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Analysis of institutional authors

Lopez-De-Ayala, McCorresponding AuthorVizcaino-Laorga, RAuthorMontes-Vozmediano, MAuthor

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September 27, 2022
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Social network practices and attitudes of young people: the influence of sex, age, and social class

Publicated to:Profesional De La Informacion. 29 (6): 1-13 - 2020-12-01 29(6), DOI: 10.3145/epi.2020.nov.04

Authors: Lopez-de-Ayala, Maria-Cruz; Vizcaino-Laorga, Ricardo; Montes-Vozmediano, Manuel

Affiliations

Univ Rey Juan Carlos, Fac Ciencias Comunicac, Camino Molino 5, Fuenlabrada 28942, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Rey Juan Carlos, Fac Ciencias Comunicac, Camino Molino 5, Fuenlabrada 29943, Madrid, Spain - Author

Abstract

Young people show differential levels of participation in social networks linked to their different motivation to participate, even though their use is very high and intensive. In this study, a map of the most relevant social network practices of young people is constructed, with a particular focus on identifying participatory uses and studying their attitudes towards these spaces that support or limit their online behavior, while taking into account aspects such as sex, age, or family social class. The quantitative methodology applied in the current work analyzes the results of a representative statistical survey of young people aged 17 to 24 years in the Community of Madrid (N=533). The results confirm the high and intensive use of social media by young people, mainly oriented towards entertainment and interaction with their closest environment. However, these figures drop drastically when it comes to more participatory actions, highlighting differences according to social class. Based on the results of an exploratory factor analysis, we identify four types of use: informative, participatory, close sociability, and recreational. On the other hand, young people perceive social networks especially as spaces for information, to share opinions and experiences with the community, and for the participation of the general public, which allows them to influence reality, although they also express caution regarding the possible consequences of publishing opinions and personal information. Their assessment of these platforms and their repercussions is linked to sex, age, and family social class, making it possible to predict the different types of use, albeit with limited effects.

Keywords

AttitudesEntertainmentGenderInformationMedia useParticipationPracticesSociabilitySocial classSocial mediaSocial networksYouth

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Profesional De La Informacion due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2020, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Cultural Studies. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 2.03. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.07 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 22.3 (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-26, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 19
  • Scopus: 26

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-26:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 157 (PlumX).

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (López de Ayala López, María Cruz) and Last Author (Montes Vozmediano, Manuel Javier).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been López de Ayala López, María Cruz.