Social Data Collaboratory

Join NORC at the University of Chicago as a field interviewer and make a meaningful impact through groundbreaking social research! We're seeking motivated individuals to conduct in-person interviews in their local communities. Apply today at norcfieldjobs.org #Hiring #Research #FieldWork

This fun article does a great job of overviewing the plusses and minuses of AI. https://lnkd.in/eQ3KU_wN My quick distillation (not an AI summary): * Characterizing different AI tools, the author compared Claude to Hermione Granger :). *Other GenAI tools can lean toward the sycophantic--producing what the bot thinks we want to hear. *Her discussion of the the trade off between efficiency and authenticity/creativity is so relatable: "Being able to take a photo of discolored grout in my shower and get advice for what to do about it is a killer use case." However, AI fashion recommendations resulted in a "mannequin-core" wardrobe. How does this apply to research? In my opinion, AI efficiency is like the difference between going to the library to search the card catalogue and using Google Scholar. It's not cheating; it's just an improvement, full stop. AI takes Google Scholar (as a metaphor) to another level. The downsides: regression to the mean, hallucinations, and perpetuating bias are exactly why human creativity and judgement are more important than ever.

I feel so lucky to be in the company of such an amazing group of outstanding researchers. Thanks also to Anna (Ganna) Kostygina and Miao Feng. And many thanks to Shyanika Rose who led this effort and kindly, yet persistently, coaxed us all through the many steps to get this work to the finish line!

Great study by Miao Feng and team! The tobacco industry gives us fertile ground for researching misinformation. Our approach can be applied to other public health topics where commercial determinants of health (CDoH) industries work against public health goals.

?? Exciting New Research Alert! ?? We're thrilled to share the latest findings from NORC at the University of Chicago's Social Data Collaboratory (SDC), led by Miao Feng, in collaboration with UCSF, presented at the APHA Conference! ?? ?? Background: Tobacco misinformation significantly impacts those who suffer the most from tobacco-related health issues. Despite the prevalence of this issue, relatively few studies have addressed tobacco-related misinformation on social media. Our team recognized the need for a systematic classification and organization of this misinformation to support future research and tailored educational interventions. ?? Results: Our research identified 179 tweets from a pool of 9025, using a three-dimensional framework built through qualitative analysis. This comprehensive framework will aid in understanding and combating tobacco misinformation online. ?? Conclusion: Clear, precise, and accessible scientific information is crucial for public health initiatives to debunk misleading claims. Our findings highlight the importance of targeted educational programs to equip users with information literacy, empowering them to discern accurate information from misleading content. ?? We're eager to continue this important work and invite you to join us! If you have ideas for further research, potential collaborations, or insights into combating misinformation, we'd love to hear from you. Let's work together to create a healthier, well-informed future. ?? Contact us through Alex Kresovich at [email protected] to collaborate or share your thoughts! #PublicHealth #Research #TobaccoControl #Misinformation #HealthCommunication #Collaboration #APHA2024

Exciting times here at NORC at the University of Chicago!

?? Unveiling the Impact of Influencer Marketing on Tobacco Use ?? We're thrilled to share an overview of our latest research presentation from the 2024 American Public Health Association (APHA) Conference, led by Yoonsang Kim from NORC at the University of Chicago's Social Data Collaboratory (SDC). Our study investigates the impact of social media influencers on the use of cigars, little cigars, and cigarillos (CLCCs) among youth and young adults. Key takeaways from the poster presentation: ??Influencer Impact: Tweets from top-followed accounts (celebrities, news outlets) significantly increased CLCC susceptibility and use among young people. Susceptibility was 172% higher, and current use was 67% higher. ?? Methodology: Our analysis used data from the 2019 Truth Longitudinal Cohort and social media data from X (formerly Twitter). We measured influencer impact through followers, mentions, retweets, and h-index. ??Concerning Trends: Influencer marketing can promote favorable attitudes towards tobacco products among youth. This highlights the need to monitor this strategy. ?? Let's Collaborate! We believe this research is a crucial step in understanding and addressing the role of social media influencers in tobacco promotion. If you have ideas for further research, potential collaborations, or insights into emerging trends, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can develop strategies to mitigate the impact of tobacco marketing on young people. Please reach out to Alex Kresovich at [email protected] to connect. #PublicHealth #Research #InfluencerMarketing #TobaccoControl #SocialMedia #YouthHealth #Collaboration #APHA2024

?? New Insights on Cigar Marketing Trends ?? Our team at NORC at the University of Chicago's Social Data Collaboratory (SDC), led by Chandler Carter, has just completed an eye-opening study on the marketing expenditures of cigars, little cigars, and cigarillos (CLCCs) in the USA from January 2017 to July 2022. The study found shifts in marketing priorities, increases in radio and digital advertising, and changes following FDA regulations on flavored cigars. ?? Key Findings: 1. Marketing Shifts: Cigarillos took the lead in advertising spend in 2018 but saw a decline by 2020. However, they surged again in 2022, indicating fluctuating marketing priorities. 2. Channel Insights: ? Radio Advertising: Saw a significant increase in 2021. ? Outdoor Advertising: Steadily increased throughout the study period. ? Digital Advertising: Online marketing grew between 2020 and 2021, with new expenditures on mobile apps appearing in 2021. 3. Impact of Regulations: The decline in little/filtered cigars marketing spend aligns with the FDA’s April 2021 announcement on flavored cigar sale restrictions. ?? What This Means: Our findings highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance of CLCC marketing, especially as the FDA considers further regulations on flavored cigars. The rise in digital and mobile app advertising, often reaching younger and minority populations, calls for urgent attention and regulation. We're eager to hear from you! Whether you have ideas for further research, potential collaborations, or insights into emerging marketing trends, we’d love to connect. Let’s work together to inform policy and create a healthier future. ?? Contact Us: If you're interested in collaborating or have suggestions, please reach out to Alex Kresovich at [email protected]. Read the full study here, https://lnkd.in/ep2wJ9pm #CigarMarketing #PublicHealth #Research #FDA #DigitalAdvertising #MarketingTrends #HealthPolicy

Thank you to Barbara Gottesman, MPH for bringing this to my attention (and making my blood pressure spike!) https://lnkd.in/gVfu3ehE I have so many thoughts, but I'll keep it brief: Zyn's rise in popularity is largely attributable to social media. In theory, FDA prohibits influencer promotion of some tobacco products and the FTC requires disclosure of material relationships between influencers and brands. HA! That a joke bc a) disclosure rarely happens and b) the policy is unenforceable. As the article points out, few influencers are explicitly paid by brands. Rather, when they post about some emerging trend/product, like Zyn, “The payment you’re getting is people Googling Zyn and your video coming up on TikTok or YouTube.” The effects of social media promotion of commercial determinants of health (from tobacco to pharma to firearms) are understudied, yet super important. While we are all focusing on how social media is detrimental to our mental health, we are ignoring another elephant in the network: the ways that the FTC and FDA protected consumers from advertisements about harmful products do not translate to how these harmful products are promoted on social media. Full stop. It's a new world and new approaches are required.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!?? ?? Hypothesis: SDC researchers were adorable trick-or-treaters! From Superman to Street Fighter's Blanka to magical fairies - SDC researchers weren't always social scientists! In the spirit of Halloween, our team is sharing some of their favorite childhood costume memories. Take a peek at these spooktacular throwbacks! Featured from SDC include researchers Chandler Carter, Alex Kresovich, and Sarah Koltun! What was your favorite Halloween costume growing up? Share your throwback photos in the comments! Learn more about SDC and our research team by visiting this link: https://lnkd.in/eid_phZi #Halloween #ThrowbackThursday #ResearchLife #BehindTheScience