Internet and emotions: New trends in an emerging field of research

Abstract

Las emociones han adquirido una importancia creciente en nuestra época, en todos los ámbitos de la sociedad. Esta revalorización de la dimensión afectiva de la persona se ha reflejado, a su vez, en su inclusión como objeto de estudio en investigaciones de numerosas ramas del saber. También dentro de los estudios en Comunicación, y en concreto en relación con la tecnología digital, existe un interés académico por las emociones. Por medio de una profunda revisión bibliográfica, en este trabajo se traza un mapa del campo de estudio en el que convergen las emociones y la tecnología digital; más concretamente, en el uso de Internet. En él se advierte un campo de investigación vibrante, amplio y complejo, en el que confluyen aproximaciones de diferente tipo, tanto en el plano teórico como en el metodológico. El artículo presenta un panorama de las investigaciones realizadas en esta materia, que abarca desde el estudio de las redes sociales como espacios de interacción en el que las emociones son expresadas, el contagio emocional a gran escala o el análisis de sentimientos en las plataformas digitales. Se concluye que la Red no sólo despierta emociones en sus usuarios y sirve de cauce para la expresión de los afectos, sino que también influye en el modo en que dicho afecto se modula y despliega, así como en la configuración de la identidad de la personaEmotions have become increasingly important in our time, in all realms of social reality. This revaluation of the affective dimension of the person is revealed in its common presence as subject of research in many fields of knowledge. Also in Media and Communications studies, and specifically in relation to the use of digital technology, there is an academic interest in emotions. This paper maps the field of study where emotions and digital technology converge, specifically in the use of the Internet. There appears a vibrant, wide and complex field of study in which come together approaches of different types, both on the theoretical plane and on the methodological one. The article provides an overview of research carried out in this subject, which includes the study of social media as spaces of interaction where emotions are displayed, the massive-scale emotional contagion or the sentiment analysis in the digital platforms, among other topics. We conclude that the Net not only arouses emotions in users and serves as a channel for the expression of affection, but also influences the way in which this affection is modulated and displayed, as well as the configuration of the personal identity of the users of the Interne

Live streaming, intimate situations, and the circulation of same-sex affect: Monetizing affective encounters on Blued

“…Affective signs highlight affect's embodied and social aspects (Ahmed, 2014). Social networking technologies not only transmit affect, but also condition and modulate it (Paasonen, 2018;Serrano-Puche, 2016). In other words, social media shape the ways in which affect is circulated and experienced.…”

Perfiles psicosociales de usuarios de entornos virtuales: motivaciones, conductas y consecuencias

“…Diferentes estudios han identificado elementos reforzantes psicosociales, como la retroalimentación positiva sobre la expresión y control de la propia identidad (Schimitt et al, 2008), o la mejora en la percepción de las relaciones sociales (Willoughby, 2008). Reforzadores positivos generales se relacionan con la interacción social, el desarrollo de la consciencia, el desarrollo intelectual, la creatividad, la inteligencia colectiva, o el apoyo emocional ante dificultades o problemas (Gackenbach, 2006;Serrano-Puche, 2016;Willoughby, 2008;Woolley et al, 2015). Por otro lado, las redes sociales online (social media) parecen reforzar y potenciar procesos grupales distorsionantes cuando ya están presentes inicialmente en el grupo, como son los de polarización y de pensamiento grupal (groupthink), tal y como están siendo estudiados en los fenómenos de transmisión de bulos/noticias falsas (fake news) o de desinformación (Garrett, Weeks, & Neo, 2016;Lelkes, 2016;Suhay, Bello-Pardo, & Maurer, 2018;Tewksbury, & Riles, 2015).…”

Profiles of Problematic Internet Use in Bullying and Cyberbullying among Adolescents

“…Specifically, the person loses control and becomes dependent due to the abusive use of the internet, which is linked to the fact that it initially presents a pleasant effect (positive reinforcer) at the same time that it reduces emotional tension (negative reinforcer). Given that problematic internet use has been associated with an imbalance in emotional regulation [ 5 , 6 ], the person typically enters a circle in which they seek to alleviate their emotional discomfort through abusive use of the internet, which helps them to minimize these emotions [ 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…Social media present positive aspects since they encourages the use of communication and establishes interpersonal relationships [ 7 , 8 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]; however, negative aspects, such as interpersonal conflicts may also appear, i.e., between those surrounding the individual (for example, misaligned behaviors such as presenting an imbalance between what is done and what is said), as well as intrapersonal conflicts, i.e., those that involve the individual in relation to the activity itself (for example, a lack of emotional self-regulation) [ 7 , 19 , 20 ]. Digital interpersonal relationships imply a change in spatial and temporal perception, creating a sense of immediacy of events and the acceleration of processes [ 8 , 16 ]. Coupled with the fact that the user does not need to be identified (for example, in chat rooms, the identity can be altered), this can produce a bespoke idealized character, which favors online social interaction versus face-to-face verbal communication [ 4 , 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

“…Cybercommunication implies a permanent connection as well as new styles of communication, the user being able to disconnect whenever he wishes. Intrapersonal conflicts may even appear due to the need, for example, to use the internet to escape from the routine or as a way to escape from anxiety [ 7 , 8 , 16 ].…”