The rise of digital communication technologies has significantly changed how people participate in social protests. Digital platforms—such as social media—have enabled individuals to organize and mobilize protests on a global scale. As a result, there has been a growing interest in understanding the role of digital communication in social protests. This manuscript provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the evolution of research on digital communication and social protests from 2008 to 2022. The study employs bibliometric methodology to analyze a sample of 260 research articles extracted from the SCOPUS core collection. The findings indicate a significant increase in scholarly investigations about digital communication and its role in social protest movements during the past decade. The number of publications on this topic has increased significantly since 2012—peaking in 2022—indicating a heightened interest following COVID-19. The United States, United Kingdom, and Spain are the leading countries in publication output on this topic. The analysis underlines scholars employing a range of theoretical perspectives—including social movement theory, network theory, and media studies—to identify the relationship between digital communication and social protests. Social media platforms—X (Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube—are the most frequently studied and utilized digital communication tools engaged in social protests. The study concludes by identifying emerging topics relating to social movements, political communication, and protest, thereby suggesting gaps and opportunities for future research.

This study examines the intricate interplay between the digital environment and the evolving communication dynamics of Generation Z, specifically focusing on the impact of social media on familial bonds. The research objective is to explore the ways in which Generation Z’s social media consumption patterns shape their relationships and lives, providing insights into the intricate interplay between technology and human connections. Adopting Hirschi and Wellman’s theoretical framework, this investigation employs a survey method, utilizing a questionnaire to gather data from 384 Iranian Generation Z social media users. The findings reveal a significant and negative correlation between family bonds and social media usage, dependency on the platform, and support received from it. Excessive use diminishes interaction and intimacy, highlighting social media’s potential consequences for family relationships, which are crucial for individual and societal well-being. The study underscores the significance of balanced social media usage and encourages initiatives promoting face-to-face interactions, empathy, and responsible digital citizenship. The findings hold significant implications for academics and policymakers in developing strategies that promote responsible digital habits, foster healthy relationships, and contribute to digital citizenship advancement. This may involve regulatory initiatives, guidelines for social media platforms, and public awareness campaigns emphasizing the importance of balanced digital habits.

This paper proposes a framework for highlighting the significance of cultural communication in Islamic thought, sociology, and law, areas deeply intertwined with human values. It examines how Islam presents a clear vision and noble conduct in establishing peace values and fostering principles of tolerance among all. Additionally, it explores the potential of virtual communication networks to promote a culture of peace.

Social media influencer marketing has emerged as an essential marketing strategy in the online interactive environment. This study investigates the impact of influencer-consumer fit (ICF) on behavioral intentions; intention to co-create brand value (ICC) and purchase intention (PI), with the serial mediation of influencer authenticity (IA) and attitude toward brand (ATB). A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to followers of social media influencers in Pakistan. The data were collected from 421 female followers of social media influencers through survey and partial least squares—structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. The findings reveal that ICF impacts IA, while the latter impacts ATB. ATB in turn impacts behavioral intentions. The direct effects suggest that ICF impacts consumers’ PI but not the ICC. However, with the serial mediation of IA and ATB, the relationship becomes significant. The findings of this study may assist managers in building brand strategies to achieve excellence in a highly dynamic and competitive market by leveraging the power of influencer marketing.

Electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM) has become a pivotal factor influencing consumers’ decisions, particularly in the context of hotel services. With the advent of social media, it provides individuals with powerful tools to share its experiences and opinions about hotels. In this digital age, customers increasingly rely on online reviews and recommendations from their peers when selecting accommodations. eWOM on social media platforms has a substantial impact on customers’ perceptions and decision-making processes. This study aims to better understand the influence of eWOM by social media platforms on purchase intention of hotel services. To understand the influence of eWOM, this study uses the information adoption model as the model has been widely used in previous eWOM studies. The information quantity construct has been added to strengthen the model. The online questionnaire was distributed to social media users by using Google forms via social media platforms and only 210 of them were responded. The SmartPLS 4.0 software is used to analyze the data as the Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) is a method to confirm the structural equation models and to test the link between inert developments. Based on results, the information quantity and information quality of hotel services on eWOM positively influences the information usefulness and the information usefulness of hotel services on eWOM positively influences the purchase intention. The results lead to increase sales of hotel services and contribute to economic growth.

The evolution of the internet has led to the emergence of social media (SM) platforms, offering dynamic environments for user interaction and content creation. Social media, characterized by user-generated content, has become integral to electronic communication, fostering higher engagement and interaction. This study aims to explore the utilization of SM marketing, particularly in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), focusing on Széchenyi István University’s academic social network sites (SNS) as a case study to enhance student engagement and satisfaction. The primary objective of this study is to review recent academic literature on SM marketing, especially for HEI marketing, and investigate the potential of the University’s SNS platforms as a case study in increasing student engagement. First a systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus and Science Direct databases to analyze recent research in academic SM. Then the article examined the University’s website and SNS platforms using the Facepager program to collect and analyze posts’ content. The findings from the literature review and observation indicate the growing importance of SM in higher education marketing. The university’s use of various SM strategies, such as visual storytelling, multimedia content, blogs, and user-generated content, contributes to increased student engagement of the university’s values.