Social Media + Society

Scope & Guideline

Exploring the Digital Tapestry of Society

Introduction

Welcome to the Social Media + Society information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of Social Media + Society, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN2056-3051
PublisherSAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
Support Open AccessYes
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 2015 to 2024
AbbreviationSOC MEDIA SOC / Soc. Med. Soc.
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address1 OLIVERS YARD, 55 CITY ROAD, LONDON EC1Y 1SP, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

The journal 'Social Media + Society' focuses on the multifaceted implications of social media in contemporary society, emphasizing the intersection of technology, culture, and social behavior. It aims to provide a platform for robust interdisciplinary research that examines how social media shapes and is shaped by societal dynamics.
  1. Social Media and Identity Construction:
    Research exploring how social media platforms facilitate identity formation, self-presentation, and the negotiation of personal and collective identities across various demographics.
  2. Political Communication and Activism:
    Investigations into social media's role in political discourse, activism, and public engagement, analyzing how online platforms influence political behavior and mobilization.
  3. Mental Health and Well-Being:
    Studies examining the impact of social media use on mental health, including both positive and negative effects, and how online interactions influence emotional well-being.
  4. Disinformation and Misinformation:
    Research focused on the spread of false information through social media, its implications for public opinion, trust in media, and strategies for combating misinformation.
  5. Cultural Practices and Community Building:
    Exploration of how social media fosters community, cultural practices, and social norms, including the role of memes, hashtags, and digital storytelling.
  6. Digital Governance and Platform Dynamics:
    Analysis of the governance structures of social media platforms, including content moderation, algorithmic biases, and the implications for user agency and freedom of expression.
The landscape of social media research is dynamic, with several emerging themes gaining traction in recent publications. These trends highlight the evolving nature of communication technologies and their societal implications.
  1. Intersectionality in Social Media Studies:
    An increasing focus on how social media intersects with various social identities, including race, gender, and sexuality, emphasizing the importance of diverse narratives and experiences.
  2. Mental Health Narratives and Support:
    Research exploring the role of social media in mental health discussions and support networks, particularly during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the platform's potential for fostering community and resilience.
  3. Influencer Culture and Digital Economy:
    A growing interest in the impact of influencers on consumer behavior, political discourse, and cultural trends, reflecting broader shifts in marketing and communication strategies.
  4. Digital Activism and Social Movements:
    Emerging studies on how social media facilitates grassroots activism, particularly in response to social justice movements, showcasing the platform's role in mobilizing support and awareness.
  5. Algorithmic Accountability and Ethics:
    An increasing emphasis on the ethical implications of algorithms that govern social media interactions, including concerns about bias, misinformation, and the need for transparency in platform governance.
  6. Technological Integration and Hybrid Spaces:
    Research focusing on the convergence of social media with other technologies (e.g., AI, VR) and how these integrations create new forms of interaction and community engagement.

Declining or Waning

While 'Social Media + Society' continues to explore a wide array of themes, certain areas of focus appear to be diminishing in prominence. This trend may reflect shifts in societal concerns or the evolving landscape of social media.
  1. Traditional Media Comparisons:
    Research comparing social media to traditional media has seen a decrease, possibly due to the growing integration of social media into mainstream communication channels and the diminishing relevance of traditional media in certain contexts.
  2. Basic User Engagement Metrics:
    Studies focusing on simplistic engagement metrics (likes, shares) are waning, as there is a shift toward more nuanced analyses of user behavior and interaction dynamics.
  3. Geographic and Cultural Specificity:
    Research that primarily examines social media phenomena in isolated geographic or cultural contexts is becoming less prevalent, as there is an increasing emphasis on global interconnectedness and comparative studies.
  4. Nostalgic Narratives of Early Social Media:
    Discussions centered around the early days of social media and its initial impacts are declining, as the focus shifts to current trends and future implications.
  5. Platform-Specific Studies:
    Research that solely concentrates on individual platforms without considering cross-platform dynamics is becoming less common, as scholars recognize the need for comprehensive analyses that account for user behavior across multiple platforms.

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