Ashraf Sadat Ahadzadeh

Mask-wearing, once confined to surgical suites and industrial settings, became a visible public health practice during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and exploded globally with COVID-19, a global health cr...

Advances in robot design are reshaping human-dominated fields such as journalism. The integration of autonomous, adaptive systems into society increasingly blurs the boundaries between humans and machines. In this evolving landscape, journalism, rooted in human judgment and ethics, now faces unique challenges and opportunities. China, a global leader in robotic innovations, has emerged as a pioneer in robot journalism, further underscoring the importance of understanding human–robot dynamics. Amid these developments, the concept of Artificial Moral Agents has intensified debates about whether machines can possess moral agency, and how they might coexist with humans as collaborators. Central questions arise: How do humans perceive entities that resemble humans but are not alive? Can such artificial beings be ascribed moral agency and integrated into professional domains as colleagues? This study collected data through semi-structured interviews with 15 Chinese students of journalism aspiring to join the profession with an interest in the intersection between technology and journalism. Analysis of their insights yielded six themes: 1. anthropomorphic appearance; 2. human-like cognitive and emotional abilities; 3. the decision-making capacity of robot journalists; 4. robot journalists as incompetent moral agents; 5. erosion of news authenticity and diversity; and 6. whether the future of human–robot collaboration is as partners or rivals. This research highlights the need for philosophers and ethicists to revisit the definition of ‘moral agency’ and to develop frameworks to address the ambiguous moral status of artificial agents. By bridging theoretical discourse with empirical insights, this study contributes to ongoing conversations about the integration of artificial entities into journalism and society.

With the historical progression of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved to be increasingly anthropomorphic, enabling emotional engagement on a deeper level. China, characterised by a welcoming attitude towards AI adoption and a pervasive sense of loneliness found among Chinese young women, has become a harbour of human-AI emotional interactions. Yet, as a core concept in Computer Mediated Communication, social presence hasn't received sufficient attention in the field. Therefore, this study delved into the concept and theory of social presence through employment of a qualitative phenomenology design, conducting in-depth interviews with 15 Chinese young women aged between 20 and 29. Inductive thematic analysis was utilised to examine the details, from which two themes, “existence of presence” and “fractures of presence,” together with five subthemes emerged. The findings reveal participants' negotiation of social presence in their interactions with the AI, indicating a reactive yet voluntary process.

Purpose: In tandem with the omnipresence of falsehoods on social media, scepticism has emerged as a research topic, mainly in mitigating falsehood-related behaviours. However, the potential trajectories social media users navigate to develop scepticism are under-researched. The current study proposes a conceivable personality-cognitive-driven pathway grounded in media literacy theory (MLT), with the heuristic-systematic model (HSM) as a supplementary framework. Specifically, the hypothesis proposed a direct effect of social media locus of control on social media scepticism and further examined this relationship through the mediation effect of mindful thought processing.Design/methodology/approach: Employing a cross-sectional design, the data was collected from 423 Malaysian young adult social media users. SEM-PLS was utilised to test the direct and indirect effects of the constructs.Findings: The study found that social media locus of control and mindful thought processing positively predicted social media scepticism. Mindful thought processing plays a positive mediating role between social media locus of control and social media scepticism.Research limitations/implications: Media literacy advocates can benefit from the findings to design intervention programmes, investing in personality- and cognitive-related factors to train social media users to develop scepticism to battle the negative ramifications of falsehoods.Originality/value: This study yields multiple salient contributions: First, it brings to the fore the conscious and deliberate efforts social media users undertake to develop scepticism; second, it integrates MLT with HSM in a structured framework, allowing its canons to systematically cultivate scepticism toward social media; third, it contributes to literature on social media scepticism, introducing avenues to explore the underlying drives of scepticism.

In the ever-growing exploration of using neural implants beyond therapeutic contexts, researchers are turning their focus to the intriguing connection between the pursuit of perfection and the desire to embrace these technologies. Applying self-discrepancy theory, this study integrates the mediating influence of dissatisfaction with imperfection, while introducing free will and fatalistic determinism as enthralling moderators. Engaging 402 digitally native higher education students from Austria, Spain, Netherlands, and Portugal, the results illuminate a positive link between the quest for perfection and the inclination to adopt neural implants, with dissatisfaction with imperfection acting as a pivotal mediator. Moreover, the findings unveil nuances in the mediation effect based on one’s belief in free will and fatalistic determinism, highlighting a more pronounced association for those with a robust belief in free will compared to their counterparts with a diminished belief in fatalistic determinism. These outcomes not only enrich the literature on psychological predictors but also provide insights into the intricate motivations and mechanisms shaping individuals’ readiness to embrace neural implants. The implications extend to those championing the concept of a human-machine hybrid and to those voicing concerns about the trajectory of neural implant technologies.

Cyberchondria, characterised by escalating anxiety following online health information searches, has become increasingly relevant in the digital age, particularly with the growing reliance on digital platforms for self-diagnosis. Despite its significance, there is a lack of comprehensive literature addressing the psychological and social implications of cyberchondria. This book chapter aims to fill that gap by providing a detailed overview of cyberchondria, including demographic insights into its prevalence, conceptualization, and psychological impact. The chapter explores various factors that influence the development of cyberchondria, such as individual characteristics and the quality of online information. It examines the role of digital media in shaping cyberchondria and discusses coping strategies to mitigate its adverse effects. Emphasizing the importance of health education and digital literacy, the chapter highlights the need to empower individuals to use online health resources safely and effectively, particularly in light of the rise of cyberchondria.

Objective: Although technology-related cognitive determinants have been documented as predictors of behavioural intentions to use fitness applications (apps), research has given less attention to health-related cognitive factors. Examining these factors offers a fuller understanding of drivers of fitness app use. The temporal nature of weight management highlights the need for a time-oriented mindset to reinforce these relationships. This study integrates Consideration of Future Consequences (CFC), grounded in Construal Level Theory (CLT), as a higher-order framework linking health cognitions—perceived susceptibility (PSU), perceived severity (PSE), implicit theories of weight management (ITWM), and health consciousness (HC)—to intention to use fitness apps. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 302 Chinese fitness app users (43.7% male, 56.3% female) through a snowball sampling method. Hayes’ PROCESS macro was employed to test the mediation hypotheses. Results: PSU ( r = .230), PSE ( r = .212), and HC ( r = .523) were directly related to intention, whereas ITWM showed no significant relationship ( r = .100). CFC partially mediated the relationships of PSU (0.183, 95% CI [0.107, 0.267]), PSE (0.249, 95% CI [0.164, 0.343]), and HC (0.253, 95% CI [0.154, 0.348]) with intention. However, CFC did not mediate the relationship between ITWM and intention (0.059, 95% CI [-0.003, 0.114]). Conclusion: Integrating PSU, PSE, ITWM, and HC with CFC, this study advances a framework explaining how cognitive factors and future-oriented thinking shape the psychological mechanisms underlying intention to use fitness apps. Practically, developers can tailor features to health beliefs and CFC, while health communicators may emphasise long-term benefits to promote fitness technology.

In the ever-growing exploration of using neural implants beyond therapeutic contexts, researchers are turning their focus to the intriguing connection between the pursuit of perfection and the desire to embrace these technologies. Applying self-discrepancy theory, this study integrates the mediating influence of dissatisfaction with imperfection, while introducing free will and fatalistic determinism as enthralling moderators. Engaging 402 digitally native higher education students from Austria, Spain, Netherlands, and Portugal, the results illuminate a positive link between the quest for perfection and the inclination to adopt neural implants, with dissatisfaction with imperfection acting as a pivotal mediator. Moreover, the findings unveil nuances in the mediation effect based on one’s belief in free will and fatalistic determinism, highlighting a more pronounced association for those with a robust belief in free will compared to their counterparts with a diminished belief in fatalistic determinism. These outcomes not only enrich the literature on psychological predictors but also provide insights into the intricate motivations and mechanisms shaping individuals’ readiness to embrace neural implants. The implications extend to those championing the concept of a human-machine hybrid and to those voicing concerns about the trajectory of neural implant technologies.

This study examines the association between positive body image and selective visual self-presentation behaviors on social networking sites, while also considering the moderating influence of gender. We conducted a cross-sectional survey involving 282 undergraduate students in Malaysia (Mage = 20.85, SD = 1.81). The results reveal a negative correlation between positive body image and behaviors such as posing in pictures and editing photos. However, no significant relationship was found between positive body image and photo selection. Gender differences were evident, with females exhibiting higher engagement in posing in pictures, editing, and photo selection compared to males. The findings also show that gender plays a moderating role in the relationship between positive body image and photo selection, whereas no moderating effect was observed for posing in pictures and editing photos. The study’s implications are discussed.