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Social Media and Society
H-index 32

Social Media and Society

2056-3051

Published by: SAGE

https://journals.sagepub.com/home/sms

Ranking & Metrics

Discipline name Position Best Scientists Publications D-Index
Social Sciences and Humanities 57 42 62 23

Additional Metrics

Number of Best Scientists*: 90
Documents by Best Scientists*: 106
Top 100 Ranked Scientists*: 4
SCIMAGO H-index: 82
SCIMAGO SJR: 2.169
Impact Factor: 4.9

Overview

Top Research Topics at Social media and society?

The foci of the journal are Social media, Media studies, Social psychology, Politics and Internet privacy. Social media studies covered in Social media and society falls within the purview of World Wide Web. The research on Media studies tackled can also make contributions to studies in the areas of Identity (social science), Mainstream and Social movement.

The majority of Politics studies in Social media and society are focused on the subject of Political communication.

  • Social media (98.59%)
  • Media studies (33.23%)
  • Social psychology (21.01%)

What are the most cited papers published in the journal?

  • The Platformization of the Web: Making Web Data Platform Ready (286 citations)
  • A Tale of Four Platforms: Motivations and Uses of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat Among College Students?: (202 citations)
  • Smart Refugees : How Syrian Asylum Migrants use Social Media Information in Migration Decision-making (183 citations)

Research areas of the most cited articles at Social media and society:

The published papers focus largely on the fields of Social media, Media studies, Social psychology, Internet privacy and World Wide Web. The published articles hold forums on Social media that merge themes from other disciplines such as Social network, Affordance, Gender studies, Refugee and Politics. While work presented in the most cited publications provide substantial information on Media studies, it also covers topics in Movement (music), Online activism, Construct (philosophy), Power (social and political) and Social science.

What topics the last edition of the journal is best known for?

  • Law
  • World War II
  • The Internet

The previous edition focused in particular on these issues:

The aim of the journal is to expand the discussion of research in Social media, Media studies, Politics, Social psychology and Advertising. Social media research presented in the journal encompasses a variety of subjects, including Perception, Public relations and Internet privacy. In it, Publics, Affordance and Disinformation are investigated in conjunction with one another to address concerns in Media studies research.

It dives deep in exploring the relationship between the study of Politics and Content (Freudian dream analysis). The study on Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presented is investigated in conjunction with research in Pandemic.

The most cited articles from the last journal are:

  • From “Networked Publics” to “Refracted Publics”: A Companion Framework for Researching “Below the Radar” Studies (6 citations)
  • Sustained Online Amplification of COVID-19 Elites in the United States (5 citations)
  • Showing They Care (Or Don’t): Affective Publics and Ambivalent Climate Activism on TikTok: (5 citations)

Papers citation over time

A key indicator for each journal is its effectiveness in reaching other researchers with the papers published at that venue.

The chart below presents the interquartile range (first quartile 25%, median 50% and third quartile 75%) of the number of citations of articles over time.

The top authors publishing in Social media and society (based on the number of publications) are:

  • Brooke Erin Duffy (7 papers) published 1 paper at the last edition the same number as at the previous edition,
  • Anatoliy Gruzd (5 papers) published 1 paper at the last edition the same number as at the previous edition,
  • Eszter Hargittai (5 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Chang Sup Park (5 papers) published 1 paper at the last edition,
  • Donghee Yvette Wohn (4 papers) absent at the last edition.

The overall trend for top authors publishing in this journal is outlined below. The chart shows the number of publications at each edition of the journal for top authors.

Only papers with recognized affiliations are considered

The top affiliations publishing in Social media and society (based on the number of publications) are:

  • University of Amsterdam (22 papers) published 2 papers at the last edition, 6 less than at the previous edition,
  • University of Michigan (18 papers) published 4 papers at the last edition, 2 less than at the previous edition,
  • University of Texas at Austin (17 papers) published 2 papers at the last edition, 2 less than at the previous edition,
  • University of Oxford (17 papers) published 5 papers at the last edition, 1 more than at the previous edition,
  • Queensland University of Technology (15 papers) published 3 papers at the last edition, 2 more than at the previous edition.

The overall trend for top affiliations publishing in this journal is outlined below. The chart shows the number of publications at each edition of the journal for top affiliations.

Publication chance based on affiliation

The publication chance index shows the ratio of articles published by the best research institutions in the journal edition to all articles published within that journal. The best research institutions were selected based on the largest number of articles published during all editions of the journal.

The chart below presents the percentage ratio of articles from top institutions (based on their ranking of total papers).Top affiliations were grouped by their rank into the following tiers: top 1-10, top 11-20, top 21-50, and top 51+. Only articles with a recognized affiliation are considered.

During the most recent 2021 edition, 8.53% of publications had an unrecognized affiliation. Out of the publications with recognized affiliations, 22.03% were posted by at least one author from the top 10 institutions publishing in the journal. Another 4.24% included authors affiliated with research institutions from the top 11-20 affiliations. Institutions from the 21-50 range included 20.34% of all publications and 53.39% were from other institutions.

Returning Authors Index

A very common phenomenon observed among researchers publishing scientific articles is the intentional selection of journals they have already attended in the past. In particular, it is worth analyzing the case when the authors participate in the same journal from year to year.

The Returning Authors Index presented below illustrates the ratio of authors who participated in both a given as well as the previous edition of the journal in relation to all participants in a given year.

Returning Institution Index

The graph below shows the Returning Institution Index, illustrating the ratio of institutions that participated in both a given and the previous edition of the conference in relation to all affiliations present in a given year.

The experience to innovation index

Our experience to innovation index was created to show a cross-section of the experience level of authors publishing in a journal. The index includes the authors publishing at the last edition of a journal, grouped by total number of publications throughout their academic career (P) and the total number of citations of these publications ever received (C).

The group intervals were selected empirically to best show the diversity of the authors' experiences, their labels were selected as a convenience, not as judgment. The authors were divided into the following groups:

  • Novice - P < 5 or C < 25 (the number of publications less than 5 or the number of citations less than 25),
  • Competent - P < 10 or C < 100 (the number of publications less than 10 or the number of citations less than 100),
  • Experienced - P < 25 or C < 625 (the number of publications less than 25 or the number of citations less than 625),
  • Master - P < 50 or C < 2500 (the number of publications less than 50 or the number of citations less than 2500),
  • Star - P ≥ 50 and C ≥ 2500 (both the number of publications greater than 50 and the number of citations greater than 2500).

The chart below illustrates experience levels of first authors in cases of publications with multiple authors.

Career Advancement in Social Media Research

While studies in media research and social psychology are of paramount importance, forging a career in these disciplines mandates certain academic qualifications, and licensing for practice in specific regions. For aspiring counselors specializing in the area of media studies and social psychology in the United States, a License Professional Counselor (LPC) certification holds significant value.

The criteria for attaining an LPC differs by state. In Washington, for instance, the requirements encompass completion of a supervised degree from a recognized institution, a specific number of hours dedicated to counseling experience, and successfully passing a National Counselor Examination. Eligibility demands can be quite stringent, though it is a prerequisite to ensure that competent professionals enter the media research and counseling arena.

Delving deeper into the LPC requirements in Washington might provide upcoming researchers with essential insights to further their careers in media studies. This knowledge will not only aid in their professional development but also enhance the quality and breadth of research conducted in social media, politics, and other associated fields.

As the field of media studies expands with the rise of social media and digitization, more opportunities are cropping up for licensed professionals. Candidates with the right qualifications and practical experience can significantly contribute to this rapidly evolving field ahead.

Top Publications

  • Deepfakes and Disinformation: Exploring the Impact of Synthetic Political Video on Deception, Uncertainty, and Trust in News:

    Cristian Vaccari;Andrew Chadwick

    (2020)
    709 Citations
  • Changes in Digital Communication During the COVID-19 Global Pandemic: Implications for Digital Inequality and Future Research

    Minh Hao Nguyen;Jonathan Gruber;Jaelle Fuchs;Will Marler

    (2020)
    316 Citations
  • Boosting Health Campaign Reach and Engagement Through Use of Social Media Influencers and Memes

    Ganna Kostygina;Hy Tran;Steven Binns;Glen Szczypka

    (2020)
    188 Citations
  • Online Social Endorsement and Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in the United Kingdom

    Andrew Chadwick;Johannes Kaiser;Cristian Vaccari;Daniel Freeman;Daniel Freeman

    (2021)
    137 Citations
  • Can Social Media Participation Enhance LGBTQ+ Youth Well-Being? Development of the Social Media Benefits Scale:

    Shelley L. Craig;Andrew D. Eaton;Lauren B. McInroy;Vivian W. Y. Leung

    (2021)
    127 Citations
  • Polarization Over Vaccination: Ideological Differences in Twitter Expression About COVID-19 Vaccine Favorability and Specific Hesitancy Concerns

    (2021)
    109 Citations
  • Morally Motivated Networked Harassment as Normative Reinforcement

    Alice E. Marwick

    (2021)
    101 Citations
  • Older Adults, Social Technologies, and the Coronavirus Pandemic: Challenges, Strengths, and Strategies for Support

    Ryan C. Moore;Jeffrey T. Hancock

    (2020)
    82 Citations

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

For those interested in Psychology, pursuing related degrees like a Master of Social Work (MSW) can expand career opportunities. Many students look for the cheapest online MSW programs to balance affordability with quality education. These programs provide essential skills for careers in social services, counseling, and community support.

For quicker completion, accelerated MSW programs enable students to obtain their degrees in less time, often through intensive coursework and flexible schedules. This pathway is ideal for career changers or those seeking to fast-track their professional development.

Undergraduate students might consider a 2 year psychology degree online, which offers a swift entry into the field with foundational psychological concepts and research skills. This option is particularly appealing for students aiming to start their careers sooner or build a base for graduate studies.

For those pursuing counseling specifically, selecting from CACREP-accredited programs online ensures adherence to high professional standards. Accreditation is crucial for licensure and enhances career prospects in counseling and mental health services.

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