The daily dose of digital inspiration: A multi-method exploration of meaningful communication in social media. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rieger, Diana; Klimmt, Christoph
• Is Part Of: New media & society. Volume 21:Number 1(2019)
• Page Start: 97
• Page End: 118
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Eudaimonic entertainment -- hashtags -- inspiration -- meaningfulness -- memes -- social media; Mass media -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Mass media and culture -- Periodicals; Information technology -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Internet -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 302.2305
• DOI: 10.1177/1461444818788323
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-4448

Abstract

Research on eudaimonic media has so far predominantly focused on audiovisual offerings: movies or YouTube video clips. However, much meaningful and inspiring content nowadays is uploaded on social media in so-called memes. Three exploratory studies therefore investigated the occurrence, content, and effects of inspiring and meaningful memes in social media: The hashtags of eudaimonic memes were analyzed in semantic networks (study 1), a content analysis was conducted to typologize eudaimonic themes addressed in memes (study 2), and an online survey investigated the effects of eudaimonic memes on users (study 3). The results suggest that previously defined topics of inspiration and meaningfulness are also common among hashtags and memes and lead to the same beneficial effects for their consumers. The discussion aims at advancing the theory of mediated eudaimonia and understanding its relevance for well-being in the daily lives of social media users.