Social media? It's serious! Understanding the dark side of social media. Issue 4 (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baccarella, Christian V.; Wagner, Timm F.; Kietzmann, Jan H.; McCarthy, Ian P.
• Is Part Of: European management journal. Volume 36:Issue 4(2018:Aug.)
• Page Start: 431
• Page End: 438
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Social media -- Dark side -- Unintended consequences -- Bullying -- Fake news -- Trolling; Management -- Periodicals; Management -- Europe -- Periodicals; Gestion -- Périodiques; Gestion -- Europe -- Périodiques; Management; Europe; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 658.0094
• DOI: 10.1016/j.emj.2018.07.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-2373

Abstract

Abstract: Research and practice have mostly focused on the "bright side" of social media, aiming to understand and help in leveraging the manifold opportunities afforded by this technology. However, it is increasingly observable that social media present enormous risks for individuals, communities, firms, and even for society as a whole. Examples for this "dark side" of social media include cyberbullying, addictive use, trolling, online witch hunts, fake news, and privacy abuse. In this article, we aim to illustrate the multidimensionality of the dark side of social media and describe the related various undesirable outcomes. To do this, we adapt the established social media honeycomb framework to explain the dark side implications of each of the seven functional building blocks: conversations, sharing, presence, relationships, reputation, groups, and identity. On the basis of these reflections, we present a number of avenues for future research, so as to facilitate a better understanding and use of social media. Highlights: The "bright side" of social media and its uptake by society has received much research attention. The corresponding "dark side" of social media has received much less research attention. To study the deleterious impacts of social media, we introduce the dark side honeycomb framework. The framework describes the functional multidimensionality of the dark side of social media. We use this framework as a basis for a call-to-action for research on the dark side of social media.