This article applies social capital frameworks to examine the effects of Instagram hashtag use on heterogeneous and homogeneous networks as well as online civic engagement. Using an online survey of college students (N = 193), the results revealed that using Instagram hashtags for communication,...

The main purpose of this article is to investigate the selection patterns and uses made of the web tools and social media in both formal and non-formal education of students. The possibility of using networks to provide a multitude of stimuli that can be used for facilitating the learning, which...

The main aim of this article is to investigate the role of customer-brand engagement (CBE) and relationship quality (RQ) when individuals engage online with a brand. The study empirically examines the serial mediation of CBE and RQ between customer participation and brand loyalty. The research...

In recent years online communities have become popular as a way for dispersed members to interact and share ideas. However, there is limited research on the systemic analysis of such groups. In this paper the authors draw on systems research to suggest that one can only understand or interpret...

How narcissism, communication anxiety, and gratifications impact SNS use and social capital was examined through a survey of Net-geners in China (N=568). Firstly, factor analysis identified four gratifications-sought from SNS: self-presentation, peer pressure, social network maintenance, and...

Guided by the literature on youth engagement and media studies globally, this conceptual article examines the key engagement-related notions involving youth and media usage. A central argument of the article is that meaningful youth engagement can be considered a key concept in describing...

Electronic government initiatives play a central role in opening doors for potential voters to participate in the political process by using electronic voting systems. Electronic voting is attracting more attention by governments around the world, where many countries have exploited e-voting...

Participation in social networks has long been studied as a social phenomenon according to different theories. In particular, the notion of social capital highlights a person's benefit due to his relations with other persons, including family, colleagues, friends and generic contacts. It may be...

Social mobility is at the forefront of the British Government's plans to improve the lives of the most deprived groups in society. Since the election of the New Labour government in May 1997, consecutive governments have championed the concept of social mobility. The fundamental aim of social...