchange information through user networks. Various social media networks specialize in text, photo, or video transfer. All of these are ways for people on the Internet to share information and ideas with each other.

Social media research is important because it helps you contribute to the growing body of knowledge about digital social settings. In 2021, according to DataReportal, at least 4.88 billion people around the world use the Internet . The more that people connect with each other through the social media domain, the more their quality of life changes, for better or worse.

According to Statista, the most popular social media platforms right now are Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp , each of which has at least two billion users. These social networks allow users to share text, picture, and video content with one another.

People use social media to connect with each other, share information, and entertain themselves. Social media sites can broadly serve all of these purposes or be focused on just one of these functions.

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13 social media research topics to explore in 2024

Last updated

15 January 2024

Reviewed by

Miroslav Damyanov

To help you choose a specific area to examine, here are some of the top social media research topics that are relevant in 2024.

What makes a strong social media research topic?

Consider the factors below to ensure your topic is strong and compelling:

Clarity: regardless of the topic you investigate, clarity is essential. It ensures readers will be able to understand your work and any wider learnings. Your argument should be clear and your language unambiguous.

Trend relevancy: you need to know what’s currently happening in social media to draw relevant conclusions. Before choosing a topic, consider current popular platforms, trending content, and current use cases to ensure you understand social media as it is today.

New insights: if your research is to be new, innovative, and helpful for the wider population, it should cover areas that haven’t been studied before. Look into what’s already been thoroughly researched to help you uncover knowledge gaps that could be good focus areas.

Tips for choosing social media research topics

When considering social media research questions, it’s also important to consider whether you’re the right person to conduct that area of study. Your skills, interests, and time allocated will all impact your suitability.

Consider your skillset: your specific expertise is highly valuable when conducting research. Choosing a topic that aligns with your skills will help ensure you can add a thorough analysis and your own learnings.

Align with your interests: if you’re deeply interested in a topic, you’re much more likely to enjoy the process and dedicate the time it needs for a thorough analysis.

Consider your resources: the time you have available to complete the research, your allocated funds, and access to resources should all impact the research topic you choose.

13 social media research paper topics

To help you choose the right area of research, we’ve rounded up some of the most compelling topics within the sector. These ideas may also help you come up with your own.

1. The influence of social media on mental health

It’s well-documented that social media can impact mental health. For example, a significant amount of research has highlighted the link between social media and conditions like anxiety, depression, and stress—but there’s still more to uncover in this area.

There are high rates of mental illness worldwide, so there’s continual interest in ways to understand and mitigate it. Studies could focus on the following areas:

The reasons why social media can impact mental health

How social media can impact specific mental health conditions (you might also look at different age groups here)

How to reduce social media’s impact on mental health

2. The effects of social media exposure on child development

There are many unknowns with social media. More research is needed to understand how it impacts children. As such, this is a very valuable research area.

You might explore the following topics:

How social media impacts children at different ages

The long-term effects of childhood social media use

The benefits of social media use in children

How social media use impacts childhood socialization, communication, and learning

3. The role of social media in political campaigning

Social media’s role in political campaigning is nothing new. The Cambridge Analytica Scandal, for example, involved data from millions of Facebook profiles being sold to a third party for political advertising. Many believe this could have impacted the 2016 US election results. Ultimately, Facebook had to pay a private class-action lawsuit of $725 million.

The role of social media in political campaigns is of global significance. Concerns are still high that social media can play a negative role in elections due to the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and the bandwagon effect.

Research in this area could look into the following topics:

How people are influenced by social media when it comes to voting

Ways to mitigate misinformation

Election interference and how this can be prevented

4. The role of social media in misinformation and disinformation

Misinformation and disinformation mean slightly different things. Misinformation is unintentionally sharing false or inaccurate information, while disinformation is sharing false information with the deliberate intent to mislead people.

Both can play a role not just in elections but throughout social media. This became particularly problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research into this area is important given the widespread risk that comes with spreading false information about health and safety-related topics.

Here are some potential research areas:

How misinformation and disinformation are spread via social media

The impact of false information (you could focus on how it impacts health, for example)

Strategies for mitigating the impact of false information and encouraging critical thinking

The avenues through which to hold technology companies accountable for spreading misinformation

5. The impact of AI and deepfakes on social media

AI technology is expected to continue expanding in 2024. Some are concerned that this could impact social media. One concern is the potential for the widespread use of deepfake technology—a form of AI that uses deep learning to create fake images.

Fake images can be used to discredit, shame, and control others, so researchers need to deeply understand this area of technology. You might look into the following areas:

The potential impacts of deepfakes on businesses and their reputations

Deepfake identities on social media: privacy concerns and other risks

How deepfake images can be identified, controlled, and prevented

6. How social media can benefit communities

While there’s much research into the potential negative impacts of social media, it can also provide many benefits.

Social media can establish connections for those who might otherwise be isolated in the community. It can facilitate in-person gatherings and connect people who are physically separated, such as relatives who live in different countries. Social media can also provide critical information to communities quickly in the case of emergencies.

Research into the ways social media can provide these key benefits can make interesting topics. You could consider the following:

Which social media platforms offer the most benefits

How to better use social media to lean into these benefits

How new social platforms could connect us in more helpful ways

7. The psychology of social media

Social media psychology explores human behavior in relation to social media. There are a range of topics within social media psychology, including the following:

The influence of social media on social comparison

Addiction and psychological dependence on social media

How social media increases the risk of cyberbullying

How social media use impacts people’s attention spans

Social interactions and the impact on socialization

Persuasion and influence on social media

8. How communication has evolved through social media

Social media has provided endless ways for humans to connect and interact, so the ways we do this have evolved.

Most obviously, social media has provided ways to connect instantaneously via real-time messaging and communicate using multimedia formats, including text, images, emojis, video content, and audio.

This has made communication more accessible and seamless, especially given many people now own smartphones that can connect to social media apps from anywhere.

You might consider researching the following topics:

How social media has changed the way people communicate

The impacts of being continuously connected, both positive and negative

How communication may evolve in the future due to social media

9. Social media platforms as primary news sources

As social media use has become more widespread, many are accessing news information primarily from their newsfeeds. This can be particularly problematic, given that newsfeeds are personalized providing content to people based on their data.

This can cause people to live in echo chambers, where they are constantly targeted with content that aligns with their beliefs. This can cause people to become more entrenched in their way of thinking and more unable or unwilling to see other people’s opinions and points of view.

Research in this area could consider the following:

The challenges that arise from using social media platforms as a primary news source

The pros and cons of social media: does it encourage “soloization” or diverse perspectives?

How to prevent social media echo chambers from occurring

The impact of social media echo chambers on journalistic integrity

10. How social media is impacting modern journalism

News platforms typically rely on an advertising model where more clicks and views increase revenue. Since sensationalist stories can attract more clicks and shares on social media, modern journalism is evolving.

Journalists are often rewarded for writing clickbait headlines and content that’s more emotionally triggering (and therefore shareable).

Your research could cover the following areas:

How journalism is evolving due to social media

How to mitigate social media’s impact on neutral reporting

The importance of journalistic standards in the age of social media

11. The impact of social media on traditional advertising

Digital advertising is growing in popularity. Worldwide, ad spending on social media was expected to reach $207.1 billion in 2023 . Experts estimate that ad spending on mobile alone will reach $255.8 billion by 2028 . This move continues to impact traditional advertising, which takes place via channels like print, TV, and radio.

Most organizations consider their social strategy a critical aspect of their advertising program. Many exclusively advertise on social media—especially those with limited budgets.

Here are some interesting research topics in this areaThe impact of different advertising methods

Which social media advertising channels provide the highest return on investment (ROI)

The societal impacts of social media advertising

12. Impacts of social media presence on corporate image

Social media presence can provide companies with an opportunity to be visible and increase brand awareness. Social media also provides a key way to interact with customers.

More and more customers now expect businesses to be online. Research shows that 63% of customers expect companies to offer customer service via their social media channels, while a whopping 90% have connected with a brand or business through social media.

Research in this area could focus on the following topics:

The advantages and disadvantages of social media marketing for businesses

How social media can impact a business’s corporate image

How social media can boost customer experience and loyalty

13. How social media impacts data privacy

Using social media platforms is free for the most part, but users have to provide their personal data for the privilege. This means data collection, tracking, the potential for third parties to access that data, psychological profiling, geolocation, and tracking are all potential risks for users.

Data security and privacy are of increasing interest globally. Research within this area will likely be in high demand in 2024.

Here are some of the research topics you might want to consider in this area:

Common privacy concerns with social media use

Why is social media privacy important?

What can individuals do to protect their data when using social media?

The importance of social media research

As social media use continues to expand in the US and around the world, there’s continual interest in research on the topic. The research you conduct could positively impact many groups of people.

Topics can cover a broad range of areas. You might look at how social media can harm or benefit people, how social media can impact journalism, how platforms can impact young people, or the data privacy risks involved with social media use. The options are endless, and new research topics will present themselves as technology evolves.

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Social Media Research Paper Topics: 15+ Ideas to Get You Started

by Antony W

November 26, 2023

Has your professor asked you to write a research paper on social media but hasn’t given you a title to explore? This is your opportunity to choose a research topic that fascinates you.

Social media is a wide field that’s constantly evolving, and, as such, there’s no limit to what you can write. Just remember that you can only choose one topic, and you want to make sure you give title selection the first best shot.

Don’t worry if you have no topic idea surrounding the social media theme. We’ve put together a list of 50+ Social Media research paper topics to make the ideation stage easier for you.

Key Takeaways

A research paper topic that explores knowledge gaps in social media can earn you top grades. Such an approach allows you identify opportunities for future research.
You can choose a theme that focuses on the current trends in social media, so you can cover issues that emerge in the field.
Ensure the topic is interesting enough to cover. It’s easier to write about something you love that something you don’t.

If you already have a topic and you need writing help, you can hire a research writer at Help for Assessment at 15% discount. Our writers focus on in-depth research, custom writing, and timely delivery.

Social Media Research Paper Topics

The following is a list of social media research topic that may be worth investigating:

Political Campaign Topics

If you have logged on to Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn lately, it’s likely that you’ve seen and felt the political at atmosphere on these platforms. From media houses posting political issues on social to politicians actively participating on the platforms themselves, we can see a strong link between the government and social platforms.

Here are some interesting topics to cover if you wish to write a research paper in this area:

What transformations have occurred in political campaigns in the past two decades?
Is a transition to online voting a possibility in the near future?”
What are the adverse effects of political media campaigns?
Exploring the link between media campaigns and the propagation of stereotypes
Analyzing PR missteps in the promotion of political media campaigns
Effectiveness of online PR strategies during political campaigns
The pivotal role of social networks in shaping political landscapes
Examining political marketing research on politicians’ web platforms
Public discourse on the American political landscape through Twitter
Contrasting the impact of politics on social networks versus television

Social Media Topics Related to Mental Health

Spending too much time on social media can affect how we relate with people in real time. Such a phenomenon does have an effect on our social well-being, as well as mental health. Since mental health as it relates to social media is such an important issue, you can’t run out of topic ideas for your research project.

Here are some examples:

Understanding the influence of social media on mental well-being
Examining social media addiction to understand why people become hooked
Analyzing the relationship between loneliness and social networks
Addressing mental health disorder caused by social media
Online support communities for individuals with mental illness
Exploring the association between depression, anxiety, and Instagram/Facebook
Navigating the disconnection from reality caused by social media

Sociology Research Topics

Social media platforms contribute to the creation and development of the context of the present day culture. In fact, the internet has made it easy to find information about people and their relationships, all thanks to social media.

Here are some research topics to cover in this division:

Discovering strategies to reach diverse age groups
Evaluating the efficacy and skepticism surrounding learning networks
Unraveling the loneliness phenomenon in online networks
The growing dependency on social networks
Examining the impact of romantic narratives on relationship expectations
The feasibility of conducting web-based sample surveys

Social Media Research Topics on Teens

We’re living in strange times when teens want to act and feel like adults. They don’t want their access to social media restricted and they tend to feel somewhat intimidated if parents try to control their exposure to social networks.

The link between social media and teenagers, as well as how it affects parent-children social life are interesting enough to investigate.

Here are some topics worth exploring:

The impact of social networks on adolescent rebellion
Online networks and their influence on youth development
Examining Instagram, TikTok, and social media addiction
Media’s influence on the moral development of teens
Pros and cons of early engagement with online networks
Comparing social networks to academic resources for teenagers

Interesting Topics on Narcissism

Narcissism is a sensitive and equally controversial subject. The excessive interest admiration and interest in oneself has created a social media buzz. Anyone with this kind of virtue is chasing the numbers, and of course, there are psychological effects linked to this.

Undoubtedly, narcissism in relation to social media is such an interesting area to research. So here are some topic ideas to get you started:

Why do online platforms encourage individuals to seek approval from their followers?
How does concealing the count of likes impact users on Instagram?
Nurturing a positive self-image during a digital detox
Is it possible to succeed as a blogger without narcissism?
Adolescents on the internet: Balancing narcissism and self-doubt

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About the author

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

43+ Latest Social Media Research Topics for College Students

Post author By Ankit
February 7, 2024

Did you know that over 4.5 billion people actively use social media worldwide? That’s like half of the entire world’s people! With billions logging on daily, social media has changed how we communicate. As college students living in this digital time, we must know how platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram shape society.

Studying social media isn’t just about oversharing selfies – it helps us learn about human behavior, marketing techniques, cyberbullying, privacy issues, and more.

This blog shares the most exciting social media research topics for college students.

Table of Contents

Latest Social Media Research Topics For College Students

Check out the latest social media research topics for college students in tabular form.

Social Impact

1. Mental Health Awareness: Explore how social media can help spread understanding about mental health among teens. Look into campaigns and posts that help reduce stigma and offer support.

2. Activism Movements: See how social media helps people organize for causes they believe in. Look at examples of successful campaigns and the challenges activists face online.

3. Political Opinions: Study how social media affects young people’s political opinions. Look at how people only hear opinions they agree with and how false information spreads.

4. Community Building: Learn how social media helps different groups connect. Look at how these online groups offer support and share ideas.

5. Self-Esteem & Body Image: How social media affects teenagers’ feelings about themselves and their bodies. Explore how seeing idealized images can make people feel bad about themselves.

Also Read: 211+ Sociology Research Topics for College Students [2024]

Technical & Algorithmic Aspects

6. Content Algorithms: Understand how social media decides what to show you. Learn about the things that affect how posts appear in your feed.

7. Data Privacy: Explore how social media keeps your information safe. See how your data is collected, stored, and used for ads.

8. Artificial Intelligence: Learn how computers moderate what’s posted online. Look into how they can find and remove harmful content.

9. Personalized Advertising: See how ads on social media are tailored to you. Learn about how ads are based on what you’re interested in.

10. Misinformation Detection: Understand how social media tries to stop fake news. Learn how sites check if something is true before letting it spread.

Specific Platforms & Communities

11. TikTok Trends: Explore what’s popular on TikTok and how it spreads. Learn about the dances, challenges, jokes that get shared and discover strategies to boost your TikTok views .

12. Instagram Creativity: See how people express themselves on Instagram. Learn about the filters, tags, and stories they use.

13. Twitter Discourse: Learn about the conversations happening on Twitter. See how topics become trending and how people share their thoughts.

14. Reddit Subcultures: Explore the different groups on Reddit. Learn how people share interests and vote on what they like.

15. Facebook Groups: See how people connect on Facebook. Learn how groups help people talk about shared interests and issues.

Privacy & Security

16. Data Protection Laws: Understand laws that protect your personal information online.

17. Online Safety Tips: Learn how to stay safe from scams and cyberbullying on social media.

18. Two-Factor Authentication: Explore adding extra security to your social media accounts.

19. Privacy Settings: Understand how to control who sees your posts and information on social media.

20. Identity Theft Awareness: Learn the risks of sharing too much personal information online.

Education & Learning

21. Online Courses: Explore how social media platforms offer educational content and courses.

22. Study Groups: See how students use social media to collaborate and study together.

23. Learning Communities: Join online communities focused on specific subjects or skills.

24. Educational Resources: Find and share educational resources and materials on social media.

25. Teacher Collaboration: Explore how teachers use social media to connect and share teaching strategies.

Entertainment & Media

26. Fan Communities: Explore online communities dedicated to fandoms and fan culture.

27. Content Creation: Learn how people create and share content on platforms like YouTube and Twitch.

28. Livestreaming: Explore the world of live video streaming on platforms like Instagram Live and Facebook Live.

29. Viral Trends: Explore popular trends and challenges that go viral on social media.

30. Digital Art & Creativity: Discover how artists use social media to showcase their work and connect with fans.

Health & Wellness

31. Fitness Communities: Explore online communities focused on fitness and wellness.

32. Healthy Living Tips: Discover tips and advice for maintaining a healthy lifestyle shared on social media.

33. Mental Health Support: Find resources and communities that support mental health challenges.

34. Nutrition & Diet: Learn about nutrition and diet tips shared by health experts and influencers on social media.

35. Self-Care Practices: Explore self-care routines and practices individuals share on social media platforms.

Travel & Exploration

36. Travel Inspiration: Explore travel photos and stories travelers share on social media.

37. Travel Planning Tips: Discover tips and advice for planning trips shared by travel influencers.

38. Destination Guides: Find and share destination guides and recommendations on social media.

39. Solo Travel Communities: Connect with other solo travelers and share experiences and tips.

40. Adventure Activities: Discover adventure activities and experiences thrill-seekers share on social media.

Fashion & Style

41. Fashion Trends: Explore the latest fashion trends and styles showcased on social media platforms.

42. Style Tips: Discover styling tips and advice fashion influencers and bloggers share.

43. DIY Fashion: Learn how to create your fashion pieces through DIY tutorials shared on social media.

44. Fashion Communities: Connect with other fashion enthusiasts and share outfit ideas and inspirations.

45. Sustainable Fashion: Explore sustainable fashion practices and brands promoted on social media.

Career & Professional Development

46. Job Opportunities: Explore job postings and career opportunities shared on social media platforms like LinkedIn.

47. Networking Tips: Discover tips for networking and building professional connections on social media.

48. Resume Building: Learn how to create an effective resume and showcase your skills on social media profiles.

49. Interview Preparation: Find resources and advice for preparing for job interviews shared by career experts.

50. Freelancing Communities: Connect with other freelancers and share tips and advice for succeeding in the gig economy.

Hence, these are the trending Social Media Research Topics for College Students from which you can pick one.

Also Read: Top 11+ Career Benefits of Studying Abroad

How Do You Choose The Perfect Social Media Research Topics?

Social media is a significant aspect of our daily existence. There are so many exciting research topics for your college paper or project. Picking the right one can be tricky, but here is how to narrow it down.

1. Think About Your Interests

Start by brainstorming what social media platforms and topics interest you. Are you into Instagram trends? Facebook analytics? Snapchat filters? Knowing your interests will help you pick a topic you want to research and learn about.

2. Consider Current Events

Look at what’s happening right now in the social media world. Are people debating about privacy settings? Is a new platform getting popular? Current events and controversies make cool research topics.

3. Look for Gaps in Research

Search online to see what other studies have already been done. Then, you can find gaps where more research is needed. Filling those gaps by studying something new can lead to incredible discoveries.

4. Talk to Your Teacher

Your teacher will know good topics related to what you’re studying in class. See if they have suggestions based on what would work for the assignment. Their guidance can help narrow your choices.

5. Start Broad, Then Narrow Down

Begin with a broad subject like “Social Media and Culture,” then gradually narrow it down as you go. Add details about the specific platform, users, or effects you want to focus on for a defined topic.

6. Consider Your Research Method

Will you do surveys, interviews, observations, or experiments? Some topics work better with certain research methods. Think about how you’ll conduct the study when weighing your options.

7. Pick a Topic That’s Manageable

Make sure you pick a focused enough topic to research and reasonably write about within the time frame. A subject that’s too broad can be hard to tackle.

8. Write Down a List of Ideas

Keep a running list of all your potential topic ideas. Cross off the ones that don’t work. Circle your top choices. Taking notes helps to arrange your ideas.

9. Discuss Ideas with Classmates

Your classmates might have great suggestions you haven’t thought of. Or they can help you decide between topic options. Talking it through can give you a fresh perspective.

10. Don’t Forget About Your Passion!

Most importantly, choose a topic that you genuinely care about and excites you. Your enthusiasm will motivate you through the research process.

Hopefully, these tips will make it easier to pick the perfect social media research topic for your project.

What Makes A Perfect Social Media Research Topic?

Take into account the following factors to make sure your topic is powerful and exciting:

First, your topic should be super easy to understand so people understand what you’re discussing. Choose something that’s not confusing or vague.

Trend Relevancy

Second, it should relate to what’s happening now with social media and not be about old platforms or trends no one cares about anymore. Look at what sites and apps are popular today to pick a topic that matters.

New Insights

Finally, your research should uncover stuff people don’t already know. If there’s already a ton of studies on the same thing, it won’t be that interesting. Look for gaps in our knowledge so your work teaches us something new.

Researching social media is so essential for students today. We practically live our lives on sites like Instagram and TikTok. We could learn much about how social media impacts society, relationships, and mental health.

The possibilities are endless for research topics! Don’t be afraid to dive in and choose something you feel passionate about. Your research can create real change and impact. You have control over what happens next, so make it meaningful.

How does social media influence politics and democracy?

Social media enables the spread of misinformation, impacts voting, and polarizes political discourse.

How does social media affect body image and self-perception?

Social media imagery fosters unrealistic beauty standards, negative social comparisons, and poor body image.

What are the privacy risks of social media data mining?

User data collection raises issues around consent, transparency, profiling, and exploitation.

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Social media research paper topics are a safe bet for your research. Why? Try to remember any person who doesn't use any communication network. We are sure there are not many. Web platforms are now a part of our everyday life. No better key to successful writing than an interesting topic that you understand. Topics like "what are social networks?" will surprise no one anymore. In addition, it does not cause discussion, and you cannot lead to provocative arguments. So read on to find 60 great ideas to help you write paper with pleasure!

Social Media Research Topics: How to Choose

Probably every student will think about research topics on social media at least once. The quality of each work you submit will affect your GPA. Therefore, it can be difficult for inexperienced writers. But choosing topics is already a significant part of the work. Creative themes show how well you understand assignments and motivate you to explore. We will now tell you how you should approach choosing a topic for research on social networks.

First, read all the instructions to find out what the professor wants.
Then, make a possible topics list. Well, or read ones provided by us below.
Rate them carefully. Choose one that interests you the most. That is why we have divided them into categories. So, ready to jump into many different options for great themes?

In case you are looking for topics in other fields like history topics or sociology topics , read more of our blogs.

Sociology Research Topics on Social Media

Research paper topics on social media are directly related to sociology. This is a platform where the context of modern culture is created. You can get a lot of information about people and their relationships. For example, write about the family institution using mom bloggers. Describe how the media impact society, equality, minorities, stereotypes.

How to find an approach to target an audience of different ages?
Learning through networks: skepticism or effectiveness?
Why do networks make people feel lonely?
Dependence on social networks.
Influence of romantic plots on relationship expectations.
Blogging as a profession.
Culture of influencers.
What got on the Internet stays there forever.
Is it realistic to conduct a sample survey through web platforms?
Illusion of friendship in online networks.

Contact a research paper service by StudyCrumb should you need any help with writing your social media study. We host qualified writers competent in many fields, including social media. They can help you originate a top-notch paper within a stipulated deadline.

Social Media Political Campaign Research Paper Topics

Sounds strange, but research topics about social media can also relate to the government. Have you also noticed that more politicians are writing in the press in recent years? Now they are taking on an even more significant role in affairs of state. We find a lot of news on online media. Therefore, it is an excellent platform for promoting political campaigns. People trust television less and less. But on Instagram, a good post about a new candidate from the district will be eagerly liked. Basically, it serves as a plan for attracting extensive data.

How have political campaigns changed over the last 20 years?
Will we ever switch to online voting?
What are the negative consequences of political media campaigns?
Media campaigns and their connection with the spread of stereotypes.
Mistakes in PR in promoting political media campaigns.
Does PR work online during political campaigns?
Role of social networks in politics.
Political marketing research of web platforms of politicians.
People's discussion of the American political situation on Twitter.
Comparison of political influence on social networks and on television.

>> More ideas: Political Science Research Topics

Social Media Research Topics: For Teenagers

Social media teenagers' research topics are highly relevant nowadays. Children, especially teenagers, hate it when their parents control their life. They want to act like adults, feel independent, and have their own secrets. They look at influencers, imitate them, and fight for appreciation. But often, parents want to protect their children from this. In fact, the media can positively affect teens. They find friends there, develop themselves, stay abreast of trends. Many people exchange their experiences there, and some even earn money. But, on the other hand, we all know that there are negative aspects to networks. For example, how online media affects the mental health of a teenager. Or the fact that any information can be used against a child. In any case, you can find many interesting topics for your research in this area!

Social networks as a platform for teenage rebellion.
Contribution of online networks to development of modern youth.
Addiction to Instagram and Tiktok (or other social networks).
Escapism to virtual reality.
Influence of media on moral development of adolescents.
Active use of online networks at a young age: pros and cons.
Social networks versus scientific resources: where teenagers will get more information.
How to get a teenager off the phone?
Online media friendship standards in 2021.
Ways of earning a student on the Internet.

Need further assistance? Consider entrusting this tedious writing task to academic professionals. Buy research paper and have it completed by experts.

Good Research Topics for Social Media and Mental Health

We cannot forget about health in our good topics for a research paper about social media. Since people are social beings, we need communication with other people. Connecting with locals can relieve stress, anxiety, and sadness. And lack of communication can pose a severe mental health risk. But with online networks, everything is different. Since we spend too many hours on the Internet, it dramatically affects our well-being. Media has many positive and enjoyable benefits. But they also lead to mental health problems. Those addicted to web platforms are much more likely to suffer from mental diseases. This is an excellent field for your future research. We hope that one of our topics will definitely interest you.

How does social media affect mental health?
Why are people addicted to social networks?
Connection between social media and loneliness.
Popularization of psychology through media platforms.
Fear of loss as a problem of our time.
Raising the topic of mental illness in social networks.
Online forums for help of mentally ill people.
Link between depression and anxiety with Instagram and Facebook.
Consequences of cyberbullying for a child's psyche.
Loss of connection with the real world.

>> View more: Mental Health Research Paper Topics

Social Media Research Topics: For College

As a student, you're probably looking for some exciting social media research topics for college. This is expected since networks have a significant impact on our life in the 21st century. Therefore, your professors expect your demonstration of opinions on the media's effect. One way to be successful in writing is to choose a unique topic. But fortunately, we really spend a lot of time in interactive reality. Therefore, there are several relevant topics that we will share with you. Below you will find ideas to help you write your research paper without stress.

Growth of time: spent on social networks in a pandemic.
Changing marketing strategies with media promotion.
Connection between suicide and cyberbullying.
How can websites help you find a job?
Popular online marketing strategies.
Effective methods of personal data protection on the Internet.
Reasons for transition to digital marketing.
How can parents protect their children online?
Prohibitions of some social networks in different countries.
Importance of URL shorteners in creating appealing links for affiliate marketing.

Interesting Research Paper Topics on Social Media and Narcissism

The relationship between narcissism and web usage can be an exciting research topic on social media. What is meant by narcissism? A person's desire to exhibit even more detailed photographs and admire them. I think you may have seen unrealistically processed photos in your Instagram feed. People want more likes for their pictures and are constantly checking their numbers. They are more concerned with their appearance and brand than relationships and other people. Parents are worried about negatively influencing the growing generation. But on the other hand, researchers do not confirm the fact of narcissism and online media correlation. Therefore, choose one topic from the list below. And you will definitely open up a fascinating, multi-faceted discussion.

Why do online networks force a person to chase approval of followers?
What is the effect of hiding the number of likes on Instagram?
Bloggers as a bad example for teens.
Illusion of success in online space.
How to get rid of approval-seeking stalls?
Building healthy self-esteem in web platform detox.
Can you become a successful blogger without narcissism?
Narcissism versus self-doubt: two extremes of adolescents on the Internet.
Why do we want to follow famous personalities on the Internet?
Movement for popularization of naturalness in social networks.

Social Media Research Topics: Final Thoughts

Fact remains that we all use the Internet, so you need to research topics on social media. Someone is looking for helpful information. Someone is trying to socialize and find new friends. Someone will find out the latest and current news. Someone is trying to grow their business through online marketing. Even your parents have a Facebook account. Therefore, this topic is more popular and relevant than ever. Thus, your professors expect excellent and exciting work from you. Above, we have provided 60 intriguing ideas. Choose one that seems most relevant to you. And then suggest new ways to solve it. Support your beliefs with hard facts. And that's it, you already have a perfect paper!

You may not desire to search for a suitable topic or conduct research. Then our research writers will make it easy for you. We possess a lot of experience in solving such problems. Even if you need your custom research paper within a tight deadline, we can do it, too.

Joe Eckel is an expert on Dissertations writing. He makes sure that each student gets precious insights on composing A-grade academic writing.

Social Media Research Paper Topics: Frequently Asked Questions

1. what are some argumentative research paper topics about teen girls and social media.

Argumentative research paper topics about teen girls and social media are specific. They are usually most influenced by bloggers. It is caused by their unformed self-esteem. That's why they immediately try to be a popular cosmetic consumer. They try to imitate the behavior of their idols. During this period, online networks can influence their further formation. It all depends on which bloggers and public they follow. There are some ideas:

Negative and positive effects of social media on teen girls.
Influence of social media on teen girls.
Psychological effects of social media on youth.

2. What are some good research topics on social media?

Below you can find some more good research topics on social media. But in general, tolerable issues cover something we meet daily. It includes caring about health or solving life problems.

Growth of social media in the last 10 years.
Benefits of Facebook to youths in America.
Relationship between social media and increase in mental health problems.

3. What are some unique research paper topics on social media?

Looking for some genuinely unique research paper topics on social media? We got you! Explore social media through a communication angle. Spice it up with strong, preferably controversial arguments. And your professor will definitely highly appreciate work done. There are some ideas:

Changes in communication trends as a result of social media.
Benefits of the government monitoring people's activities on websites.
Tactics for building a solid social media presence.

4. What are some great social media research paper topics?

Great social media research paper topics always include socially forbidden issues. It's indecent to talk about them, but everyone wants to discuss it. We advise you to raise the subject of ethics. Well, or consider some famous scandal from politics or show business. There are some ideas that you can use:

Media, ethics, and PR.
Why do people prefer scandals in the media?
Social advertising: does it work?

Social media research: Step-by-step tutorial with examples

Introduction: What is social media research?
Step 1: Develop a research design
Step 2: Collect & import your social media data
Step 3: Data preparation

Step 4: Get an overview

Step 5: Categorize your data
Step 6: Aggregate & present your results

Further learning materials

Friday, January 5, 2024

How to conduct social media research with MAXQDA?

Social Media has drastically changed the way we communicate. Nowadays it’s a lot easier for an individual to communicate with a large audience or with strangers living on the other side of the planet, and to find and communicate with others researching similar topics. Companies, organizations, and political parties can target a specific group of people for their campaign and receive immediate feedback. So, it’s not a surprise that online communication has become more prevalent, which in turn has increased the significance of social media platforms.

Researchers and marketers alike benefit from the wealth of data available on social media platforms, gaining insights into the public’s opinions, communication patterns, and more. Social media research describes the process of collecting and analyzing social media data, such as posts, comments, and likes in order to understand communication patterns, public opinions, and trends.

Who conducts social media research?

Compared to other data collection instruments, such as focus group discussions, collecting social media data is less resource-intensive as the data is easily accessible. However, researchers are confronted with extensive data when performing social media research. Depending on the topic thousands and thousands of posts and comments exist. Consequently, social media researchers need QDA software that is well-equipped for challenges like these, such as MAXQDA. MAXQDA can facilitate your social media research with its numerous data organization and analysis tools. MAXQDA’s auto-coding and sentiment analysis are particularly useful tools, allowing you to explore many posts without reading each one individually. Furthermore, AI Assist, MAXQDA’s AI-based features, are well-suited to handle big data. In the present guide we aim to explain how you can perform social media research with MAXQDA.

Step 1: Develop a research design for social media research

As for any other research project, we advise you to develop a research design before starting your social media research. A research design serves as a structured plan outlining how a researcher intends to answer a specific research question. Determine the specific social media data you wish to analyze and define the precise methodology for your analysis. Among other considerations, ask yourself which social media platform(s) you want to consider, whether there is a time frame of interest; and if you plan to exclusively focus on social media posts containing particular hashtags or keywords. You must address these questions to develop a well-designed study that ensures reliable and valid results. We recommend reading our Research Design guide if you need clarification on what a research design entails.

Please note that the order of the steps presented here is flexible and depends on your research design and research question.

Step 2: Collect & import your social media data

With MAXQDA, you have several options for importing your social media data. On the one side, MAXQDA provides specialized import tools for YouTube comments and specialized analysis tools for YouTube data and X (formerly known as Twitter) data. Suppose you want to import and analyze data from a different social media platform. Then, you can either use MAXQDA’s WebCollector to collect and import entire webpages into MAXQDA or another social media data collection service, saving the data in a MAXQDA-compatible format, like an Excel file. There are several online tools for exporting social media data.

MAXQDA’s WebCollector

You can use MAXQDA’s WebCollector – a free Chrome Browser extension – to export entire websites in a format that can be imported into MAXQDA. The free MAXQDA WebCollector is availale on the Chrome WebStore.

Get the MAXQDA WebCollector

After installing the extension, export the webpage from your social media platform of interest. In the case of X (formerly known as Twitter) you have two options. You can either export only top-level posts or a specific top-level post, including all its replies. Search for a hashtag and export the search results, i.e., all posts containing this hashtag, by opening the WebCollector extension and clicking “Collect.” If you want, you can add notes in the Document Memo section, such as the time frame or other parameters of your search. Upon import into MAXQDA, these notes will be imported as a Document Memo.

Use the MAXQDA WebCollector to export social media data

In the case you are specifically interested in specific posts, e.g., posts from a certain account or posts with a lot of replies, click on the post so that the original post and all comments are displayed. Now, export the website with MAXQDA’s WebCollector to compile the original posts, including all replies.

Step 3: Social media research data preparation

Before starting the actual analysis, you might want to clean and organize your data in a meaningful way. For example, you could remove irrelevant and duplicate posts. You could also organize your data in document groups, e.g., based on the social media platform, a time range, a hashtag, or whatever category is important to your social media research.

Organize your data in Document groups

You may add variables to the imported social media data depending on your research design. For example, when investigating social media trends over time, it can be handy for further analysis to add variables such as the date and timing of the post. To do so, simply go to the “Variables” tab and click “List of Document Variables.” By clicking “New variable,” you can add new variables, specify their type, and define missing values.

Add document variables to improve your social media research

Depending on your research approach, you might benefit from an overview of the data before creating and applying codes, e.g., when following an inductive approach. In other cases, you might already have codes in mind and use them prior to summarizing the data, e.g., in deductive approaches.

When following an inductive approach, you might want to get a basic understanding of the collected social media data and base your codes on the actual content. MAXQDA offers numerous tools, allowing you to get a quick overview. Especially useful when working with big data, such as in social media research, are MAXQDA’s auto-coding and AI-based tools.

Summarize social media data with AI Assist

We acknowledge that AI can assist researchers in qualitative data analysis as well as in other areas of life. Therefore, we developed the AI Assist add-on – your virtual research assistant. AI Assist features several tools that can facilitate your social media research. AI Assist’s Summarize Document function is handy for a quick content overview. This feature creates a summary of entire documents, e.g., of a post and its replies, which it stores in Document Memos. To let AI Assist summarize your document, right-click on it in the Documents window, and choose AI Assist > Summarize Document. You can edit and refine the summary within the Document Memo. These summaries might help you get an idea about the key points discussed and develop codes accordingly.

With AI-generated summaries you can speed up your social media research

Automatically analyze the public’s sentiment

Often, people performing social media research are not interested in every single opinion of every single individual but in the general sentiment towards a topic, politician, issue, or product. With MAXQDA, you can perform a sentiment analysis in no time. To perform a sentiment analysis, open the Smart Coding Tool in the Codes tab. Since the Smart Coding tool works on the level of coded segments, you need to dummy-code your data prior to the sentiment analysis. When importing YouTube comments, comments and replies are automatically coded. However, when importing data through other means, such as via the WebCollector, you may want to manually create the codes ‘post’ and ‘reply’ to quickly code your data. Subsequently, you can perform automatic sentiment analysis by clicking on the button “Analyze Sentiments.” To autocode your social media data with the respective sentiment, click “Autocode Segments with Sentiment.” Then, MAXQDA creates the code ‘Sentiment’ with the identified sentiments as subcodes. By looking at the code frequencies you get a first impression of the general public sentiment.

Autocode the sentiment of your social media data

Subsequently, you can use MAXQDA’s retrieval function to, e.g., focus your social media research on negative posts. To do so, simply activate the documents of interest and the code ‘Sentiment’ > ‘Negative’. All text segments coded with this code will be displayed in the Retrieved Segments window. If you plan to create subcodes, for example to divide the negative sentiment into reasons why people dislike your product, you can again use the Smart Coding tool. Select the code ‘Negative’ from the Code tree on the left site and MAXQDA will display only the segments with a negative sentiment to which you can apply additional codes.

Summarize coded segments with AI Assist

Rather than going through the ‘Negative’ posts individually, you can again use the power of artificial intelligence to create a summary of the coded segments. To do so, right-click the code ‘Negative’ in the Codes window and select AI Assist > Summarize coded segments. Similarly, to the Summarize Document feature, AI Assist will add the summary in a memo.

Step 5: Categorize your social media research data

In many qualitative research projects, including social media research, coding/categorizing your data is an important step. When working inductively, the AI-generated summaries might provide initial ideas for codes. When working deductively, you probably already have codes in mind. With MAXQDA you can easily create codes, assign code colors, and define rules for coding in the New Code window regardless of your approach. Furthermore, you can organize your codes hierarchically. But there is more – MAXQDA allows you to create emoticodes which might come handy when analyzing social media data. For more information on various coding methods, you can refer to:

Learn more about coding with MAXQDA

Autocode your social media data

Especially useful for big data is MAXQDA’s Text Search & Autocode feature, which is located in the Analysis tab. This feature allows you to search for keywords and automatically code them. You can also use logical operators, such as OR, to search for a list of keywords simultaneously e.g., to find all synonyms of a word with just one search. If you are interested in certain concepts, you can create dictionaries of keywords defining the concept and search for multiple concepts at once (search for the whole dictionary). To do so, you first need to create a dictionary. Therefore, go to the MAXDictio tab and select Dictionaries.

Search & autocode important keywords for your social media research

Generate subcode suggestions with AI Assist

In the coding of qualitative data, researchers often start with broad codes, intending to refine them in a later step of the social media research. Alongside the Smart Coding Tool, which is ideal for code refinement, as explained earlier, AI Assist’s “Suggest Subcodes” is another valuable tool. You can use this feature to to get subcode suggestions. Simply, right-click on a code and select AI Assist > Subcode Suggestions.

Step 6: Aggregate & present your results

A crucial step involves consolidating your social media research results into a format that is easily understandable for others. For example, charts and visualisations can aggregate huge amount of data in an easily comprehensible graph that answers your research question. Of course, MAXQDA has integrated visualisation and charting tools. Some tools that might be especially useful for presenting social media data are presented in the following sections.

Word Cloud for visualizing the most frequent words

MAXQDA’s World Cloud, which can also be used with data that hasn’t been coded, is one of the most appropriate visualization tools in social media research. Select the document(s) that serve as the basis for your word cloud and generate a visual representation of the most recurring words. To exclude frequent, yet non-informative words such as ‘the’ or ‘a,’ you can apply a stop word list to the data, effectively filtering out these ubiquitous terms. We offer several Stop Word Lists in several languages on our website, so you don’t have to create one yourself.

Get Stop Word Lists

Word Cloud displaying the most frequent words of YouTube comments

Visualize trends

If your social media research analyzes a topic over time, the Trends function might also interest you. Currently, MAXQDA offers Word Trends, Code Trends, and Dictionary Categories Trends. To explore how code or word frequencies change across time, you should store your social media data in distinct documents – one document per time range. While Word Trends can be used even when the data is not coded, Code Trends requires coded data. No matter whether you are using Code or Word trends, select Trends for multiple documents. Then, select the documents (and codes) of interest and MAXQDA will visualize them. For example, you can use the Code Trends tool on auto-generated sentiment codes to investigate how sentiments towards a topic change over time.

Aside from analyzing trends across time, you can also use MAXQDA’s Trends tool to compare reactions, e.g., between different social media plattforms. To do this, you need to organize your data as follows: create a separate document for each social media plattform containing all posts of interest. Next, choose your preferred Trends tool and again choose trends for multiple documents. In case you are interested in how a discussion evolves in a comment section, given that the data is stored in one document, you can opt for the single document trends feature. MAXQDA splits the document in 10 segments, allowing you to see how word/code frequencies look across them.

Visualizing sentiment trends for #maxqda across weeks

Write your report with QTT

Questions-Themes-Theories (QTT) provides an innovative workspace for gathering important visualizations, notes, segments, and other analytical results. It is an excellent tool for organizing your thoughts and crafting your social media research report. To get started, create a dedicated worksheet for your topics and research questions, and populate it with pertinent analysis elements extracted from other MAXQDA functions. For example, you can incorporate your Trends visualization to a QTT worksheet by clicking on the button, as shown in the screenshot below. Exploratory coded segments related to a set of social media posts can be added to the QTT worksheet via the context menu. For each imported element you can add insights. Furthermore, you have the option to add your conclusions and theories, as well as your research design. Subsequently, you can view all analysis elements and insights to write your final conclusion. The new Questions-Themes-Theories tool is designed to assist you finalize your social media research. With just one click, you can export your worksheet and use it as a starting point for your social media research report.

Add a visualization to a QTT worksheet

We offer a variety of complimentary learning materials to help you get started with your social media research. Check out the recording of a spotlight session on analyzing social media data with MAXQDA which was held at the MAXDAYS conference in 2023. In addition, the free book “The Practice of Qualitative Data Analysis,” provides ten case studies with brief real-world examples, demonstrating MAXQDA’s practical applications.

Spotlight Session: Analyzing Social Media Data with MAXQDA

The Practice of Qualitative Data Analysis

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Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice

John a. naslund.

a Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Ameya Bondre

b CareNX Innovations, Mumbai, India

John Torous

c Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA

Kelly A. Aschbrenner

d Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH

Social media platforms are popular venues for sharing personal experiences, seeking information, and offering peer-to-peer support among individuals living with mental illness. With significant shortfalls in the availability, quality, and reach of evidence-based mental health services across the United States and globally, social media platforms may afford new opportunities to bridge this gap. However, caution is warranted, as numerous studies highlight risks of social media use for mental health. In this commentary, we consider the role of social media as a potentially viable intervention platform for offering support to persons with mental disorders, promoting engagement and retention in care, and enhancing existing mental health services. Specifically, we summarize current research on the use of social media among mental health service users, and early efforts using social media for the delivery of evidence-based programs. We also review the risks, potential harms, and necessary safety precautions with using social media for mental health. To conclude, we explore opportunities using data science and machine learning, for example by leveraging social media for detecting mental disorders and developing predictive models aimed at characterizing the aetiology and progression of mental disorders. These various efforts using social media, as summarized in this commentary, hold promise for improving the lives of individuals living with mental disorders.

Introduction

Social media has become a prominent fixture in the lives of many individuals facing the challenges of mental illness. Social media refers broadly to web and mobile platforms that allow individuals to connect with others within a virtual network (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, or LinkedIn), where they can share, co-create, or exchange various forms of digital content, including information, messages, photos, or videos ( Ahmed, Ahmad, Ahmad, & Zakaria, 2019 ). Studies have reported that individuals living with a range of mental disorders, including depression, psychotic disorders, or other severe mental illnesses, use social media platforms at comparable rates as the general population, with use ranging from about 70% among middle-age and older individuals, to upwards of 97% among younger individuals ( Aschbrenner, Naslund, Grinley, et al., 2018 ; M. L. Birnbaum, Rizvi, Correll, Kane, & Confino, 2017 ; Brunette et al., 2019 ; Naslund, Aschbrenner, & Bartels, 2016 ). Other exploratory studies have found that many of these individuals with mental illness appear to turn to social media to share their personal experiences, seek information about their mental health and treatment options, and give and receive support from others facing similar mental health challenges ( Bucci, Schwannauer, & Berry, 2019 ; Naslund, Aschbrenner, Marsch, & Bartels, 2016b ).

Across the United States and globally, very few people living with mental illness have access to adequate mental health services ( Patel et al., 2018 ). The wide reach and near ubiquitous use of social media platforms may afford novel opportunities to address these shortfalls in existing mental health care, by enhancing the quality, availability, and reach of services. Recent studies have explored patterns of social media use, impact of social media use on mental health and wellbeing, and the potential to leverage the popularity and interactive features of social media to enhance the delivery of interventions. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the risks and potential harms of social media for mental health ( Orben & Przybylski, 2019 ), and how best to weigh these concerns against potential benefits.

In this commentary, we summarized current research on the use of social media among individuals with mental illness, with consideration of the impact of social media on mental wellbeing, as well as early efforts using social media for delivery of evidence-based programs for addressing mental health problems. We searched for recent peer reviewed publications in Medline and Google Scholar using the search terms “mental health” or “mental illness” and “social media”, and searched the reference lists of recent reviews and other relevant studies. We reviewed the risks, potential harms, and necessary safety precautions with using social media for mental health. Overall, our goal was to consider the role of social media as a potentially viable intervention platform for offering support to persons with mental disorders, promoting engagement and retention in care, and enhancing existing mental health services, while balancing the need for safety. Given this broad objective, we did not perform a systematic search of the literature and we did not apply specific inclusion criteria based on study design or type of mental disorder.

Social Media Use and Mental Health

In 2020, there are an estimated 3.8 billion social media users worldwide, representing half the global population ( We Are Social, 2020 ). Recent studies have shown that individuals with mental disorders are increasingly gaining access to and using mobile devices, such as smartphones ( Firth et al., 2015 ; Glick, Druss, Pina, Lally, & Conde, 2016 ; Torous, Chan, et al., 2014 ; Torous, Friedman, & Keshavan, 2014 ). Similarly, there is mounting evidence showing high rates of social media use among individuals with mental disorders, including studies looking at engagement with these popular platforms across diverse settings and disorder types. Initial studies from 2015 found that nearly half of a sample of psychiatric patients were social media users, with greater use among younger individuals ( Trefflich, Kalckreuth, Mergl, & Rummel-Kluge, 2015 ), while 47% of inpatients and outpatients with schizophrenia reported using social media, of which 79% reported at least once-a-week usage of social media websites ( Miller, Stewart, Schrimsher, Peeples, & Buckley, 2015 ). Rates of social media use among psychiatric populations have increased in recent years, as reflected in a study with data from 2017 showing comparable rates of social media use (approximately 70%) among individuals with serious mental illness in treatment as compared to low-income groups from the general population ( Brunette et al., 2019 ).

Similarly, among individuals with serious mental illness receiving community-based mental health services, a recent study found equivalent rates of social media use as the general population, even exceeding 70% of participants ( Naslund, Aschbrenner, & Bartels, 2016 ). Comparable findings were demonstrated among middle-age and older individuals with mental illness accessing services at peer support agencies, where 72% of respondents reported using social media ( Aschbrenner, Naslund, Grinley, et al., 2018 ). Similar results, with 68% of those with first episode psychosis using social media daily were reported in another study ( Abdel-Baki, Lal, D.-Charron, Stip, & Kara, 2017 ).

Individuals who self-identified as having a schizophrenia spectrum disorder responded to a survey shared through the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), and reported that visiting social media sites was one of their most common activities when using digital devices, taking up roughly 2 hours each day ( Gay, Torous, Joseph, Pandya, & Duckworth, 2016 ). For adolescents and young adults ages 12 to 21 with psychotic disorders and mood disorders, over 97% reported using social media, with average use exceeding 2.5 hours per day ( M. L. Birnbaum et al., 2017 ). Similarly, in a sample of adolescents ages 13-18 recruited from community mental health centers, 98% reported using social media, with YouTube as the most popular platform, followed by Instagram and Snapchat ( Aschbrenner et al., 2019 ).

Research has also explored the motivations for using social media as well as the perceived benefits of interacting on these platforms among individuals with mental illness. In the sections that follow (see Table 1 for a summary), we consider three potentially unique features of interacting and connecting with others on social media that may offer benefits for individuals living with mental illness. These include: 1) Facilitate social interaction; 2) Access to a peer support network; and 3) Promote engagement and retention in services.

Summary of potential benefits and challenges with social media for mental health

Facilitate Social Interaction

Social media platforms offer near continuous opportunities to connect and interact with others, regardless of time of day or geographic location. This on demand ease of communication may be especially important for facilitating social interaction among individuals with mental disorders experiencing difficulties interacting in face-to-face settings. For example, impaired social functioning is a common deficit in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and social media may facilitate communication and interacting with others for these individuals ( Torous & Keshavan, 2016 ). This was suggested in one study where participants with schizophrenia indicated that social media helped them to interact and socialize more easily ( Miller et al., 2015 ). Like other online communication, the ability to connect with others anonymously may be an important feature of social media, especially for individuals living with highly stigmatizing health conditions ( Berger, Wagner, & Baker, 2005 ), such as serious mental disorders ( Highton-Williamson, Priebe, & Giacco, 2015 ).

Studies have found that individuals with serious mental disorders ( Spinzy, Nitzan, Becker, Bloch, & Fennig, 2012 ) as well as young adults with mental illness ( Gowen, Deschaine, Gruttadara, & Markey, 2012 ) appear to form online relationships and connect with others on social media as often as social media users from the general population. This is an important observation because individuals living with serious mental disorders typically have few social contacts in the offline world, and also experience high rates of loneliness ( Badcock et al., 2015 ; Giacco, Palumbo, Strappelli, Catapano, & Priebe, 2016 ). Among individuals receiving publicly funded mental health services who use social media, nearly half (47%) reported using these platforms at least weekly to feel less alone ( Brusilovskiy, Townley, Snethen, & Salzer, 2016 ). In another study of young adults with serious mental illness, most indicated that they used social media to help feel less isolated ( Gowen et al., 2012 ). Interestingly, more frequent use of social media among a sample of individuals with serious mental illness was associated with greater community participation, measured as participation in shopping, work, religious activities or visiting friends and family, as well as greater civic engagement, reflected as voting in local elections ( Brusilovskiy et al., 2016 ).

Emerging research also shows that young people with moderate to severe depressive symptoms appear to prefer communicating on social media rather than in-person ( Rideout & Fox, 2018 ), while other studies have found that some individuals may prefer to seek help for mental health concerns online rather than through in-person encounters ( Batterham & Calear, 2017 ). In a qualitative study, participants with schizophrenia described greater anonymity, the ability to discover that other people have experienced similar health challenges, and reducing fears through greater access to information as important motivations for using the Internet to seek mental health information ( Schrank, Sibitz, Unger, & Amering, 2010 ). Because social media does not require the immediate responses necessary in face-to-face communication, it may overcome deficits with social interaction due to psychotic symptoms that typically adversely affect face-to-face conversations ( Docherty et al., 1996 ). Online social interactions may not require the use of non-verbal cues, particularly in the initial stages of interaction ( Kiesler, Siegel, & McGuire, 1984 ), with interactions being more fluid, and within the control of users, thereby overcoming possible social anxieties linked to in-person interaction ( Indian & Grieve, 2014 ). Furthermore, many individuals with serious mental disorders can experience symptoms including passive social withdrawal, blunted affect and attentional impairment, as well as active social avoidance due to hallucinations or other concerns ( Hansen, Torgalsbøen, Melle, & Bell, 2009 ); thus, potentially reinforcing the relative advantage, as perceived by users, of using social media over in person conversations.

Access to a Peer Support Network

There is growing recognition about the role that social media channels could play in enabling peer support ( Bucci et al., 2019 ; Naslund, Aschbrenner, et al., 2016b ), referred to as a system of mutual giving and receiving where individuals who have endured the difficulties of mental illness can offer hope, friendship, and support to others facing similar challenges ( Davidson, Chinman, Sells, & Rowe, 2006 ; Mead, Hilton, & Curtis, 2001 ). Initial studies exploring use of online self-help forums among individuals with serious mental illnesses have found that individuals with schizophrenia appeared to use these forums for self-disclosure, and sharing personal experiences, in addition to providing or requesting information, describing symptoms, or discussing medication ( Haker, Lauber, & Rössler, 2005 ), while users with bipolar disorder reported using these forums to ask for help from others about their illness ( Vayreda & Antaki, 2009 ). More recently, in a review of online social networking in people with psychosis, Highton-Williamson et al (2015) highlight that an important purpose of such online connections was to establish new friendships, pursue romantic relationships, maintain existing relationships or reconnect with people, and seek online peer support from others with lived experience ( Highton-Williamson et al., 2015 ).

Online peer support among individuals with mental illness has been further elaborated in various studies. In a content analysis of comments posted to YouTube by individuals who self-identified as having a serious mental illness, there appeared to be opportunities to feel less alone, provide hope, find support and learn through mutual reciprocity, and share coping strategies for day-to-day challenges of living with a mental illness ( Naslund, Grande, Aschbrenner, & Elwyn, 2014 ). In another study, Chang (2009) delineated various communication patterns in an online psychosis peer-support group ( Chang, 2009 ). Specifically, different forms of support emerged, including ‘informational support’ about medication use or contacting mental health providers, ‘esteem support’ involving positive comments for encouragement, ‘network support’ for sharing similar experiences, and ‘emotional support’ to express understanding of a peer’s situation and offer hope or confidence ( Chang, 2009 ). Bauer et al. (2013) reported that the main interest in online self-help forums for patients with bipolar disorder was to share emotions with others, allow exchange of information, and benefit by being part of an online social group ( Bauer, Bauer, Spiessl, & Kagerbauer, 2013 ).

For individuals who openly discuss mental health problems on Twitter, a study by Berry et al. (2017) found that this served as an important opportunity to seek support and to hear about the experiences of others ( Berry et al., 2017 ). In a survey of social media users with mental illness, respondents reported that sharing personal experiences about living with mental illness and opportunities to learn about strategies for coping with mental illness from others were important reasons for using social media ( Naslund et al., 2017 ). A computational study of mental health awareness campaigns on Twitter provides further support with inspirational posts and tips being the most shared ( Saha et al., 2019 ). Taken together, these studies offer insights about the potential for social media to facilitate access to an informal peer support network, though more research is necessary to examine how these online interactions may impact intentions to seek care, illness self-management, and clinically meaningful outcomes in offline contexts.

Promote Engagement and Retention in Services

Many individuals living with mental disorders have expressed interest in using social media platforms for seeking mental health information ( Lal, Nguyen, & Theriault, 2018 ), connecting with mental health providers ( M. L. Birnbaum et al., 2017 ), and accessing evidence-based mental health services delivered over social media specifically for coping with mental health symptoms or for promoting overall health and wellbeing ( Naslund et al., 2017 ). With the widespread use of social media among individuals living with mental illness combined with the potential to facilitate social interaction and connect with supportive peers, as summarized above, it may be possible to leverage the popular features of social media to enhance existing mental health programs and services. A recent review by Biagianti et al (2018) found that peer-to-peer support appeared to offer feasible and acceptable ways to augment digital mental health interventions for individuals with psychotic disorders by specifically improving engagement, compliance, and adherence to the interventions, and may also improve perceived social support ( Biagianti, Quraishi, & Schlosser, 2018 ).

Among digital programs that have incorporated peer-to-peer social networking consistent with popular features on social media platforms, a pilot study of the HORYZONS online psychosocial intervention demonstrated significant reductions in depression among patients with first episode psychosis ( Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2013 ). Importantly, the majority of participants (95%) in this study engaged with the peer-to-peer networking feature of the program, with many reporting increases in perceived social connectedness and empowerment in their recovery process ( Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2013 ). This moderated online social therapy program is now being evaluated as part of a large randomized controlled trial for maintaining treatment effects from first episode psychosis services ( Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2019 ).

Other early efforts have demonstrated that use of digital environments with the interactive peer-to-peer features of social media can enhance social functioning and wellbeing in young people at high risk of psychosis ( Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2018 ). There has also been a recent emergence of several mobile apps to support symptom monitoring and relapse prevention in psychotic disorders. Among these apps, the development of PRIME (Personalized Real-time Intervention for Motivational Enhancement) has involved working closely with young people with schizophrenia to ensure that the design of the app has the look and feel of mainstream social media platforms, as opposed to existing clinical tools ( Schlosser et al., 2016 ). This unique approach to the design of the app is aimed at promoting engagement, and ensuring that the app can effectively improve motivation and functioning through goal setting and promoting better quality of life of users with schizophrenia ( Schlosser et al., 2018 ).

Social media platforms could also be used to promote engagement and participation in in-person services delivered through community mental health settings. For example, the peer-based lifestyle intervention called PeerFIT targets weight loss and improved fitness among individuals living with serious mental illness through a combination of in-person lifestyle classes, exercise groups, and use of digital technologies ( Aschbrenner, Naslund, Shevenell, Kinney, & Bartels, 2016 ; Aschbrenner, Naslund, Shevenell, Mueser, & Bartels, 2016 ). The intervention holds tremendous promise as lack of support is one of the largest barriers toward exercise in patients with serious mental illness ( Firth et al., 2016 ) and it is now possible to use social media to counter such. Specifically, in PeerFIT, a private Facebook group is closely integrated into the program to offer a closed platform where participants can connect with the lifestyle coaches, access intervention content, and support or encourage each other as they work towards their lifestyle goals ( Aschbrenner, Naslund, & Bartels, 2016 ; Naslund, Aschbrenner, Marsch, & Bartels, 2016a ). To date, this program has demonstrate preliminary effectiveness for meaningfully reducing cardiovascular risk factors that contribute to early mortality in this patient group ( Aschbrenner, Naslund, Shevenell, Kinney, et al., 2016 ), while the Facebook component appears to have increased engagement in the program, while allowing participants who were unable to attend in-person sessions due to other health concerns or competing demands to remain connected with the program ( Naslund, Aschbrenner, Marsch, McHugo, & Bartels, 2018 ). This lifestyle intervention is currently being evaluated in a randomized controlled trial enrolling young adults with serious mental illness from a variety of real world community mental health services settings ( Aschbrenner, Naslund, Gorin, et al., 2018 ).

These examples highlight the promise of incorporating the features of popular social media into existing programs, which may offer opportunities to safely promote engagement and program retention, while achieving improved clinical outcomes. This is an emerging area of research, as evidenced by several important effectiveness trials underway ( Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2019 ; Aschbrenner, Naslund, Gorin, et al., 2018 ), including efforts to leverage online social networking to support family caregivers of individuals receiving first episode psychosis services ( Gleeson et al., 2017 ).

Challenges with Social Media for Mental Health

The science on the role of social media for engaging persons with mental disorders needs a cautionary note on the effects of social media usage on mental health and well being, particularly in adolescents and young adults. While the risks and harms of social media are frequently covered in the popular press and mainstream news reports, careful consideration of the research in this area is necessary. In a review of 43 studies in young people, many benefits of social media were cited, including increased self-esteem, and opportunities for self-disclosure ( Best, Manktelow, & Taylor, 2014 ). Yet, reported negative effects were an increased exposure to harm, social isolation, depressive symptoms and bullying ( Best et al., 2014 ). In the sections that follow (see Table 1 for a summary), we consider three major categories of risk related to use of social media and mental health. These include: 1) Impact on symptoms; 2) Facing hostile interactions; and 3) Consequences for daily life.

Impact on Symptoms

Studies consistently highlight that use of social media, especially heavy use and prolonged time spent on social media platforms, appears to contribute to increased risk for a variety of mental health symptoms and poor wellbeing, especially among young people ( Andreassen et al., 2016 ; Kross et al., 2013 ; Woods & Scott, 2016 ). This may partly be driven by the detrimental effects of screen time on mental health, including increased severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms, which have been well documented ( Stiglic & Viner, 2019 ). Recent studies have reported negative effects of social media use on mental health of young people, including social comparison pressure with others and greater feeling of social isolation after being rejected by others on social media ( Rideout & Fox, 2018 ). In a study of young adults, it was found that negative comparisons with others on Facebook contributed to risk of rumination and subsequent increases in depression symptoms ( Feinstein et al., 2013 ). Still, the cross sectional nature of many screen time and mental health studies makes it challenging to reach causal inferences ( Orben & Przybylski, 2019 ).

Quantity of social media use is also an important factor, as highlighted in a survey of young adults ages 19 to 32, where more frequent visits to social media platforms each week were correlated with greater depressive symptoms ( Lin et al., 2016 ). More time spent using social media is also associated with greater symptoms of anxiety ( Vannucci, Flannery, & Ohannessian, 2017 ). The actual number of platforms accessed also appears to contribute to risk as reflected in another national survey of young adults where use of a large number of social media platforms was associated with negative impact on mental health ( Primack et al., 2017 ). Among survey respondents using between 7 and 11 different social media platforms compared to respondents using only 2 or fewer platforms, there was a 3 times greater odds of having high levels of depressive symptoms and a 3.2 times greater odds of having high levels of anxiety symptoms ( Primack et al., 2017 ).

Many researchers have postulated that worsening mental health attributed to social media use may be because social media replaces face-to-face interactions for young people ( Twenge & Campbell, 2018 ), and may contribute to greater loneliness ( Bucci et al., 2019 ), and negative effects on other aspects of health and wellbeing ( Woods & Scott, 2016 ). One nationally representative survey of US adolescents found that among respondents who reported more time accessing media such as social media platforms or smartphone devices, there was significantly greater depressive symptoms and increased risk of suicide when compared to adolescents who reported spending more time on non-screen activities, such as in-person social interaction or sports and recreation activities ( Twenge, Joiner, Rogers, & Martin, 2018 ). For individuals living with more severe mental illnesses, the effects of social media on psychiatric symptoms have received less attention. One study found that participation in chat rooms may contribute to worsening symptoms in young people with psychotic disorders ( Mittal, Tessner, & Walker, 2007 ), while another study of patients with psychosis found that social media use appeared to predict low mood ( Berry, Emsley, Lobban, & Bucci, 2018 ). These studies highlight a clear relationship between social media use and mental health that may not be present in general population studies ( Orben & Przybylski, 2019 ), and emphasize the need to explore how social media may contribute to symptom severity and whether protective factors may be identified to mitigate these risks.

Facing Hostile Interactions

Popular social media platforms can create potential situations where individuals may be victimized by negative comments or posts. Cyberbullying represents a form of online aggression directed towards specific individuals, such as peers or acquaintances, which is perceived to be most harmful when compared to random hostile comments posted online ( Hamm et al., 2015 ). Importantly, cyberbullying on social media consistently shows harmful impact on mental health in the form of increased depressive symptoms as well as worsening of anxiety symptoms, as evidenced in a review of 36 studies among children and young people ( Hamm et al., 2015 ). Furthermore, cyberbullying disproportionately impacts females as reflected in a national survey of adolescents in the United States, where females were twice as likely to be victims of cyberbullying compared to males ( Alhajji, Bass, & Dai, 2019 ). Most studies report cross-sectional associations between cyberbullying and symptoms of depression or anxiety ( Hamm et al., 2015 ), though one longitudinal study in Switzerland found that cyberbullying contributed to significantly greater depression over time ( Machmutow, Perren, Sticca, & Alsaker, 2012 ).

For youth ages 10 to 17 who reported major depressive symptomatology, there was over 3 times greater odds of facing online harassment in the last year compared to youth who reported mild or no depressive symptoms ( Ybarra, 2004 ). Similarly, in a 2018 national survey of young people, respondents ages 14 to 22 with moderate to severe depressive symptoms were more likely to have had negative experiences when using social media, and in particular, were more likely to report having faced hostile comments, or being “trolled”, from others when compared to respondents without depressive symptoms (31% vs. 14%) ( Rideout & Fox, 2018 ). As these studies depict risks for victimization on social media and the correlation with poor mental health, it is possible that individuals living with mental illness may also experience greater hostility online compared to individuals without mental illness. This would be consistent with research showing greater risk of hostility, including increased violence and discrimination, directed towards individuals living with mental illness in in-person contexts, especially targeted at those with severe mental illnesses ( Goodman et al., 1999 ).

A computational study of mental health awareness campaigns on Twitter reported that while stigmatizing content was rare, it was actually the most spread (re-tweeted) demonstrating that harmful content can travel quickly on social media ( Saha et al., 2019 ). Another study was able to map the spread of social media posts about the Blue Whale Challenge, an alleged game promoting suicide, over Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, Tumblr and other forums across 127 countries ( Sumner et al., 2019 ). These findings show that it is critical to monitor the actual content of social media posts, such as determining whether content is hostile or promotes harm to self or others. This is pertinent because existing research looking at duration of exposure cannot account for the impact of specific types of content on mental health and is insufficient to fully understand the effects of using these platforms on mental health.

Consequences for Daily Life

The ways in which individuals use social media can also impact their offline relationships and everyday activities. To date, reports have described risks of social media use pertaining to privacy, confidentiality, and unintended consequences of disclosing personal health information online ( Torous & Keshavan, 2016 ). Additionally, concerns have been raised about poor quality or misleading health information shared on social media, and that social media users may not be aware of misleading information or conflicts of interest especially when the platforms promote popular content regardless of whether it is from a trustworthy source ( Moorhead et al., 2013 ; Ventola, 2014 ). For persons living with mental illness there may be additional risks from using social media. A recent study that specifically explored the perspectives of social media users with serious mental illnesses, including participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, or major depression, found that over one third of participants expressed concerns about privacy when using social media ( Naslund & Aschbrenner, 2019 ). The reported risks of social media use were directly related to many aspects of everyday life, including concerns about threats to employment, fear of stigma and being judged, impact on personal relationships, and facing hostility or being hurt ( Naslund & Aschbrenner, 2019 ). While few studies have specifically explored the dangers of social media use from the perspectives of individuals living with mental illness, it is important to recognize that use of these platforms may contribute to risks that extend beyond worsening symptoms and that can affect different aspects of daily life.

In this commentary we considered ways in which social media may yield benefits for individuals living with mental illness, while contrasting these with the possible harms. Studies reporting on the threats of social media for individuals with mental illness are mostly cross-sectional, making it difficult to draw conclusions about direction of causation. However, the risks are potentially serious. These risks should be carefully considered in discussions pertaining to use of social media and the broader use of digital mental health technologies, as avenues for mental health promotion, or for supporting access to evidence-based programs or mental health services. At this point, it would be premature to view the benefits of social media as outweighing the possible harms, when it is clear from the studies summarized here that social media use can have negative effects on mental health symptoms, can potentially expose individuals to hurtful content and hostile interactions, and can result in serious consequences for daily life, including threats to employment and personal relationships. Despite these risks, it is also necessary to recognize that individuals with mental illness will continue to use social media given the ease of accessing these platforms and the immense popularity of online social networking. With this in mind, it may be ideal to raise awareness about these possible risks so that individuals can implement necessary safeguards, while also highlighting that there could also be benefits. For individuals with mental illness who use social media, being aware of the risks is an essential first step, and then highlighting ways that use of these popular platforms could also contribute to some benefits, ranging from finding meaningful interactions with others, engaging with peer support networks, and accessing information and services.

To capitalize on the widespread use of social media, and to achieve the promise that these platforms may hold for supporting the delivery of targeted mental health interventions, there is need for continued research to better understand how individuals living with mental illness use social media. Such efforts could inform safety measures and also encourage use of social media in ways that maximize potential benefits while minimizing risk of harm. It will be important to recognize how gender and race contribute to differences in use of social media for seeking mental health information or accessing interventions, as well as differences in how social media might impact mental wellbeing. For example, a national survey of 14- to 22-year olds in the United States found that female respondents were more likely to search online for information about depression or anxiety, and to try to connect with other people online who share similar mental health concerns, when compared to male respondents ( Rideout & Fox, 2018 ). In the same survey, there did not appear to be any differences between racial or ethnic groups in social media use for seeking mental health information ( Rideout & Fox, 2018 ). Social media use also appears to have a differential impact on mental health and emotional wellbeing between females and males ( Booker, Kelly, & Sacker, 2018 ), highlighting the need to explore unique experiences between gender groups to inform tailored programs and services. Research shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals frequently use social media for searching for health information and may be more likely compared to heterosexual individuals to share their own personal health experiences with others online ( Rideout & Fox, 2018 ). Less is known about use of social media for seeking support for mental health concerns among gender minorities, though this is an important area for further investigation as these individuals are more likely to experience mental health problems and more likely to experience online victimization when compared to heterosexual individuals ( Mereish, Sheskier, Hawthorne, & Goldbach, 2019 ).

Similarly, efforts are needed to explore the relationship between social media use and mental health among ethnic and racial minorities. A recent study found that exposure to traumatic online content on social media showing violence or hateful posts directed at racial minorities contributed to increases in psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, and depression among African American and Latinx adolescents in the United States ( Tynes, Willis, Stewart, & Hamilton, 2019 ). These concerns are contrasted by growing interest in the potential for new technologies including social media to expand the reach of services to underrepresented minority groups ( Schueller, Hunter, Figueroa, & Aguilera, 2019 ). Therefore, greater attention is needed to understanding the perspectives of ethnic and racial minorities to inform effective and safe use of social media for mental health promotion efforts.

Research has found that individuals living with mental illness have expressed interest in accessing mental health services through social media platforms. A survey of social media users with mental illness found that most respondents were interested in accessing programs for mental health on social media targeting symptom management, health promotion, and support for communicating with health care providers and interacting with the health system ( Naslund et al., 2017 ). Importantly, individuals with serious mental illness have also emphasized that any mental health intervention on social media would need to be moderated by someone with adequate training and credentials, would need to have ground rules and ways to promote safety and minimize risks, and importantly, would need to be free and easy to access.

An important strength with this commentary is that it combines a range of studies broadly covering the topic of social media and mental health. We have provided a summary of recent evidence in a rapidly advancing field with the goal of presenting unique ways that social media could offer benefits for individuals with mental illness, while also acknowledging the potentially serious risks and the need for further investigation. There are also several limitations with this commentary that warrant consideration. Importantly, as we aimed to address this broad objective, we did not conduct a systematic review of the literature. Therefore, the studies reported here are not exhaustive, and there may be additional relevant studies that were not included. Additionally, we only summarized published studies, and as a result, any reports from the private sector or websites from different organizations using social media or other apps containing social media-like features would have been omitted. Though it is difficult to rigorously summarize work from the private sector, sometimes referred to as “gray literature”, because many of these projects are unpublished and are likely selective in their reporting of findings given the target audience may be shareholders or consumers.

Another notable limitation is that we did not assess risk of bias in the studies summarized in this commentary. We found many studies that highlighted risks associated with social media use for individuals living with mental illness; however, few studies of programs or interventions reported negative findings, suggesting the possibility that negative findings may go unpublished. This concern highlights the need for a future more rigorous review of the literature with careful consideration of bias and an accompanying quality assessment. Most of the studies that we described were from the United States, as well as from other higher income settings such as Australia or the United Kingdom. Despite the global reach of social media platforms, there is a dearth of research on the impact of these platforms on the mental health of individuals in diverse settings, as well as the ways in which social media could support mental health services in lower income countries where there is virtually no access to mental health providers. Future research is necessary to explore the opportunities and risks for social media to support mental health promotion in low-income and middle-income countries, especially as these countries face a disproportionate share of the global burden of mental disorders, yet account for the majority of social media users worldwide ( Naslund et al., 2019 ).

Future Directions for Social Media and Mental Health

As we consider future research directions, the near ubiquitous social media use also yields new opportunities to study the onset and manifestation of mental health symptoms and illness severity earlier than traditional clinical assessments. There is an emerging field of research referred to as ‘digital phenotyping’ aimed at capturing how individuals interact with their digital devices, including social media platforms, in order to study patterns of illness and identify optimal time points for intervention ( Jain, Powers, Hawkins, & Brownstein, 2015 ; Onnela & Rauch, 2016 ). Given that most people access social media via mobile devices, digital phenotyping and social media are closely related ( Torous et al., 2019 ). To date, the emergence of machine learning, a powerful computational method involving statistical and mathematical algorithms ( Shatte, Hutchinson, & Teague, 2019 ), has made it possible to study large quantities of data captured from popular social media platforms such as Twitter or Instagram to illuminate various features of mental health ( Manikonda & De Choudhury, 2017 ; Reece et al., 2017 ). Specifically, conversations on Twitter have been analyzed to characterize the onset of depression ( De Choudhury, Gamon, Counts, & Horvitz, 2013 ) as well as detecting users’ mood and affective states ( De Choudhury, Gamon, & Counts, 2012 ), while photos posted to Instagram can yield insights for predicting depression ( Reece & Danforth, 2017 ). The intersection of social media and digital phenotyping will likely add new levels of context to social media use in the near future.

Several studies have also demonstrated that when compared to a control group, Twitter users with a self-disclosed diagnosis of schizophrenia show unique online communication patterns ( Michael L Birnbaum, Ernala, Rizvi, De Choudhury, & Kane, 2017 ), including more frequent discussion of tobacco use ( Hswen et al., 2017 ), symptoms of depression and anxiety ( Hswen, Naslund, Brownstein, & Hawkins, 2018b ), and suicide ( Hswen, Naslund, Brownstein, & Hawkins, 2018a ). Another study found that online disclosures about mental illness appeared beneficial as reflected by fewer posts about symptoms following self-disclosure (Ernala, Rizvi, Birnbaum, Kane, & De Choudhury, 2017). Each of these examples offers early insights into the potential to leverage widely available online data for better understanding the onset and course of mental illness. It is possible that social media data could be used to supplement additional digital data, such as continuous monitoring using smartphone apps or smart watches, to generate a more comprehensive ‘digital phenotype’ to predict relapse and identify high-risk health behaviors among individuals living with mental illness ( Torous et al., 2019 ).

With research increasingly showing the valuable insights that social media data can yield about mental health states, greater attention to the ethical concerns with using individual data in this way is necessary ( Chancellor, Birnbaum, Caine, Silenzio, & De Choudhury, 2019 ). For instance, data is typically captured from social media platforms without the consent or awareness of users ( Bidargaddi et al., 2017 ), which is especially crucial when the data relates to a socially stigmatizing health condition such as mental illness ( Guntuku, Yaden, Kern, Ungar, & Eichstaedt, 2017 ). Precautions are needed to ensure that data is not made identifiable in ways that were not originally intended by the user who posted the content, as this could place an individual at risk of harm or divulge sensitive health information ( Webb et al., 2017 ; Williams, Burnap, & Sloan, 2017 ). Promising approaches for minimizing these risks include supporting the participation of individuals with expertise in privacy, clinicians, as well as the target individuals with mental illness throughout the collection of data, development of predictive algorithms, and interpretation of findings ( Chancellor et al., 2019 ).

In recognizing that many individuals living with mental illness use social media to search for information about their mental health, it is possible that they may also want to ask their clinicians about what they find online to check if the information is reliable and trustworthy. Alternatively, many individuals may feel embarrassed or reluctant to talk to their clinicians about using social media to find mental health information out of concerns of being judged or dismissed. Therefore, mental health clinicians may be ideally positioned to talk with their patients about using social media, and offer recommendations to promote safe use of these sites, while also respecting their patients’ autonomy and personal motivations for using these popular platforms. Given the gap in clinical knowledge about the impact of social media on mental health, clinicians should be aware of the many potential risks so that they can inform their patients, while remaining open to the possibility that their patients may also experience benefits through use of these platforms. As awareness of these risks grows, it may be possible that new protections will be put in place by industry or through new policies that will make the social media environment safer. It is hard to estimate a number needed to treat or harm today given the nascent state of research, which means the patient and clinician need to weigh the choice on a personal level. Thus offering education and information is an important first step in that process. As patients increasingly show interest in accessing mental health information or services through social media, it will be necessary for health systems to recognize social media as a potential avenue for reaching or offering support to patients. This aligns with growing emphasis on the need for greater integration of digital psychiatry, including apps, smartphones, or wearable devices, into patient care and clinical services through institution-wide initiatives and training clinical providers ( Hilty, Chan, Torous, Luo, & Boland, 2019 ). Within a learning healthcare environment where research and care are tightly intertwined and feedback between both is rapid, the integration of digital technologies into services may create new opportunities for advancing use of social media for mental health.

As highlighted in this commentary, social media has become an important part of the lives of many individuals living with mental disorders. Many of these individuals use social media to share their lived experiences with mental illness, to seek support from others, and to search for information about treatment recommendations, accessing mental health services, and coping with symptoms ( Bucci et al., 2019 ; Highton-Williamson et al., 2015 ; Naslund, Aschbrenner, et al., 2016b ). As the field of digital mental health advances, the wide reach, ease of access, and popularity of social media platforms could be used to allow individuals in need of mental health services or facing challenges of mental illness to access evidence-based treatment and support. To achieve this end and to explore whether social media platforms can advance efforts to close the gap in available mental health services in the United States and globally, it will be essential for researchers to work closely with clinicians and with those affected by mental illness to ensure that possible benefits of using social media are carefully weighed against anticipated risks.

Acknowledgements

Dr. Naslund is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (U19MH113211). Dr. Aschbrenner is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (1R01MH110965-01).

Publisher's Disclaimer: This Author Accepted Manuscript is a PDF file of a an unedited peer-reviewed manuscript that has been accepted for publication but has not been copyedited or corrected. The official version of record that is published in the journal is kept up to date and so may therefore differ from this version.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have nothing to disclose.

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Social Media Research

Considerations when researching social media
Collected tools
Additional resources

Introduction

What is this guide?

This guide is intended to help AU researchers understand how social media research is conducted, what needs to be considered when embarking on a social media research project, and provide tools that may be helpful for working with social media data.

This guide is not meant to be an exhaustive or authoritative explanation of any topic it covers - you will need to learn more about your desired platform and methods on your own. This guide is not legal or ethical advice, nor is it an expert's opinion on methods. This is a starting point for your journey into the complex and rewarding world of social media research.

Guide structure

Starting broadly and narrowing from there, we'll first cover big questions like "why should I do social media research?", "what are the legal or ethical considerations when doing social media research?" and then look at popular platforms and their unique aspects individually.

Each subpage on a specific platform will include a brief description of the platform, how its TOS impacts research, and a list of tools used for working with that platform. You will still want to read the TOS yourself! TOS language and API functions change frequently, and may have shifted in important ways since this guide was written.

X (formerly Twitter)

At the end all of the platform-specific tools as well as broadly useful content analysis and text mining tools will be collected into one page, and the final page will provide links to readings, resources, and services at AU that may be helpful to the aspiring social media researcher.

What is social media research?

Social media research is a broad term that encapsulates any sort of research using social media platforms. These platforms can be used for participant recruitment, the administering of interventions or experimental protocols, or often as a source of data on people's opinions or behaviors - the main focus of this guide.

Some researchers also study the effects of social media on users, but this may or may not include data collected from social media.

Social media research is highly valuable as it provides researches across many disciplines with access to peoples' opinions or behaviors that would be difficult or impossible to gather via other means. Other forms of social media research act as important transparency checks to social media platforms' effects on society, tracking advertisement, political radicalization, health information, or other important topics.

You may want to research social media because you're a social media user yourself, because you've come across interesting social media research in the past, or because you have a particular question that may be well-suited to being answered by analyzing the combined views of a large number of people.

You can use social media data for:

Text/data mining
Content or sentiment analysis
Network discovery/visualization
and much, much, more!

Secondary sources

Social media is of interest to researchers across a very wide range of disciplines and as a result, the literature of both "how to study social media" and "studies of social media" is widely distributed. There are many potential search locations where you may want to look for information about the study of social media, including several of AU's extensive collection of databases.

Searching for secondary sources on social media can be tricky - like many "new" terms in scholarly writing, there isn't total agreement on what words to use when talking about it. When searching for social media-related literature, think about synonyms for your keywords. For example, in addition to searching for the term "social media" you may also want to try keywords such as "new media" or "social networking sites".

This scholarly database contains over 3,600 peer-reviewed publications in full-text on every subject.

Multi-subject reference source covering general and academic periodicals; full-text is available for many articles.

Google Scholar may be the world’s largest academic search engine, indexing peer reviewed articles, books, conference papers, theses and dissertations, and other scholarly literature. The full text of items may not be available for free, but those that overlap with AU Library’s collections can be accessed there. If you receive a reCAPTCHA error, please follow the instructions in our FAQ about configuring your Google Scholar settings .

Abstracts and some full text of journals and magazines in anthropology, sociology, psychology, business management, public administration, political science, criminology, and economics.

Social media research methods guides

As mentioned in the introduction, this guide is not meant to be comprehensive nor is it focused on the research methodologies used to work with social media. You may want to consult books, whitepapers, or other sources for more information on methodologies, particularly within your specific field.

Cover Art for Social Media Research Methods

Acknowledgements

This guide was originally written by Andrew Greenman in May of 2022.

This guide is indebted in ideas, links, and language to the excellent subject guides at other libraries that came before it, in particular:

"Social Media Research Guide" , from the University of Michigan
"Text Mining & Analysis @ Pitt" , from the University of Pittsburg Library System
"Social Media Research" , from the University of Minnesota
Next: Considerations when researching social media >>
Last Updated: Dec 12, 2023 12:23 PM
URL: https://subjectguides.library.american.edu/socialmediaresearch

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Social Media

Social media has come to occupy a central role in our lives, becoming the primary vehicle for keeping in touch with friends, organizing groups, and getting news. Annenberg scholars evaluate its impact and effects on us and our society, from slacktivism to online harassment to influencers and more.

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Home — Blog — Topic Ideas — 120 Amazing Social Media Research Topics Online

120 Amazing Social Media Research Topics Online

Selection of the Best Social Media Research Topics in 2023

What Are The Elements of a Good Social Media Research Paper

When you have an objective to explore social media research topics , you have to narrow things down because one faces the risks of addressing every aspect of the social environment. The main characteristic that one has to check when choosing a great topic on social media is the thesis statement that will make an argument or show what issue will be researched. For example, when you talk about cyberbullying or the culture of Instagram influencers, you have to make a clear statement and provide an outline with an accessible structure and statistical data to support your arguments.

How to Choose a Suitable Social Media Research Topic

Most importantly, you must choose something you know well and a discussion that inspires you. When you are not passionate about the subject , you will not find sufficient aspects or keep the content static. As you choose a research topic about social media , think about what needs to be researched better and avoid the most common ideas that have already been discussed and researched before. The key element is finding keywords that will instantly make things clear. While it may not be possible to include everything in the topic sentence, the word sequence is essential!

What's the Difference Between Choosing a Research Topic and a Research Question?

A research question is your main argument and can relate to your thesis statement. Sometimes, a college or university professor will provide you with a prompt that will make it easier to follow an idea or a problem. Likewise, you may have several social media research questions where you have to narrow things down and accumulate things in a research topic. It will help specify what you plan to research and show what your paper does not contain. The research topic should also be connected to a research question but do not copy it word for word.

Social Media Research Topics

Social media is the most time-consuming problem of the last decade.
The environmental benefit of Facebook and Twitter.
Elon Musk and the politics on social media.
Cyberbullying of social media: the new menace.
Social media across the world: the cultural points in Italy and Spain.
The use of slang on social media among teenagers.
The dangers of driving while browsing social media.
Social media in the field of mechanical engineering.
The benefits of posting a resume on LinkedIn.
The dangers of Instagram for children.

Social Media Research Questions

Social media as the driving force behind the Black Lives Matter movement.
The use of social media for students with ADHD.
The pros and cons of the school blogs: improving the writing skills .
Social media as the solution to evaluate middle school students.
The benefits of using social media for the Law course.
The use of social media to alter and distort the world's news.
Social media and the problems of online addiction.
The use of social media blocking apps among college students.
Body image and Instagram.
The dangers of national security in the United States and TikTok.

Research Papers on Social Media

The problem of intellectual property on social media.
Posting private pictures of celebrities on social media and copyrights.
Social media challenges for the older generation: a generational study .
Twitter as the political platform and the presidential elections in the United States.
The phenomenon of Like culture and the youth culture.
The governmental control of social media and illegal trading.
The problem of missing people and using social media to locate people.
The challenges of privacy settings on Facebook versus Instagram.
The use of commercial advertising on Instagram and the trading legislation in the USA.
Social media as the advertisement tool in 2023.

Interesting Social Media Research Topic

Social media is a great foundation for innovative startups.
Social media is used to discover a person's moral qualities.
The bond between the parents and children by using social media.
Becoming a celebrity: how can Instagram be used to make someone famous?
The use of pets as social media heroes.
The use of social media platforms by people with disabilities.
Social media for psychology experiments: is it legit for the sample collection?
How can a political campaign be started on social media?
The use of Facebook to distribute information and filters.
How can social media help children to learn about online safety?

Social Media Research Papers

Social media as a platform to fight for justice and non-commercial work.
The use of psychological pressure on social media for marketing purposes.
Social media and the use of cloud storage through the lens of legislation.
The intellectual property and the use of commercial content by the NGOs.
The culture of TikTok in the United States versus Europe.
Instagram and the cultural image of an average user.
The educational aspect of LinkedIn and the Lynda courses.
The dark side of Facebook and the implementation of systematic internal filters.
The philosophy of friendship on social media.
The problem of stalking on Facebook and the measures to prevent it.

Informative Research Questions on Social Media

What countries use social media the most, and why?
Is social media representing modern-day journalism in 2023?
Virtual isolation and the use of social media among teenagers.
Social media image and web page platforms for scientists .
The most influential celebrities that became famous because of social media.
Can bloggers be considered journalists? Why or why not?
Social media and racial prejudice: how can Facebook be partial?
Should social media have a political aspect to it?
The history of Facebook and the Internet culture.
Korean pop culture and the use of TikTok.

Argumentative Research Topics About Social Media

Social media is mostly a waste of time because most content is useless.
Social media argumentative essay : Twitter is a political platform and is always based on the stakeholder's objectives.
Instagram is not the same social media platform as Facebook.
LinkedIn is a career network for professionals for business success.
Facebook is no longer the youth platform and is mostly occupied by the older generation.
The history and peculiarities of Asian social media networks.
Social media is helpful for environmental science campaigns.
Twitter is a platform often used for illegal activity and gambling.
Social media is the worst platform for violating intellectual property.
The problem of the fake profiles of famous people.

Amazing Social Media Paper Topics

The philosophy of friendship and care through the lens of social media.
Social media as the primary source based on interviews and personal surveys.
Student cooperation through private groups on social media.
The safety rules for middle school students: Facebook and Twitter.
The use of Instagram for educational purposes: fashion studies.
Digital marketing and Facebook’s language filters: the traduzione aspect.
The cultural points of posts on Twitter: what are the peculiarities of socializing?
The most famous social media political campaigns in the United States.
The influence of dancing classes' popularity and TikTok.
The mechanisms of violation reporting on Facebook versus Instagram.

Social Media Research Paper Thesis

The commercial side of social media takes the primary role of popularity.
Facebook is the platform that helps to unfold environmental issues worldwide.
Instagram has a negative influence on the body image of teenagers.
The pros and cons of app integration on Facebook for educational purposes.
Social media as the call to make a positive change in the healthcare sector.
Distribution of financial campaigns on social media: who runs the show?
The evolution of Facebook through the years: from social networking to political clashes.
The cultural peculiarities of TikTok in the United States versus China.
The validity of information on Facebook: why should we believe the political statements?
The most common dangers of social media: identity theft and data protection of minors.

Social Network Topics

The internal mechanisms of social media: analysis of the psychological aspect.
Virtual bonding on social media versus body language.
The British social media traditions vs. the American peculiarities on social media.
The most iconic memes on Facebook and the history of the practice.
Social media posts that helped to save lives and change the world.
The practice of responsibility and the legal aspect of things on Instagram.
The disputes on social media: when the line is crossed.
The link of business success to leading active social media posts.
The blogging techniques of Instagram versus Facebook: a comparison study.
Should social media be connected to banking and social security apps?

Research Papers on Social Media For College

The best methods for how social media can be used to expand the research.
Social media should be used as a tool for business evaluation by analyzing business websites.
Facebook as the instrument of political agenda: the reasons why it's not a network alone.
The role of Twitter in the armed conflicts of the last two decades.
The spelling checkers and grammar tools that are used by social media networks.
The security and data science protection methods on Instagram.
The business model of Facebook: how can an executive plan be made?
The dance trends and the movements: the popularity and influencers.
The way how Instagram influencers can be used as an educational promotion.
Social media as a national alert system to warn about natural disasters.

When You Need a Bit of Extra Writing Help!

Summing up, the most important factor is the inspiration and the ideas that motivate you. Always take your time to see what moves you and start with the sources and statistical data to keep your tone clear and confident. When you have an idea that is not yours, you must ensure that every reference is done properly according to the writing style format. While you are checking your bibliography, remember to proofread and edit things twice!

Now, if you need help creating a topic on social media or any other subject, you can always refer to our free database of essays and topics. The experts have carefully chosen and sorted these to help you with your writing tasks. Our site has thousands of topics that will help you to learn how to deal with a particular subject! If you have a keyword related to social media or would like to talk about how environmentalists use Facebook to keep the world informed, just enter a relevant keyword that inspires you. Our database will help you to find free samples to let you start!

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Building a Social Media Algorithm That Actually Promotes Societal Values

A Stanford research team shows that building democratic values into a feed-ranking algorithm reduces partisan animosity.

illustration of hands holding cell phones with social media hearts emerging

For all their efforts to moderate content and reduce online toxicity, social media companies still fundamentally care about one thing: retaining users in the long run, a goal they’ve perceived as best achieved by keeping them engaged with content as long as possible. But the goal of keeping individuals engaged doesn’t necessarily serve society at large and can even be harmful to values we hold dear, such as living in a healthy democracy.

To address that problem, a team of Stanford researchers advised by Michael Bernstein , associate professor of computer science in the School of Engineering, and Jeffrey Hancock, professor of communication in the School of Humanities and Sciences, wondered if designers of social media platforms might, in a more principled way, build societal values into their feed-ranking algorithms. Could these algorithms, for example, promote social values such as political participation, mental health, or social connection? The team tested the idea empirically in a new paper that will be published in Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction in April 2024. Bernstein, Hancock, and a group of Stanford HAI faculty also explored that idea in a recent think piece .

For their experiment, the researchers aimed to decrease partisan animosity by building democratic values into a feed-ranking algorithm. “If we can make a dent in this very important value, maybe we can learn how to use social media rankings to affect other values we care about,” says Michelle Lam , a fourth-year graduate student in computer science at Stanford University and co-lead author of the study.

The project, supported by a Stanford HAI Hoffman-Yee Grant , required translating social science concepts about democratic values into algorithmic objectives; creating a feed that implemented the democratic values model; and testing its impact on people’s partisan animosity. The result: The team found lower partisan animosity among people shown a feed that downranked (or removed and replaced) posts expressing highly anti-democratic attitudes.

Read the study, Embedding Democratic Values into Social Media AIs via Societal Objective Functions

Moreover, users were just as engaged with the feed optimized for democratic values as they were with an engagement-based feed. “That should be exciting news for industry because it suggests that a feed-ranking algorithm that’s based on societal values won’t compromise users’ engagement,” says Chenyan Jia , assistant professor at Northeastern University, former postdoctoral scholar at Stanford, and co-lead author on the study.

Creating a Societal Objective Function

Many AI systems are trained to optimize for a specific goal known as the objective function. In the case of social media algorithms, the objective function typically optimizes for engagement. But for this project, the research team proposed creating a societal objective function, which required translating democratic values into a model that a computer could optimize.

Though that task might sound abstract or subjective, Lam says, the team was able to build off of social science work that clearly defines anti-democratic values found to be persistent in surveys and content analysis. Specifically, the researchers used established definitions of eight such values: partisan animosity, support for undemocratic practices, support for partisan violence, support for undemocratic candidates, opposition to bipartisanship, social distrust, social distance, and biased evaluation of politicized facts.

For each anti-democratic value, the team developed three criteria for determining if the value was present in a social media post. Each post was assigned a rating from 1 to 3 according to how many criteria were met. For example, posts with lower numerical ratings might merely express a partisan viewpoint, while posts with higher ratings were often actively antagonistic toward the other party or amplified negative emotions.

The team then created a 60-post social media feed called PolitiFeed with seven different conditions including: an engagement-based feed; a feed with content warnings; a feed with highly anti-democratic posts downranked; and a feed with anti-democratic posts removed and replaced.

Using a crowdsourcing platform, they tested the impact of these feeds on 1,380 study participants. The result: lower partisan animosity among both Democrats and Republicans who read the downranking feed or the remove-and-replace feed compared with those who read the engagement-based feed.

To scale up their effort, the team next turned to a large language model, GPT-4, to see if it could rate social media posts as effectively as the team had done manually. They took a “zero-shot” approach, meaning that rather than train the AI system with examples, they gave instructions in plain language describing how to rate the eight measures of anti-democratic values on their 3-point scale. The result: GPT-4’s algorithmic rankings were highly correlated with the manual rankings and, perhaps more important, implementing them in the social media feed still yielded reduced partisan animosity. In addition, users found the various feeds equally engaging – suggesting that users will keep clicking even if companies implement societal objective functions. Also, the team found that content warnings backfired in that they raised free speech concerns among conservatives. Notably, the downranking feed and remove-and-replace feed are more effective in reducing animosity among people who are weakly partisan than among those who are strongly partisan.

Future Directions

The team is currently working on a longitudinal and large-scale experiment in a more natural setting – implementing the democratic values model in people’s social media feeds in real time to see if it will have any impact.

“Today’s social media already embeds values, but they’re often defined implicitly,” Lam says. Going forward, the team wants to pursue further empirical work that explicitly implements societal objective functions in the social media context and measures their impact. “We should experiment with different values, such as mental well-being or environmental sustainability – as well as how they trade off against each other,” Lam says. “That’s especially important as we move into different communities that may have different norms and needs.”

Stanford HAI’s mission is to advance AI research, education, policy and practice to improve the human condition. Learn more .

How Marketers Choose College Athlete Influencers

Kimberly A. Whitler
Graham Twente

The authors’ research findings: Athletes’ image and quality of social media posts are more important than their follower counts, posts should feature sports more than personal content, and sexy imagery should be avoided.

Here are the characteristics that matter most.

Since 2021 McDonald’s, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Berkshire Hathaway, Amazon, Unilever, and other leading companies have done something that was never before possible: They have paid U.S. college athletes to act as product endorsers and influencers. Until a Supreme Court ruling that year, paying college athletes was forbidden under the rules of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In the aftermath of the Court’s ruling, the NCAA adopted a policy that enabled more than 520,000 student athletes to monetize their names, images, and likenesses by signing what have become known as NIL deals. Although no definitive count exists of athletes who have signed such deals, 278 students (40% of varsity athletes) at Texas Tech had been sponsored as of 2022. In just a few years marketers have already spent more than $1 billion on such endorsements. For individual athletes these deals can be lucrative. Consider Paige Bueckers, a University of Connecticut basketball player, whom Gatorade chose as its first sponsored college athlete. Bueckers is expected to earn more than $1 million while playing college basketball.

Over the past 20 years the social media influencer industry has completely rearranged the way information and culture are conceived, produced, marketed, and shared. This month’s Spotlight package looks at how brands are responding.

Kimberly A. Whitler is the Frank M. Sands Sr. Associate Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and a coauthor of Athlete Brands: How to Benefit from Your Name, Image & Likeness .
GT Graham Twente is a former senior research manager at the Darden School of Business and currently a member of the data and analytics technology consulting staff at EY in Washington, DC.

Partner Center

Illustration with collage of pictograms of clouds, mobile phone, fingerprint, check mark

Published: 8 April 2024 Contributors: Gregg Lindemulder, Amber Forrest

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is the process of gathering and analyzing publicly available information to assess threats, make decisions or answer specific questions.

Many organizations use OSINT as a cybersecurity tool to help gauge security risks and identify vulnerabilities in their IT systems. Cybercriminals and hackers also use OSINT techniques for social engineering , phishing and exposing targets for cyberattacks.

Beyond cybersecurity, other disciplines such as law enforcement, national security, marketing, journalism and academic research may also make use of open-source intelligence.

As far back as World War II, highly trained agents in the intelligence community have monitored open-source information such as radio broadcasts, newspapers and market fluctuations. Today, given the number and variety of easily accessible data sources, nearly anyone can participate in open-source intelligence gathering.

Some of the public sources from which OSINT researchers collect data points include:

Internet search engines such as Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Bing and Yandex.

Print and online news media including newspapers, magazines and news sites.

Social media accounts on platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Online forums, blogs and Internet Relay Chats (IRC).

The dark web , an encrypted area of the internet that is not indexed by search engines.

Online directories of phone numbers, email addresses and physical addresses.

Public records including births, deaths, court documents and business filings.

Government records such as meeting transcripts, budgets, speeches and press releases issued by local, state and federal/national governments.

Academic research including papers, theses and journals.

Technical data such as IP addresses, APIs , open ports and web page metadata.

However, before data collection from OSINT sources begin, a clear objective should be established. For example, security professionals who use OSINT first determine which insights they seek to uncover, and which public data will yield the desired results.

After the public information is collected, it must then be processed to filter out unnecessary or redundant data. Security teams can then analyze the refined data and create an actionable intelligence report.

Threat actors often use OSINT to uncover sensitive information they can leverage to exploit vulnerabilities in computer networks.

This may include personal details about an organization’s employees, partners and vendors that are easily accessible on social media and company websites. Or technical information such as credentials, security gaps or encryption keys that may appear in the source code of web pages or cloud applications. There are also public websites that publish compromising information such as stolen logins and passwords from data breaches.

Cybercriminals are able to use this public data for a variety of nefarious purposes.

For example, they could use personal information from social networks to create tailored phishing emails that convince readers to click on a malicious link. Or conduct a Google search with specific commands that reveal security weaknesses in a web application, a practice called “Google dorking.” They may also evade detection during a hacking attempt after reviewing a company’s public assets that describe their cybersecurity defense strategies.

For these reasons, many organizations conduct OSINT assessments of the public sources of information related to their systems, applications and human resources.

The findings can be used to locate unauthorized leaks of proprietary or sensitive data, evaluate information security, and identify vulnerabilities such as unpatched software, misconfigurations or open ports. Organizations may also conduct penetration testing of their systems and networks using the same OSINT data that are publicly accessible by cybercriminals and hackers.

Often, the information collected during an OSINT assessment is combined with non-public data to create a more comprehensive threat intelligence report. Frequent updates to OSINT cybersecurity assessments can help organizations mitigate the risk of data breaches, ransomware, malware and other cyberattacks.

Because of the vast amount of public information available, it is often impractical to manually collect, sort and analyze OSINT data. Specialized open-source intelligence tools can help manage and automate data tasks for a variety of OSINT use cases.

Some OSINT analysis tools use artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect which information is valuable and relevant, and which is insignificant or unrelated. Among the more popular OSINT tools are:

Osintframework.com (link resides outside ibm.com) – An extensive directory of free, online OSINT tools and resources hosted on the developer platform GitHub. Both hackers and cybersecurity professionals can use this directory as a starting point to drill down into the specific functionality they seek in an OSINT tool.

Maltego (link resides outside ibm.com) – A real-time data mining solution for Windows, Mac and Linux platforms that provides graphic representations of data patterns and connections. With its ability to profile and track the online activities of individuals, this tool can be useful to both cybersecurity professionals and threat actors.

Spiderfoot (link resides outside ibm.com) – A data source integration tool for information such as email addresses, phone numbers, IP addresses, subdomains and more. Ethical hackers may use this resource to investigate publicly available information that could pose a threat to an organization or an individual.

Shodan (link resides outside ibm.com) – A search engine for internet-connected devices that can also provide information on metadata and open ports. Because this tool can identify security vulnerabilities for millions of devices, it can be useful to both cybersecurity professionals and cybercriminals.

Babel X (link resides outside ibm.com) – A multilingual, AI-enabled search tool capable of searching the world wide web and dark web in more than 200 languages. Security teams within an organization may use this tool to search for sensitive or proprietary information that may be posted on the dark web or in a foreign country.

Metasploit (link resides outside ibm.com) – A penetration testing tool that can identify security vulnerabilities in networks, systems and applications. Both cybersecurity professionals and hackers find value in this tool because it can expose the specific weaknesses that may enable a successful cyberattack.

Redefine SIEM to unleash analyst potential and outpace adversaries with speed, scale and accuracy. QRadar SIEM helps maximize your security team’s productivity by providing a unified experience across all SOC tools, with integrated, advanced AI and automation capabilities.

Leverage our team of world-class intelligence analysts to secure your environment. Gain insights into the latest threats and techniques from malware reverse engineering, dark web research, and vulnerability tracking.

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Get actionable insights to help you understand how threat actors are waging attacks—and how to proactively protect your organization.

Understand how penetration testing helps organizations uncover critical security vulnerabilities in their applications, networks, devices and other assets.

Discover how security analysts create threat intelligence by analyzing and correlating raw information to help mitigate and prevent cyberattacks before they occur.

Cybersecurity threats are becoming more advanced and more persistent, and demanding more effort by security analysts to sift through countless alerts and incidents. IBM Security QRadar SIEM helps you remediate threats faster while maintaining your bottom line. QRadar SIEM prioritizes high-fidelity alerts to help you catch threats that others simply miss.

Read our research on: Gun Policy | International Conflict | Election 2024

Regions & Countries

Social media use in 2021, a majority of americans say they use youtube and facebook, while use of instagram, snapchat and tiktok is especially common among adults under 30..

To better understand Americans’ use of social media, online platforms and messaging apps, Pew Research Center surveyed 1,502 U.S. adults from Jan. 25 to Feb. 8, 2021, by cellphone and landline phone. The survey was conducted by interviewers under the direction of Abt Associates and is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, education and other categories. Here are the questions used for this report , along with responses, and its methodology .

Despite a string of controversies and the public’s relatively negative sentiments about aspects of social media, roughly seven-in-ten Americans say they ever use any kind of social media site – a share that has remained relatively stable over the past five years, according to a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults.

Growing share of Americans say they use YouTube; Facebook remains one of the most widely used online platforms among U.S. adults

Beyond the general question of overall social media use, the survey also covers use of individual sites and apps. YouTube and Facebook continue to dominate the online landscape, with 81% and 69%, respectively, reporting ever using these sites. And YouTube and Reddit were the only two platforms measured that saw statistically significant growth since 2019 , when the Center last polled on this topic via a phone survey.

When it comes to the other platforms in the survey, 40% of adults say they ever use Instagram and about three-in-ten report using Pinterest or LinkedIn. One-quarter say they use Snapchat, and similar shares report being users of Twitter or WhatsApp. TikTok – an app for sharing short videos – is used by 21% of Americans, while 13% say they use the neighborhood-focused platform Nextdoor.

Even as other platforms do not nearly match the overall reach of YouTube or Facebook, there are certain sites or apps, most notably Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, that have an especially strong following among young adults. In fact, a majority of 18- to 29-year-olds say they use Instagram (71%) or Snapchat (65%), while roughly half say the same for TikTok.

These findings come from a nationally representative survey of 1,502 U.S. adults conducted via telephone Jan. 25-Feb.8, 2021.

With the exception of YouTube and Reddit, most platforms show little growth since 2019

YouTube is the most commonly used online platform asked about in this survey, and there’s evidence that its reach is growing. Fully 81% of Americans say they ever use the video-sharing site, up from 73% in 2019. Reddit was the only other platform polled about that experienced statistically significant growth during this time period – increasing from 11% in 2019 to 18% today.

Facebook’s growth has leveled off over the last five years, but it remains one of the most widely used social media sites among adults in the United States: 69% of adults today say they ever use the site, equaling the share who said this two years prior.

Similarly, the respective shares of Americans who report using Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Twitter and WhatsApp are statistically unchanged since 2019 . This represents a broader trend that extends beyond the past two years in which the rapid adoption of most of these sites and apps seen in the last decade has slowed. (This was the first year the Center asked about TikTok via a phone poll and the first time it has surveyed about Nextdoor.)

Adults under 30 stand out for their use of Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok

When asked about their social media use more broadly – rather than their use of specific platforms – 72% of Americans say they ever use social media sites.

In a pattern consistent with past Center studies on social media use, there are some stark age differences. Some 84% of adults ages 18 to 29 say they ever use any social media sites, which is similar to the share of those ages 30 to 49 who say this (81%). By comparison, a somewhat smaller share of those ages 50 to 64 (73%) say they use social media sites, while fewer than half of those 65 and older (45%) report doing this.

These age differences generally extend to use of specific platforms, with younger Americans being more likely than their older counterparts to use these sites – though the gaps between younger and older Americans vary across platforms.

Age gaps in Snapchat, Instagram use are particularly wide, less so for Facebook

Majorities of 18- to 29-year-olds say they use Instagram or Snapchat and about half say they use TikTok, with those on the younger end of this cohort – ages 18 to 24 – being especially likely to report using Instagram (76%), Snapchat (75%) or TikTok (55%). 1 These shares stand in stark contrast to those in older age groups. For instance, while 65% of adults ages 18 to 29 say they use Snapchat, just 2% of those 65 and older report using the app – a difference of 63 percentage points.

Additionally, a vast majority of adults under the age of 65 say they use YouTube. Fully 95% of those 18 to 29 say they use the platform, along with 91% of those 30 to 49 and 83% of adults 50 to 64. However, this share drops substantially – to 49% – among those 65 and older.

By comparison, age gaps between the youngest and oldest Americans are narrower for Facebook. Fully 70% of those ages 18 to 29 say they use the platform, and those shares are statistically the same for those ages 30 to 49 (77%) or ages 50 to 64 (73%). Half of those 65 and older say they use the site – making Facebook and YouTube the two most used platforms among this older population.

Other sites and apps stand out for their demographic differences:

Instagram: About half of Hispanic (52%) and Black Americans (49%) say they use the platform, compared with smaller shares of White Americans (35%) who say the same. 2
WhatsApp: Hispanic Americans (46%) are far more likely to say they use WhatsApp than Black (23%) or White Americans (16%). Hispanics also stood out for their WhatsApp use in the Center’s previous surveys on this topic.
LinkedIn: Those with higher levels of education are again more likely than those with lower levels of educational attainment to report being LinkedIn users. Roughly half of adults who have a bachelor’s or advanced degree (51%) say they use LinkedIn, compared with smaller shares of those with some college experience (28%) and those with a high school diploma or less (10%).
Pinterest: Women continue to be far more likely than men to say they use Pinterest when compared with male counterparts, by a difference of 30 points (46% vs. 16%).
Nextdoor: There are large differences in use of this platform by community type. Adults living in urban (17%) or suburban (14%) areas are more likely to say they use Nextdoor. Just 2% of rural Americans report using the site.

Use of online platforms, apps varies – sometimes widely – by demographic group

A majority of Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram users say they visit these platforms on a daily basis

Seven-in-ten Facebook users say they visit site daily

While there has been much written about Americans’ changing relationship with Facebook , its users remain quite active on the platform. Seven-in-ten Facebook users say they use the site daily, including 49% who say they use the site several times a day. (These figures are statistically unchanged from those reported in the Center’s 2019 survey about social media use.)

Smaller shares – though still a majority – of Snapchat or Instagram users report visiting these respective platforms daily (59% for both). And being active on these sites is especially common for younger users. For instance, 71% of Snapchat users ages 18 to 29 say they use the app daily, including six-in-ten who say they do this multiple times a day. The pattern is similar for Instagram: 73% of 18- to 29-year-old Instagram users say they visit the site every day, with roughly half (53%) reporting they do so several times per day.

YouTube is used daily by 54% if its users, with 36% saying they visit the site several times a day. By comparison, Twitter is used less frequently, with fewer than half of its users (46%) saying they visit the site daily.

Due to a limited sample size, figures for those ages 25 to 29 cannot be reported on separately. ↩
There were not enough Asian American respondents in the sample to be broken out into a separate analysis. As always, their responses are incorporated into the general population figures throughout this report. ↩

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Report Materials

Table of contents, social media fact sheet, 7 facts about americans and instagram, partisan differences in social media use show up for some platforms, but not facebook, 64% of americans say social media have a mostly negative effect on the way things are going in the u.s. today, most popular.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .

News & Insights
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A Hippocratic oath for teachers

As USC Rossier prepares to celebrate the Class of 2024, professor Nooshan Ashtari shares words of wisdom with future educators.

Grad mortar boards at USC's 2020-21 commencement ceremony for the Rossier School of Education at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

During the last class of each semester, after my students wrap up their coursework and we look back on our time together throughout the term, I cannot help but be in awe of all that my wonderful students have accomplished. I also cannot help but wonder what their futures may hold for them. Some might end up teaching for decades, some might teach for a few years or even months, and then switch to other careers as the human-made world keeps on putting immense amounts of pressure on some of the most essential treasures: teachers and the art of teaching and learning.

As I take one of the last looks at my students before we end the term, I take a deep breath and try to imagine all of their professional futures to be fulfilling and fruitful. I have taught internationally for over 22 years, the last 14 years of which in higher education and teacher training. My career as an educator and researcher has been full of ups and downs, tears and laughter, and I hope my students’ careers will be more upward thrills than downward horrors.

Over the years, I have seen family members and friends take the Hippocratic oath at their graduation ceremonies in countries around the world, and I have always appreciated it deeply. Inspired by Hippocrates and his writings, the Hippocratic oath is an oath of ethics new physicians take. It requires physicians to swear to uphold ethical standards in the highest regard while treating patients throughout their careers. After searching for something to mark each course’s end and acknowledge the future journey teachers are about to embark on, I developed “The Hippocratic oath for current and future teachers.”

Before I say goodbye to my students, I share this oath, which I have adapted from various versions of the modern Hippocratic oath:

After the students and I finish looking over the lines, we sometimes reflect on what our paths have been like up to this point and the possibilities for our futures. We share contact information that is not solely connected with one university or institution to make sure we stay in touch, even when life might take us in different directions. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote in The Little Prince in a conversation between a young, wandering prince from a small asteroid called B-612 and a flower with three petals that the prince meets in a desert, humans are always in transition, “But you never know where to find them. The wind blows them away. They have no roots, which hampers them a good deal.”

Sometimes, I hear back from some of my students years or even decades later; sometimes I don’t hear from them at all, but one thing that remains the same for all of us is our belief that teaching is truly a work of heart and learning is an inseparable part of the human experience. May the path of teaching be remarkable for all of our current and future teachers, and may the path of learning be limitless for all of us residents of planet Earth and beyond.

Nooshan Ashtari

Article Type

Article topics.

Teacher education
Commencement

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IMAGES

Global social media statistics research summary [updated 2021]
Research Assessment using Social Media
Communicating Your Research with Social Media
THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED COLLEGE
193 Top Social Media Research Topics: Only Best Ideas
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COMMENTS

300+ Social Media Research Topics
Social media research is a rapidly growing field that encompasses a wide range of topics, from understanding the psychological and social effects of social media to analyzing patterns of user behavior and identifying trends in online conversations. In this era of data-driven decision-making, social media research is more important than ever, as ...
234 Social Media Research Topics & Ideas
18 January 2024. last updated. Social media research encompasses a broad range of different topics that delve into the ever-evolving digital landscape. People investigate the impact of social platforms on society, exploring subjects, such as online identity formation, self-presentation, the psychology of virtual interactions, and others.
111 Popular Social Media Research Topics & Ideas
Ways to fact check. Politics: Studying how social media changes political debates, campaigns, and user involvement. Visual communication: Understanding the impact of images, selfies, and live video in social media messaging. FOMO: Researching how social media creates fear of missing out on experiences.
70 Must-Know Social Media Research Paper Topics
Some social issues research paper topics to explore are; The growth of cyberattacks and cyberstalking in social media. Social media and how it promotes an unrealistic idea of life. Social media and the many impacts it has on users and businesses. Social media detox: Importance of taking scheduled social media breaks.
147 Best Social Media Research Topics In 2023
Use of the Internet networks, social networks, and mobile in 2021. Facebook as a source of distribution of content and remote communication. Training of professionals toward their audiences for social media platforms. Facebook: A place of digital socialization among top social media sites.
193 Top Social Media Research Topics: Only Best Ideas
Social Media Research Topics. Social media is a great place to interact with friends, colleagues, family, bloggers, and even celebrities. They make the world seem a bit smaller with the amount of information you can get from it. The factors that lead to the growth of social media sites. Evaluate how social media fuels rebellion among teenagers.
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Top 10 Social Media Research Paper Topics. 1. A Comparative Review of Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as Primary Marketing Platforms for Small Businesses. A lot of small businesses have flocked to various social media sites to market their products and services.
Social Media Research Topics 2024
15 January 2024. Author. Chloe Garnham. Reviewed by. Miroslav Damyanov. With the rise of technology, social media has been adopted across the globe. 60% of the world's population uses social media, spending an average of two hours and 24 minutes on platforms each day. Research in this area garners continuous interest given social media's ...
Social Media Research Paper Topics: 15+ Ideas to Get You Started
The following is a list of social media research topic that may be worth investigating: Political Campaign Topics. If you have logged on to Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn lately, it's likely that you've seen and felt the political at atmosphere on these platforms. From media houses posting political issues on social to politicians actively ...
Qualitative and Mixed Methods Social Media Research:
Kaplan and Haenlein (2010) defined social media as "… a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of User Generated Content" (p. 61). The emergence of social media technologies has been embraced by a growing number of users who post text messages, pictures, and videos online ...
Social Media
About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions.
43+ Latest Social Media Research Topics for College Students
3. Political Opinions: Study how social media affects young people's political opinions. Look at how people only hear opinions they agree with and how false information spreads. 4. Community Building: Learn how social media helps different groups connect. Look at how these online groups offer support and share ideas. 5.
Social Media Use and Its Connection to Mental Health: A Systematic
Abstract. Social media are responsible for aggravating mental health problems. This systematic study summarizes the effects of social network usage on mental health. Fifty papers were shortlisted from google scholar databases, and after the application of various inclusion and exclusion criteria, 16 papers were chosen and all papers were ...
How to Research Content Topics for Social Media
One is BuzzSumo, which provides the data and evidence for content research and planning. The tool helps you to do several things. Identify the content that resonates with your audience. You can discover the most shared content in the last 12 months or the last 24 hours. Focus on the right networks.
Social Media Research Topics: 60+ Ideas for Your Papers
Sociology Research Topics on Social Media. Research paper topics on social media are directly related to sociology. This is a platform where the context of modern culture is created. You can get a lot of information about people and their relationships. For example, write about the family institution using mom bloggers.
Social media research: Step-by-step tutorial with examples
If your social media research analyzes a topic over time, the Trends function might also interest you. Currently, MAXQDA offers Word Trends, Code Trends, and Dictionary Categories Trends. To explore how code or word frequencies change across time, you should store your social media data in distinct documents - one document per time range. ...
Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for
An important strength with this commentary is that it combines a range of studies broadly covering the topic of social media and mental health. ... Cell phone, computer, email, and social media use. Psychiatry research, 225 (3), 458-463. [Google Scholar] Mittal VA, Tessner KD, & Walker EF (2007). Elevated social Internet use and schizotypal ...
Home
This guide is intended to help AU researchers understand how social media research is conducted, what needs to be considered when embarking on a social media research project, and provide tools that may be helpful for working with social media data. This guide is not meant to be an exhaustive or authoritative explanation of any topic it covers ...
(PDF) The Effect of Social Media on Society
Depression, anxiety, catfishing, bullying, terro rism, and. criminal activities are some of the negative side s of social media on societies. Generall y, when peoples use social. media for ...
Social Media
Social Media. Social media has come to occupy a central role in our lives, becoming the primary vehicle for keeping in touch with friends, organizing groups, and getting news. Annenberg scholars evaluate its impact and effects on us and our society, from slacktivism to online harassment to influencers and more.
120 Amazing Social Media Research Topics Online
Selection of the Best Social Media Research Topics in 2023 What Are The Elements of a Good Social Media Research Paper When you have an objective to explore social media research topics, you have to narrow things down because one faces the risks of addressing every aspect of the social environment.The main characteristic that one has to check when choosing a great topic on social media is the ...
How Americans Use Social Media
Roughly eight-in-ten U.S. adults (83%) report ever using the video-based platform. While a somewhat lower share reports using it, Facebook is also a dominant player in the online landscape. Most Americans (68%) report using the social media platform. Additionally, roughly half of U.S. adults (47%) say they use Instagram.
6 facts about Americans and TikTok
Here are six key facts about Americans and TikTok, drawn from Pew Research Center surveys. A third of U.S. adults - including a majority of adults under 30 - use TikTok. Around six-in-ten U.S. adults under 30 (62%) say they use TikTok, compared with 39% of those ages 30 to 49, 24% of those 50 to 64, and 10% of those 65 and older. In a 2023 ...
Building a Social Media Algorithm That Actually Promotes Societal Values
A Stanford research team shows that building democratic values into a feed-ranking algorithm reduces partisan animosity. For all their efforts to moderate content and reduce online toxicity, social media companies still fundamentally care about one thing: retaining users in the long run, a goal they've perceived as best achieved by keeping ...
How Marketers Choose College Athlete Influencers
The authors' research findings: Athletes' image and quality of social media posts are more important than their follower counts, posts should feature sports more than personal content, and ...
Teens are spending nearly 5 hours daily on social media. Here are the
41%. Percentage of teens with the highest social media use who rate their overall mental health as poor or very poor, compared with 23% of those with the lowest use. For example, 10% of the highest use group expressed suicidal intent or self-harm in the past 12 months compared with 5% of the lowest use group, and 17% of the highest users expressed poor body image compared with 6% of the lowest ...
What is OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence)?
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is the process of gathering and analyzing publicly available information to assess threats, make decisions or answer specific questions. Many organizations use OSINT as a cybersecurity tool to help gauge security risks and identify vulnerabilities in their IT systems. Cybercriminals and hackers also use OSINT ...
Social Media Use in 2021
In a pattern consistent with past Center studies on social media use, there are some stark age differences. Some 84% of adults ages 18 to 29 say they ever use any social media sites, which is similar to the share of those ages 30 to 49 who say this (81%). By comparison, a somewhat smaller share of those ages 50 to 64 (73%) say they use social ...
A Hippocratic oath for teachers
The Hippocratic oath for current and future teachers. I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant: I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those teachers/researchers in whose steps I walk and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow. I will apply, for the benefit of the students ...
'Misinformation' Is the Censors' Excuse
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments last month in the momentous case of Murthy v. Missouri. At issue is the constitutionality of what government authorities did to censor speech that departed ...

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