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Outputs (40)

COVID Sex Lives: Race and Ethnicity in Focus (2023)
Report
Merrick, R. K., Light, B., Garwood-Cross, L., & Moore, K. (in press). COVID Sex Lives: Race and Ethnicity in Focus. University of Salford

Race and ethnicity shaped the experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United Kingdom during the pandemic. This Covid Sex Lives In Focus Report delves deeper into social aspects that emerged from our findings. Key points in this report... Read More about COVID Sex Lives: Race and Ethnicity in Focus.

Covid Sex Lives: How the Pandemic Impacted the Sex Lives of Men Who Have Sex With Men (2023)
Report
Garwood-Cross, L., Katz, R., Hinds, K., Light, B., & Moore, K. (2023). Covid Sex Lives: How the Pandemic Impacted the Sex Lives of Men Who Have Sex With Men. University of Salford: UKRI AHRC

During the COVID-19 pandemic, messages from the government and public health organizations aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus were turned into media campaigns targeting different groups. The COVID Sex Lives project sought to understa... Read More about Covid Sex Lives: How the Pandemic Impacted the Sex Lives of Men Who Have Sex With Men.

The Covid Sex Lives Project: Health Messaging, Hooking Up And Dating Among Men Who Have Sex With Men During The UK COVID-19 Pandemic (2023)
Report
Garwood-Cross, L., Katz, R., Light, B., Moore, K., Hinds, R., Hakim, J., …Upton, M. (2023). The Covid Sex Lives Project: Health Messaging, Hooking Up And Dating Among Men Who Have Sex With Men During The UK COVID-19 Pandemic. University of Salford: UKRI: AHRC

In the context of the pandemic, government and public health measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus have been translated into media messaging by organisations that target the health of different groups. Engaging experiences of the minorit... Read More about The Covid Sex Lives Project: Health Messaging, Hooking Up And Dating Among Men Who Have Sex With Men During The UK COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID Sex Lives: Age in Focus (2023)
Report
Light, B., Katz, R., Garwood-Cross, L., & Moore, K. (2023). COVID Sex Lives: Age in Focus. University of Salford: UKRI / AHRC

Age was an important factor that shaped the experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United Kingdom during the pandemic. This Covid Sex Lives In Focus Report delves deeper into social aspects that emerged from our findings. The Covid... Read More about COVID Sex Lives: Age in Focus.

Interrogating the possibilities and problems of YouTube sex edutainment content : an Actor-Network Theory approach (2022)
Thesis
Garwood-Cross, L. (2022). Interrogating the possibilities and problems of YouTube sex edutainment content : an Actor-Network Theory approach. (Thesis). University of Salford

British Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) has gained public attention in recent years due to several reports highlighting gaps in provision and a change of statutory guidance for RSE in 2019. Historically RSE has linked sex with risk and shame, s... Read More about Interrogating the possibilities and problems of YouTube sex edutainment content : an Actor-Network Theory approach.

The use of ‘off-the-shelf’ GPS technology to support people living with dementia and their care partners (2022)
Thesis
Ford, M. The use of ‘off-the-shelf’ GPS technology to support people living with dementia and their care partners. (Thesis). University of Salford

This doctoral thesis explores the perceptions and experiences of people living with dementia and their care partners on off-the-shelf Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. ‘Off-the-shelf’ GPS devices are readily available, without a specific us... Read More about The use of ‘off-the-shelf’ GPS technology to support people living with dementia and their care partners.

COVID sex lives : survey 3 report (2021)
Report
Hinds, R., Garwood-Cross, L., Moore, K., Hakim, J., Katz, R., Light, B., …Upton, M. (2021). COVID sex lives : survey 3 report

This report presents initial findings from the third survey of the Covid Sex Lives project. Public health measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are translated into media messaging by organisations that target the health of different groups. Thi... Read More about COVID sex lives : survey 3 report.

COVID sex lives : survey 2 report (2021)
Report
Garwood-Cross, L., Hakim, J., Hinds, R., Katz, R., Light, B., Mercer, J., …Upton, M. (2021). COVID sex lives : survey 2 report

This report presents initial findings from the second survey of Covid Sex Lives project. Public health measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus are translated into media messaging by organisations that target the health of different groups. Thi... Read More about COVID sex lives : survey 2 report.

COVID sex lives : survey 1 report (2021)
Report
Garwood-Cross, L., Hakim, J., Hinds, R., Katz, R., Light, B., Mercer, J., …Upton, M. (2021). COVID sex lives : survey 1 report

This report presents initial findings from the first survey of Covid Sex Lives project. Public health measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus are translated into media messaging by organisations that target the health of different groups. Th... Read More about COVID sex lives : survey 1 report.

Facemums 2018: final report (2020)
Report
McCarthy, R., Choucri, L., Jones, J., Butler, D., Chatwin, J., Brettle, A., & Light, B. (2020). Facemums 2018: final report

Continuity of care and easy access to reliable information during pregnancy is essential to the health and wellbeing of pregnant women. In recent years widespread use of the internet has fundamentally changed the way people obtain health informatio... Read More about Facemums 2018: final report.

The dick pic : harassment, curation, and desire (2019)
Journal Article
Paasonen, S., Light, B., & Jarrett, K. (2019). The dick pic : harassment, curation, and desire. Social Media + Society, 5(2), https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305119826126

The combined rise of digital photography and social media has expanded what might be considered photo worthy. Among the pouting selfies and food stuffs of the day exists the ubiquitous dick pic. The mainstream media generally focuses on dick pics of... Read More about The dick pic : harassment, curation, and desire.

Ashley Madison (2018)
Book Chapter
Light, B. (2018). Ashley Madison. In J. Morris, & S. Murray (Eds.), Appified. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. https://doi.org/10.3998/mpub.9391658

As the introduction to this volume indicates, apps are a challenge to study because, among other reasons, they are usually made technically inaccessible to researchers by developers. This chapter is methodological in nature and illustrates the use of... Read More about Ashley Madison.

Locked down apps versus the social media ecology : why do young people and educators disagree on the best delivery platform for digital sexual health entertainment education? (2018)
Journal Article
McKee, A., Albury, K., Burgess, J., Light, B., Osman, K., & Walsh, A. (2018). Locked down apps versus the social media ecology : why do young people and educators disagree on the best delivery platform for digital sexual health entertainment education?. New Media and Society, 20(12), 4571-4589. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444818778255

This article reports on focus groups exploring the best way to reach young men with vulgar comedy videos that provide sexual health information. Young people reported that they found the means by which the material was presented - as a locked down ap... Read More about Locked down apps versus the social media ecology : why do young people and educators disagree on the best delivery platform for digital sexual health entertainment education?.

Big data, method and the ethics of location : a case study of a hookup app for men who have sex with men (2018)
Journal Article
Light, B., Mitchell, P., & Wikström, P. (2018). Big data, method and the ethics of location : a case study of a hookup app for men who have sex with men. Social Media + Society, 4(2), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305118768299

With the rise of geo-social media, location is emerging as a particularly sensitive data point for big data and digital media research. To explore this area, we reflect on our ethics for a study in which we analyze data generated via an app that faci... Read More about Big data, method and the ethics of location : a case study of a hookup app for men who have sex with men.

Study protocol : responding to the needs of patients with IgA nephropathy, a social media approach (2017)
Journal Article
Graham-Brown, M., Vasilica, C., Oates, T., Light, B., Clausner, C., Antonacopoulos, A., …Barratt, J. (2017). Study protocol : responding to the needs of patients with IgA nephropathy, a social media approach. Clinical Kidney Journal, 11(4), 474-478. https://doi.org/10.1093/ckj/sfx131

Background IgA nephropathy is the most common cause of glomerulonephritis in the Western world and predominantly affects young adults. Demographically these patients are the biggest users of social media. With increasing numbers of patients turning... Read More about Study protocol : responding to the needs of patients with IgA nephropathy, a social media approach.

Data cultures of mobile dating and hook-up apps : emerging issues for critical social science research (2017)
Journal Article
Albury, K., Burgess, J., Light, B., Race, K., & Wilken, R. (2017). Data cultures of mobile dating and hook-up apps : emerging issues for critical social science research. Big Data and Society, 4(2), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/2053951717720950

The ethical and social implications of data mining, algorithmic curation and automation in the context of social media have been of heightened concern for a range of researchers with interests in digital media in recent years, with particular concern... Read More about Data cultures of mobile dating and hook-up apps : emerging issues for critical social science research.

The material role of digital media in connecting with, within, and beyond museums (2016)
Journal Article
Light, B., Bagnall, G., Crawford, G., & Gosling, V. (2018). The material role of digital media in connecting with, within, and beyond museums. Convergence, 24(4), 407-423. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354856516678587

The connective potentials of digital media have been positioned as a key part of a contemporary museum visitor experience. Using a sociology of translation, we construct a network of visitor experiences using data from a digital media engagement proj... Read More about The material role of digital media in connecting with, within, and beyond museums.

The walkthrough method : an approach to the study of apps (2016)
Journal Article
Light, B., Burgess, J., & Duguay, S. (2018). The walkthrough method : an approach to the study of apps. New Media and Society, 20(3), 881-900. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444816675438

Software applications (apps) are now prevalent in the digital media environment. They are the site of significant sociocultural and economic transformations across many domains, from health and relationships to entertainment and everyday finance. As... Read More about The walkthrough method : an approach to the study of apps.

Making digital cultures of gender and sexuality with social media (2016)
Journal Article
Burgess, J., Cassidy, E., Duguay, S., & Light, B. (2016). Making digital cultures of gender and sexuality with social media. Social Media + Society, 2(4), https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305116672487

This article introduces a special issue concerning the interweaving of gender, sexuality, and social media. There are 10 articles included in the issue which together map out a landscape of diverse areas of interest covering topics such as sexism and... Read More about Making digital cultures of gender and sexuality with social media.

The rise of speculative devices : hooking up with the bots of Ashley Madison (2016)
Journal Article
Light, B. (2016). The rise of speculative devices : hooking up with the bots of Ashley Madison. First Monday, 21(6), https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v21i6.6426

I attend to two areas of increasing significance in relation to Web 2.0 since its announcement in 2005. The first is a focus on the non-human in digital media research, and the second is the normalisation of dating apps in society. Building upon idea... Read More about The rise of speculative devices : hooking up with the bots of Ashley Madison.

Branded app implementation at the London symphony orchestra (2016)
Journal Article
Gosling, V., Crawford, G., Bagnall, G., & Light, B. (2016). Branded app implementation at the London symphony orchestra. Arts and the Market, 6(1), 2-16. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAM-08-2013-0012

This paper considers the key findings of a yearlong collaborative research project focusing on the London Symphony Orchestra’s development, implementation and testing of a branded smartphone app. This app was designed to primarily sell discounted tic... Read More about Branded app implementation at the London symphony orchestra.

Producing sexual cultures and pseudonymous publics with digital networks (2016)
Book Chapter
Light, B. (2016). Producing sexual cultures and pseudonymous publics with digital networks. In R. Lind (Ed.), Race and gender in electronic media : challenges and opportunities (231-246). London, UK: Routledge

Since the release of the Grindr app in 2009, interest in digitally mediated public sexual cultures concerning men who have sex with men has increased. Yet, digital mediation of such public sexual cultures through apps had begun more than a decade bef... Read More about Producing sexual cultures and pseudonymous publics with digital networks.

Disconnecting with social networking sites (2014)
Book
Light, B. (2014). Disconnecting with social networking sites. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137022479

Ben Light puts forward an alternative way of thinking about how we engage with social networking sites, going beyond the emphasis upon connectivity that has been associated with research in the area to date. Analysing our engagements and disengagemen... Read More about Disconnecting with social networking sites.

Strategies for the suspension and prevention of connection : rendering disconnection as socioeconomic lubricant with Facebook (2014)
Journal Article
Light, B., & Cassidy, E. (2014). Strategies for the suspension and prevention of connection : rendering disconnection as socioeconomic lubricant with Facebook. New Media and Society, 16(7), 1169-1184. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444814544002

This article attends to the idea of disconnection as a way of theorising people’s lived experience of social networking sites. Enrolling and extending a disconnective practice lens, we suggest that the disconnective strategies of suspension and preve... Read More about Strategies for the suspension and prevention of connection : rendering disconnection as socioeconomic lubricant with Facebook.

An orchestral audience : classical music and continued patterns of distinction (2014)
Journal Article
Crawford, G., Gosling, V., Bagnall, G., & Light, B. (2014). An orchestral audience : classical music and continued patterns of distinction. Cultural Sociology, 8(4), 483-500. https://doi.org/10.1177/1749975514541862

This paper considers the key findings of a yearlong collaborative research project focusing on the audience of the London Symphony Orchestra and their introduction of a new mobile telephone (‘app’) ticketing system. A mixed-method approach was employ... Read More about An orchestral audience : classical music and continued patterns of distinction.

Is there an app for that? A case study of the potentials and limitations of the participatory turn and networked publics for classical music audience engagement (2014)
Journal Article
Crawford, G., Gosling, V., Bagnall, G., & Light, B. (2014). Is there an app for that? A case study of the potentials and limitations of the participatory turn and networked publics for classical music audience engagement. Information, Communication and Society, 17(9), 1072-1085. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2013.877953

The participatory turn, fuelled by discourses and rhetoric regarding social media, and in the aftermath of the dot.com crash of the early 2000s, enrols to some extent an idea of being able to deploy networks to achieve institutional aims. The arts... Read More about Is there an app for that? A case study of the potentials and limitations of the participatory turn and networked publics for classical music audience engagement.

The imperial war museum’s social interpretation project (2013)
Report
Bagnall, G., Light, B., Crawford, G., Gosling, V., Rushton, C., & Peterson, T. (2013). The imperial war museum’s social interpretation project

This report represents the output from research undertaken by University of Salford and MTM London as part of the joint Digital R&D Fund for Arts and Culture, operated by Nesta, Arts Council England and the AHRC. University of Salford and MTM Lon... Read More about The imperial war museum’s social interpretation project.

Online gaming in context : the social and cultural significance of online games (2011)
Book
Gosling, V., Light, B., & Crawford, G. (2011). Online gaming in context : the social and cultural significance of online games. London: Routledge

There is little question of the social, cultural and economic importance of video games in the world today, with gaming now rivalling the movie and music sectors as a major leisure industry and pastime. The significance of video games within our ever... Read More about Online gaming in context : the social and cultural significance of online games.

The social and cultural significance of online gaming (2011)
Book Chapter
Crawford, G., Gosling, V., & Light, B. (2011). The social and cultural significance of online gaming. In Online Gaming in Context: The Social and Cultural Significance of Online Games. London: Routledge

Lesbian, gay and bisexual women in the north west: a multi-method study of cervical screening attitudes, experiences and uptake (2011)
Other
Light, B., & Ormandy, P. (2011). Lesbian, gay and bisexual women in the north west: a multi-method study of cervical screening attitudes, experiences and uptake. Salford

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP), committed to reducing health inequalities for lesbian and bisexual (LGB) women within cervical screening programmes, funded this research study in response to the Department of Health’s 2007 Cancer Refor... Read More about Lesbian, gay and bisexual women in the north west: a multi-method study of cervical screening attitudes, experiences and uptake.

Digital culture : blurred boundaries and ethical considerations (2009)
Journal Article
Light, B., & Sawyer, S. (2009). Digital culture : blurred boundaries and ethical considerations. Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, 7(1), https://doi.org/10.1108/jices.2009.36407aaa.001

The Weberian sense of work and life suggests that working is something around which the rest of life flows. Moreover, work life and domestic life have been defined as separate for most people based on physical structures. That is, being physically in... Read More about Digital culture : blurred boundaries and ethical considerations.

The impact of libraries as creative spaces
Other
Light, B., Houghton, K., Burgess, J., Klaebe, H., Osborne, R., Cunningham, S., & Hearn, G. The impact of libraries as creative spaces. Brisbane, Australia

Ready access to information through digital media has challenged the perceived societal roles of public libraries. Since the mid 1990s, libraries have reoriented themselves towards public participation beyond lending and reading. Libraries now offer... Read More about The impact of libraries as creative spaces.

Mobile dating and hookup app culture
Book Chapter
Duguay, S., Burgess, J., & Light, B. Mobile dating and hookup app culture. In P. Messaris, & L. Humphreys (Eds.), Digital media, transformations in human communication. Peter Lang. https://doi.org/10.3726/978-1-4331-3955-0

This chapter surveys the landscape of mobile dating and hookup apps— understood as media technologies, as businesses, and as sites of social practice. It situates the discussion within the broader contexts of technologically mediated dating and digit... Read More about Mobile dating and hookup app culture.

Covid sex lives : survey 4 report
Report
Hinds, R., Garwood-Cross, L., Moore, K., Hakim, J., Katz, R., Light, B., …Upton, M. Covid sex lives : survey 4 report

This report presents initial findings from the fourth survey of the Covid Sex Lives project. Public health measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are translated into media messaging by organisations that target the health of different groups. Th... Read More about Covid sex lives : survey 4 report.