UF Research

Instagram launched in 2010 as a social media app designed for sharing images from mobile devices. In the short space of five years, it built up an audience of more than 300 million active users and had more than 30 billion photos posted.  Like other social media platforms with large…

The portrayal of violence in media has been a subject of widespread debate, argument and study. Some research suggests that viewing violence in media that “sanitize, justify or trivialize violent acts” might normalize it and make it more enjoyable. Less well-known are techniques to reduce the possible effects of viewing…

Protecting an individual’s privacy online is a continuing concern in the digital world. The term “doxxing” describes the deliberate disclosure of a person’s identity online, whether that be contact information, photos or personal and family material. News organizations, in pursuing their role as watchdog over government and other social establishments,…

By Carma Bylund Ask anyone about their experience with their own or a loved one’s cancer, and the response will likely include a story or remark about an oncologist, surgeon, nurse, or other health care provider. These are often positive stories: the oncologist who remembered a child’s birthday, the nurse…

It’s a challenge troubling health organizations for decades: what is the most effective way to communicate important information about health risks to the public? In research published last August in the Journal of Language and Social Psychology, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications researchers Jordan M. Neil, Ph.D.…

By Janice Krieger In 2016, the National Cancer Institute launched the Cancer Moonshot with the goal of ending cancer. Increasing the financial resources available for cancer research is a crucial step for improving scientific understanding of the disease, as well as advancing the clinical availability of new tools for treating…

It’s no revelation that social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have changed the way we learn and communicate new information. But is it an effective way to communicate health risks associated with cancer? In new research that appeared in the Journal of Health Communication, University of Florida College of…

By Ann Christiano and Annie Neimand In an article published earlier this year, we asked nonprofits to stop raising awareness, and instead focus on super-strategic communications efforts that will result in lasting change. But starting this process presents some challenges. What’s the first step? And how can you help others…

The protection of free speech guaranteed in the First Amendment is one of the most cherished — and familiar —rights Americans enjoy. Less well-known to the average citizen are legislative acts and various court rulings that make distinctions between types of “free speech.” In an age when smartphones and social…

By Clay Calvert College campuses often are crucibles for free-speech controversies. The first eight months of 2017 were no exception, witnessing multiple incidents where conservative speakers like Ann Coulter and Milo Yiannopoulos drew opposition, anger and sometimes violence. So what happens when a controversial person – perhaps a non-student who…

Weather affects the foods we crave, so it’s no surprise that people drink more hot chocolate in the winter and sweet tea in the summer. But did you know that juice sales spike when it’s windy outside?  Not all correlations of weather condition and brand sales are intuitive, so this…

by Frank Waddell After the proliferation of fake news during the 2016 election cycle, the journalism field has come to a grim realization: Accuracy is no longer necessary for news to reach a broad audience. This is particularly problematic on social media, where traditional journalistic functions such as gatekeeping aren’t…