Social Media Can Create Surprising Behavioural Changes

Posted on October 8, 2015

Photo: flickr

Recent research explores why social networks are so effective for increasing participation. This leads to possible implications for the entire field of organizations using social tools to help people lose weight, stop smoking, and live healthier lives.

Findings showed that with social media, “We were able to use the positive signals to form a reinforcing loop that pushed everyone to exercise more,” says Jingwen Zhang, an author on the study.

What this new study reveals is that these same positive behavior signals are also powerful in our online networks, and can be harnessed for the social good. This approach could be applied not only to encourage exercise, but also to promote vaccinations, medication compliance, and preventative care.

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The participants, in fact, knew remarkably little about one another, yet the results indicate that even minimal exposure to social cues can have strong effects.


Category(s):Adult psychological development, Life Purpose / Meaning / Inner-Guidance

Source material from Psy Post