Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community
Published on: May 31, 2019
Influenced by Anonymous Others: Effects of Online Comments on Risk Perception and Intention to Communicate
Hue Trong Duong1, Hong Tien Vu2, Long Thang Van Nguyen3
1Department of Communication Studies, University of Georgia.
Abstract:
Guided by the health risk communication literature and the social identity model of deindividualization effects, this study examines whether and how concurrent exposure to health news articles and congruent/incongruent comments posted by anonymous others may affect news viewers' personal risk perception, societal risk perception, and intention to communicate about health risk issues. Two controlled experiments were conducted in Vietnam concerning two controversial health risk issues, including ear picking and child corporal punishment. Results showed a significant interaction effect between comments and perceived similarity on personal risk perception and societal risk perception, such that comments influenced both types of risk perception when viewers perceived that anonymous commenters were ingroup members. Results also indicated the joint effect of comments and perceived similarity on participants' intention to communicate, mediated by their personal risk perception and societal risk perception. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.
More Related Videos
07:18Author Spotlight: Deciphering the Cognitive and Neural Mechanisms of Gesture in Communication
Published on: January 26, 2024
06:42Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Impact of Individuals on Individuals
Social Foundations of Self IV: Self in Digital Communication
Social Proof
Bystander Effect
Bullying
Deindividuation