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In the context of smartphone-mediated family communication, the study investigates relationships of nomophobia and phubbing with affective effects of smartphone use among emerging adults. This web survey examines 714 Taiwanese young users utilising smartphones to communicate with parents. Structural equation modelling results show that nomophobia is positively associated with affective benefit (presence-in-absence) and cost (unwanted obligation and threat to privacy) of using smartphone, while phubbing is positively related to unwanted obligation and threat to privacy. Additionally, presence-in-absence shows a positive association with family cohesion, while unwanted obligation has a negative relationship, and threat to privacy shows no influence. Moreover, the study develops a nomophobia measure with sub-dimensions (information anxiety, social panic and losing online connectedness). Gender is the only demographic factor affecting nomophobia. Implications of smartphone's ABCCT impacts on family cohesion are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The viral dissemination of fake news threatens news organizations in Indonesia, with many social media users exhibiting a decrease in their trust of traditional media, as well as limited digital literacy. To investigate fake news during natural disasters, this mixed-methods study examines information patterns and journalistic practices of three news organizations during the 2018 Palu earthquake and tsunami. First, online observations of disaster-related fake news cases on social media provide insights into how fake news was handled by three types of news media. The results show that when fake news concerned factual scientific evidence, news organizations unanimously used the government statements to debunk disinformation. In contrast, political or religious fake news had long lifecycles of polarized debates between pro-government groups and opponents. Using the Hierarchy-of Influences Model, in-depth interviews showed that individual-level journalistic professionalism mattered when tackling fake news reports, with some local practices differing from Western journalism approaches. At the routine level, news professionals treated the government as the authority to debunk controversial, high-risk fake news by presenting news only after official clarifications, while independent media tended to present balanced reports with diverse views. Additionally, interviewees revealed that organizational policies in relation to media types greatly influenced the handling of fake news practices in Indonesian newsrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite growing multiscreen video-consumption worldwide, scant research has examined the relationship between users' personal traits and their behaviors when using various devices for passive viewing and active communicative and social interactions. This study investigates how multiscreen users' polychronicity, media multitasking motivations, and media repertoire influence passive multiscreen video viewing and active dual screening on video-related interactions. A web survey recruited 600 Singaporean social media users with online video discussion experiences. Results show that passive multiscreen video viewing and dual screening use are both positively associated with respondents having higher polychronicity and larger media repertoire. Polychronicity and media repertoire show relatively stronger effects on dual screening use than passive multiscreen video viewing. As for demographic factors, Chinese ethnicity is associated with passive multiscreen video viewing. Younger respondents tend to use smartphones and computers as second devices for video-related matters, while males use more tablets for dual screening activities than females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impacts and psychological antecedents of smartphone dependency at work. Analyzing semistructured interviews with 32 full-time employees in China, the findings show that dependence on smartphones at work seems to increase workers' perceived job performance and workplace social capital. However, in the negative side, it seems to lead to the emergence of smartphone addiction symptoms such as anxiety and uncontrollable usage behavior. Notably, this study uncovers that, although smartphone dependency at work seems to enhance workers' job performance, once such dependency turned to addiction, they perceived their performance to diminish. Besides, the findings show that conscientious employees and those with high smartphone self-efficacy are more likely to develop dependence on their smartphones at work. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Southeast Asia has experienced haze crises in recent years, encouraging Singaporeans to take preventive measures against negative health outcomes during haze is a growing concern. This study examines how communication factors (i.e., attention to traditional media and new media, interpersonal discussion, and knowledge) can inform Singaporeans about haze and influence their risk perceptions and intentions to undertake self-protective measures. The web survey of 410 respondents shows that attention to traditional media, attention to new media, interpersonal discussion, knowledge, and risk perception are positively associated with intention to take preventive measures. However, only interpersonal discussion is related to risk perception. Theoretical as well as practical implications of the findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The widespread adoption of mobile phones has increased the potential of mHealth to improve health communication and health outcomes because these devices could serve as a ubiquitous and affordable means to disseminate health information to large populations. Given that mHealth apps offer free or limited trials as part of promotional strategies, potential users’ trialability is a critical step of the preadoption process. Drawing from Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory, this study examines the relationships of adopters’ perceived characteristics of mHealth apps (i.e., relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, and observability) with their trialability. It further investigates how the perceived control of mobile devices and trialability of mHealth apps influence two dimensions of mHealth literacy, namely seeking and appraisal of health information. This web survey recruited 295 young mHealth app users from a Singaporean university. Results of partial least squares regression show that the observability of mHealth apps is the only factor positively related to mHealth trialability. Perceived control of mobile devices and trialability of mHealth apps are positively associated with seeking and appraisal of health information. Practical and theoretical implications to mHealth are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Technological determinism (TD) has been critiqued as reductionist, ahistorical, and simplistic. This article, however, presents its complexity by showing four of its typologies according to the axes of objective/subjective dimensions and regulation/radical change sociologies based on Burrell and Morgan’s Four paradigms for the analysis of social theory. Through a survey of the literature and theoretical arguments about new media and their possible consequences on political, economic, and cultural systems, the article shows how TD and social determinism constitute a continuum, rather than a dichotomy, of theories about the relationship of technology and society. It recommends the revisiting of Burrell and Morgan’s concepts and their utility in organizing other communication theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The annual Southeast Asian haze pollution raises public health concerns in this region. Based on a modified extended parallel process model, this study examines efficacy (self-efficacy and response efficacy) and perceived threat (susceptibility and severity) and incorporates new constructs of media trust and affective attitude. Results from a Web survey of 410 undergraduate students in Singapore show that response efficacy to seek haze-related information mediates the association between perceived self-efficacy and intention to take protective measures during haze. Moreover, self-efficacy is negatively associated with affective attitude (e.g., fear and worry) toward haze-related health problems. Next, perceived severity and perceived susceptibility are positively associated with response efficacy and affective attitude. Affective attitude toward haze is a stronger predictor than response efficacy for behavioral intention. Finally, trust in new media is positively associated with young Singaporeans’ affective attitude, which positively affects their behavioral intention to take protective measures. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Our purpose in this web-based study was to relate smartphone and nonsmartphone use to symptoms of mobile phone dependency, and to examine sociability in this context. We used a stratified sampling method to recruit 551 Singaporean undergraduates. The results showed that young smartphone users tended to have greater mobile phone dependency and more severe symptoms than nonsmartphone users did. We found that utilizing mobile Internet and text messaging were both positively associated with smartphone users' dependency. Regardless of phone type used, the level of sociability of mobile phone users was positively associated with mobile dependency and symptoms of feeling anxious and lost, and withdrawal/escape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile TV brings challenges to existing regulatory frameworks. The purpose of this paper is to analyze regulatory issues arising from TV services on mobile handsets, including 3G TV and mobile broadcasting TV. The research methods are document analysis and in-depth interviews with mobile TV policymakers and industrial players. Singapore's case is used to illustrate how the advancement and convergence of mobile video technology affect mobile TV policymaking and complicates regulatory considerations. Since 2005, Singapore's 3G TV services have been regulated under an Internet services' Class License scheme. In 2007, the Media Development Authority proposed to regulate both 3G TV services and the emerging mobile broadcasting TV under the broadcasting act with stricter licensing and content regulation. This paper argues that the old media laws cannot address mobile TV's unique characteristics and complex issues. Finally, it recommends the regulation of unicast and multicast mobile TV services separately under a light-touch, customized mobile TV policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smartphones currently dominate people's lives and interests due to their increased affordability and functionality. However, the negative aspects of smartphone use, such as smartphone addiction, have recently been brought up. This study utilized a qualitative approach to explore the symptoms of smartphone addiction among working adults in China and the psychological factors that affect such addiction. Methods: Semi-structured interviews, either face to face or via Skype (online), were conducted with 32 Chinese workers. The collected data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach in Nvivo 10 software. Results: This study identified four typical symptoms of smartphone addiction, namely, withdrawal (e.g., experiencing negative feelings when having no access to smartphones), salience (e.g., constant checking and thinking about smartphones), conflict (e.g., smartphone use interferes with family and work life), and phantom phone signals (e.g., illusory perception of a phone vibrating or ringing). Conscientiousness, neuroticism, and extroversion increase the likelihood of smartphone addiction. Notably, this study found that conscientious workers are likely to develop smartphone addiction, a finding that is contrary to those of the majority of existing studies on technological addiction. Conclusions: This study revealed various smartphone addiction symptoms among young Chinese workers, and these include withdrawal, salience, conflicts, and phantom phone signals. Conscientious, neurotic, and extroverted employees are likely to exhibit these symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impacts and psychological antecedents of smartphone dependency at work. Analyzing semistructured interviews with 32 full-time employees in China, the findings show that dependence on smartphones at work seems to increase workers' perceived job performance and workplace social capital. However, in the negative side, it seems to lead to the emergence of smartphone addiction symptoms such as anxiety and uncontrollable usage behavior. Notably, this study uncovers that, although smartphone dependency at work seems to enhance workers' job performance, once such dependency turned to addiction, they perceived their performance to diminish. Besides, the findings show that conscientious employees and those with high smartphone self-efficacy are more likely to develop dependence on their smartphones at work. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]