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National Academies, National Science Foundation Create Network to Connect Decision-Makers with Social Scientists on Pressing COVID-19 Questions

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the National Science Foundation announced today the formation of a Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN) to connect social and behavioral science researchers with decision-makers who are leading the response to COVID-19. SEAN will respond to the most pressing social, behavioral, and economic questions that are being asked by federal, state, and local officials by working with appropriate experts to quickly provide actionable answers.




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Best Buy, Kendra Scott test 'appointment shopping' to secure social distancing

Merchants like Best Buy and


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Tencent launches social ecommerce mini program on WeChat

Hong-Kong-based conglomerate Tencent has rolled out Xiao’e Pinpin, a mini program for...




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Green Economy promotes economic and social development

Adopting the Green Economy approach will reap greater environmental, social and economic benefits, compared with a society that focuses on economic growth as the measure for future development, according to a recent UN report. Using two per cent of global GDP to ???green??? key sectors could be enough to trigger the transition towards a green economy.




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Flood-risk communications should be specific, tailored, and utilise social networks

Effective flood-risk communications should include specific information on how householders can protect themselves and their property against flooding, a recent Dutch study concludes. The researchers’ evaluation of communication strategies also highlights an important role for social media in spreading messages about flood risk and protection.




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Social and economic influences on the adoption of organic farming

A recent study investigates the factors that affect a farmer’s decision to convert to organic farming in Latvia and Estonia. A combination of social factors, such as peer pressure, and economic influences, such as subsidies, were found to be more important than either factor individually.




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Rebuilding the physical and social environment following natural disasters

In the aftermath of natural disasters, displaced communities require temporary accommodation. A new study has examined how the built environment of these temporary communities influences their recovery and resilience, using accommodation set up after Hurricane Katrina as a case study. It highlights the importance of developing transitional built environments that consider the social and mental health needs of a community.




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Underwater survey noise affects feeding and social behaviour of harbour porpoises

Noise from underwater geological surveys may be affecting the feeding and social interactions of harbour porpoises, new research has found. The study, conducted off the north-east coast of Scotland, found that the buzz clicks used by porpoises to hunt and socialise were reduced by 15% during the surveys.




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Social marketing to improve community-level green behaviour

A community-level initiative in the UK has successfully used social marketing techniques to encourage participants to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. On average, participants reduced their emissions footprint by 2 tonnes every year. Based on the initiative, the authors of this study propose a framework to guide future community engagement.




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Social research needed before introducing market-based waste policy

A better understanding of the social factors that affect market-based environmental policies could enhance their success, according to researchers. An analysis of reactions to a proposed waste disposal system in Greece indicated that both trust between citizens and trust in institutions could be highly influential in its implementation.




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Can supermarkets encourage customers to cut food waste through social media? Analysis of UK campaign shows mixed results

A study has evaluated three types of media campaign conducted by a large UK supermarket to encourage shoppers to reduce their food waste. These used social media, an e-newsletter and a print/digital magazine, respectively. Although they all appeared to lead to reductions in food waste to some extent, similar behavioural changes were also seen for customers who had not participated in any of the campaigns.




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Posting personal experiences on social media may help you remember them in the future

A new study -- the first to look at social media's effect on memory -- suggests posting personal experiences on social media makes those events much easier to recall.

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  • Psychology & Sociology

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Individual and social costs of car travel more than six times those of cycling

TEvery kilometre travelled by car incurs costs to the individual and society that are more than six times those of travelling by bicycle, a new study suggests. The researchers presented a cost-benefit analysis developed for Copenhagen, finding that cars resulted in costs of 0.50 €/km in comparison to 0.08 €/km for bikes.




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Green Economy promotes economic and social development

Adopting the Green Economy approach will reap greater environmental, social and economic benefits, compared with a society that focuses on economic growth as the measure for future development, according to a recent UN report. Using two per cent of global GDP to ‘green’ key sectors could be enough to trigger the transition towards a green economy.




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Social aspects of biodiversity: creating jobs and sustaining people

A new EU-commissioned report has investigated the social value of biodiversity conservation, particularly in terms of its links to employment. It estimates that 35% of jobs in developing countries and 7% of jobs in the EU are dependent on ecosystem services.




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Energy efficiency policies for home renovations and retrofitting should consider the social factors

Policies and programmes providing technological solutions to improve household energy efficiency alone may be insufficient to actually reduce overall household energy consumption, finds new research. The research examined home renovators’ motivations, behaviours and use of green technologies. Overall, reduced energy consumption was often undermined by other considerations, such as installation and maintenance costs, aesthetic considerations and daily routines or social concerns.




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Perspectives on shipbreaking: economic, social and environmental impacts at Alang-Sosiya

The Alang-Sosiya shipbreaking yards in India highlight the inequalities and opportunities of global waste management. The yards, which recycle retired ships from more economically developed countries, have dramatically altered the ecosystems and social structures of the local area. A study looking at stakeholder perceptions analyses different positions on the social and environmental impacts of the yards.




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What affects battery recycling rates? Political, social and cultural factors examined

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) and other regulatory influences are essential to battery recycling in Finland, a new study finds. The researchers compare this with the situation in Chile, where a lack of appropriate legislation prevents recycling companies from overcoming the technical and financial challenges of battery recycling. The study helps policymakers understand how political, social, and cultural factors can support companies in their move towards circular-economy business models.




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Sustainable coastal adaptation planning links ecosystem services with social needs

From rising seas to fiercer and more frequent storms, climate change effects are putting increasing pressure on coastal populations and ecosystems throughout Europe. Human activities, such as farming and land-use changes, are already in conflict with ecosystems. However, linking ecosystem services with social preferences in coastal land-use management can lead to more sustainable resource planning, finds a new study. The researchers developed guidelines for a participatory climate change adaptation process, which integrates the social effects of adaptation measures with the ecosystem services that they affect.




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The social value of flood alleviation

Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency and severity of flooding in coming years. For more effective flood alleviation, this study recommends schemes that consider the social impact of floods as well as the economic damages.




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4 in 5 users removing private information from social media apps globally

The Internet consumers are becoming more aware of their personal data and 82 per cent users have tried to remove private information from websites or social media channels, according to a report by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky.




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New clause added to IT Act: Onus of content not generated by users on social media platforms

‘Safe harbour protection’ only if intermediaries facilitate and not modify such content, including ads




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400 million social media users are set to lose their anonymity in India

The advent of new rules for social media applications - like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp - could spell the end for privacy in the Indian internet space. Despite push back from major internet companies, the Indian government is all set to go ahead with the new regulations. The rules are a bid to quell the spread of fake news and trace anti-social elements in the Indian internet ecosystem faster.




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Social media to join hands to fight fake news, hate speech

The proposed alliance — to be named the Information Trust Alliance (ITA) — will be a grouping of digital platforms and publishers, fact checkers, civil society and academia that will aim to control the spread of harmful content, including fake news and hate speech. So far, discussions have taken place among Facebook, Google, Twitter, Byte-Dance, ShareChat and YY Inc.




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India Inc tiptoes through CAA social media minefield

​​Companies are seeking to balance freedom of expression with the potential for damage to their business, not for the first time, but more gingerly perhaps, given the level of polarisation. ​​




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PM Narendra Modi mulls giving up social media on March 8

Government officials remained tightlipped on the reasons and said the PM would reveal more in a day or two. It was also not clear whether Modi, who has used social media to communicate directly with the masses, would be giving up the platforms for a long time or only for a day on Sunday — which also happens to be the International Women’s Day.




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Social media giants warn of AI moderation errors as coronavirus empties offices

The Silicon Valley tech giants have asked employees and contractors to work from home if possible, to slow the fast-spreading respiratory disease




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Indian government asks social media firms to curb Covid-19 fake news

The government asked social media platforms to start awareness campaigns, remove misinformation from the platform and promote authentic information




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Living in the golden age of social distancing

Working from home was never so good. Five tips from a pro for social distancers and the social distanced on not just how to survive self-quarantine but thrive in it.




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Success Coaches (Social Worker III)

Catawba County is recruiting for two engaging social workers with considerable knowledge in child welfare to fill the role of a Success Coach (Social Worker III). Success Coaches provide enhanced case management services to families.  In this role, you will provide on-going supportive services including assessment, crisis intervention, and skill reinforcement to families.   You will carry a caseload of 8-15 families requiring varying levels of service intensity. 
 
These Success Coaches will provide these voluntary services to post adoptive families in the Region 4 which includes Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Stanly, Cabarrus, Union and Cleveland counties.  Position involves heavy regular travel within the communities where services are provided.  For convenience to and knowledge of community resources, it is preferred that the applicant live in one of the counties served.   If not, applicant must be willing/able to travel within the counties served on a daily basis. 
 
These positions are time-limited and will end June 30, 2021. 




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The importance of social and political context for classifying ecosystem services

It is important to have a single definition of 'ecosystem services', but a single classification scheme for services is not appropriate, according to researchers. There are many contexts in which ecosystem services can be used and the context should help to determine which classification scheme is the most appropriate for decision making.




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How can social scientists engage with environmental policy?

Social scientists have been advising on environmental issues for decades, but their contributions to policy remain unclear. This study analysed how social scientists interact with policymakers and provides recommendations for future engagement.




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Natura 2000 conservation: how can social-science research enhance conservation outcomes?

Governance of biodiversity is closely linked to social and economic processes and human behaviour, appreciation of which can enhance conservation outcomes. This study reviewed findings on the social aspects of Natura 2000, identifying research gaps and recommendations for improving the network’s implementation across the EU. The researchers say limited stakeholder participation, negative perceptions of the network and a lack of consideration of the local context hinder the network’s effectiveness. They recommend increasing public awareness and compensating private landowners.




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Analysis of farmers’ social networks identifies important stakeholders for biodiversity conservation

Stakeholder support is essential to the success of environmental policies. A recent study has identified stakeholders that can promote biodiversity in European agricultural landscapes. The researchers found farmers were the most influential group of stakeholders, as they make the final decisions on land use. In turn, farmers are influenced in their decisions by a number of actors whose influence is perceived differently on a local and regional level.




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Social promotion of flowering meadows enables farmers’ results-based agri-environment measures in France

This study assessed the implementation of the ‘Flowering Meadows’ agri-environment scheme in France, a results-based scheme which encourages farmers to conserve meadows in the Bauges, Haut Jura and Vercors natural parks. While there was limited change in agricultural practices, the scheme did help to maintain meadow habitats. Farmers also welcomed the results-based payments approach, which gave them greater responsibility for and flexibility in managing their farms.




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UK government urges more cycling and walking to maintain social distancing

Transport secretary Grant Shapps has announced a series of plans to increase cycling and walking and to ensure less public transport usage for when lockdown restrictions ease.




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Heathrow boss says social distancing at airports is ‘physically impossible’ 




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How teachers use social media in the classroom to beef up instruction

Classroom management gets social with sites like Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest helping teachers and students communicate and share knowledge.



  • Research & Innovations

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Does your communication style depend on the social media site you're on?

How you use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media sites may change depending on the format — and who you're talking to.




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Vaccination decisions strongly influenced by social networks

A new study finds that the decision to vaccinate a child is as much social and cultural as it is science-based.



  • Babies & Pregnancy

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Fact: Social media is good for business

Survey data reveals that 90% of customers would recommend a brand after a positive social media interaction.



  • Sustainable Business Practices

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School pays service to monitor students' social media accounts

Will social media monitoring protect kids online or is it just plain spying?



  • Protection & Safety

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Babies prefer to interact with pro-social individuals

Babies are oriented towards pro-social individuals. They prefer interacting with a pro-social individual over an anti-social individual.



  • Babies & Pregnancy

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Lubanzi, a wine label with a social conscience

Some of the proceeds from Lubanzi wines, which are imported South Africa, goes to help the vineyard workers and their families.



  • Sustainable Business Practices

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Join the 10-day social media Organic-Palooza

The Organic Trade Association is hosting an online organic discussion and inviting everyone to participate in the #OrganicFestival.




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What is 'social jet lag' and is it making you sick?

If you're sleeping in on the weekends, you might be setting yourself up for a host of chronic health issues.



  • Fitness & Well-Being

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How to manage your social media addiction

Theses six apps can help you add hours back to your day.




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10 social workers helping those in need [Infographic]

The social workers have assisted veterans, children and families.




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How social media can make you look smart

If Google is making users stupid, then social networks like Facebook may be making people seem smart without actually being so.




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How social media affects body image

We know photos in magazine ads and TV commercials are altered, but are you aware of the Photoshopping on your friends' selfies?



  • Fitness & Well-Being