Social Media Communication

In Social Media Communication: Trends and Theories, distinguished scholar and journalist Bu Zhong uses a multidisciplinary approach to examine why and how social media is transforming communication in an increasingly networked society. Presenting 13 imperative social media topics—each with the power to change the way students see and use social media—this comprehensive textbook integrates original research findings from the author and recent work in communication studies, neuroscience, information science, and psychology.

Detailed yet accessible chapters provide in-depth knowledge about the mechanism underlying social media while helping students understand how to make the best use of modern social media tools. Divided into two parts, the text first introduces the theoretical frameworks used by researchers to study the ways people think and behave, followed by discussion of social media’s impact on information processing, social networking, cognition, communication, the media industry, and business marketing. Part two addresses current trends, topics, and debates involving social media usage, and presents research-based strategies for effectively using social media in the news industry, healthcare, social movements, and many other communication and business practices.

Social Media Communication: Trends and Theories is an ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in communication, business, journalism, and information science and technology. It is also a valuable resource for researchers, educators, journalists, entrepreneurs, and professionals working in media management, advertising, public relations, and business marketing.