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Exploring the TikTok music phenomenon in 2024: ‘Gata Only’ and its power and gender dynamics

Paloma Bravo-Fuentes — Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

At the contemporary intersection of music and digital media, TikTok has emerged as an influential platform redefining the music industry and shaping cultural norms. This study focuses on ‘Gata Only’, the song that has been the number one song listened to both in Spain and globally in 2024 on this social network, to explore the dynamics of power and representation of the female body that it defines and perpetuates through the content of its lyrics. To do this, using critical content analysis, the lyrics have been broken down to identify themes of domination, consent and objectification of the female figure. The results reveal a significant prevalence of language that perpetuates traditional gender stereotypes, asymmetrical power dynamics and objectified representations of the female body. This finding underscores the platform’s ability to facilitate and amplify the dissemination of such messages among young audiences, including minors. The importance of this study lies in its contribution to the knowledge of how TikTok, in its role as a means of cultural dissemination, affects not only the music industry, but also the perception and behaviour of its users, especially young people, in relation to gender dynamics. This highlights the urgency of adopting a critical and conscious perspective on the content that is consumed and produced on such digital platforms.

Relationship between Social Media Use, Sedentary Lifestyle and Mental Hyperactivity

Rubén Fernández-García, María Rosa Ortega Lasheras, Darío Salguero-García — Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

On the one hand, social networks can predispose individuals to a sedentary lifestyle, as they have much less time for physical exercise. On the other hand, they can facilitate mental hyperactivity and divided attention. In this sense, if the amount of information is too high and significant, it may generate strong activation of the Default Mode Network (DMN). The objective of the study was to evaluate the modulating effect of social media on divided attention and sedentary lifestyle. This was a comparative, descriptive, and exploratory study. The sample consisted of 2,405 university students studying Physiotherapy, Primary Education, Nursing, or Sport Sciences. The following questionnaires were used: habits and use of social media among future education professionals, mental hyperactivity, and sedentary behavior in university students. The goodness-of-fit indices were: ?² = 7.83, df = 4; IFI = 0.98; CFI = 0.92; NFI = 0.91; RMSEA = 0.07. These values indicated a good fit of the theoretical model. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the causal relationship between social media use and sedentary behavior (? = 0.42; p = 0.015), and between social media use and mental hyperactivity (? = 0.38; p = 0.023). Significant differences were also found in the relationship between sedentary behavior and mental hyperactivity under the modulating effect of the social media variable (? = 0.29; p = 0.042). Passive use of social media may pose a risk to the physical and mental health of users

The Role of Digital Skills in Adolescent Sexting: An Exploratory Study

Dr. Michaela Šaradín Lebedíková, Prof. David Smahel, Dr. Hana Machackova — Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Adolescents need to be equipped with skills to foster healthy sexual development. We argue that this idea must be extended to digital skills, nowadays needed to engage in digitally intimate behaviors, such as sexting, where the role of digital skills remains scientifically underexplored. Building on the integrative digital skills framework and advancing on existing research, we explore the relationship of technical (i.e., privacy protection), communication (i.e., safe online interaction), and content production (i.e., ability to edit images) skills with the expected and unexpected receiving and sending of sexual messages. Data were collected using a survey with a sample of 2,953 adolescents (12–17 years old, 48.1% girls) from Estonia, Italy, and Finland collected in 2021; we analyze these relationships using multinomial logistic regression. The results show that communication skills are not related to sexting, technical skills do not decrease the likelihood of receiving unexpected sexual messages, and content creation skills increase the likelihood of all sexting types. While digital skills are crucial, they do not automatically translate into safer sexting behaviors. Instead, a more nuanced approach is needed in education and policy, ensuring that adolescents learn not only how to use digital tools but also how to apply them in ways that promote healthy sexual development and minimize risks. Our study challenges traditional risk-based perspectives on sexting and underscores the need for comprehensive digital literacy frameworks that integrate both protective and expressive aspects of adolescent online sexuality.

Influence of Dominant Communication Media on Knowledge: Case of University Students

Oswaldo Terán, Niriaska Perozo — Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

There is widespread concern regarding the influence—partly negative—of dominant digital social media (e.g., TikTok) on knowledge. This influence impacts various areas, such as time available for study, customs, and emotional well-being. Several models have been used to study media influence on opinion using fuzzy cognitive maps. This study presents a model of this type, which differs from previous models by focusing on the specific influence of digital media on the knowledge of university students and incorporating concepts not considered in previous models, such as digital wisdom. The model has four conceptual layers: the individual level, including concepts like habits of using dominant and alternative digital media, digital wisdom, and emotional well-being; the social level, which considers concepts like dominant and alternative digital media, social structure, and face-to-face interaction; the knowledge level, based on communication characteristics according to the theory of the wisdom of crowds, including notions such as diversity of perspectives and knowledge sources; and finally, the knowledge quality assessment level. Results for the case of students at the Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo campus, indicate a high influence of dominant digital media, resulting in low knowledge quality.

Scientific Research from the Perspective of University Students: A Qualitative Approach

Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The development of scientific research represents a recurring challenge for university students. This qualitative study, using a phenomenological design, aims to explore research-related difficulties through the lens of students’ attitudes toward research, epistemological understanding, methodological proficiency, perceptions of the thesis process, and associated emotions. A focus group technique and purposive sampling were employed, involving five students from a public university in Lima, Peru. Transcription was carried out using MAXQDA and its “transcription” function, while data analysis was conducted with ATLAS.ti 25, following a deductive logic. Findings reveal gaps in epistemological comprehension and difficulties in applying research methods. An ambivalent attitude toward the thesis was identified, characterized by anxiety and stress, yet also by motivation and satisfaction with the learning achieved. The perception of the thesis as a bureaucratic requirement, combined with limited faculty guidance, negatively affects the research experience. However, peer support and self-directed learning emerged as key adaptation mechanisms. The study concludes that it is essential to strengthen the teaching of epistemological and methodological foundations and to implement academic and emotional support strategies that foster student autonomy. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive research training aimed at improving students’ perception of scientific research and enhancing the university experience, particularly in public education contexts.

Adoption and Implementation of Technological Communication Tools in Higher Education

Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In a context of growing digitalization, higher education faces the challenge of integrating advanced technological tools that facilitate learning and enhance students’ employability. This study analyzes the acceptance of an innovative technological tool for measuring advertising audiences within the educational setting. The proposed technology acceptance model is expanded by incorporating the variable of reputation, with the aim of assessing how it influences students’ future behavioral intentions. The assumption is that if students perceive the tool as easy to use and useful for their academic and professional development (relative advantage), associate it with a high-quality learning experience (more participatory, contextualized, and practice-oriented) (positive attitude), and believe it enhances the image of the course and the institution (reputation), they are more likely to develop favorable intentions for future use and recommendation (positive word of mouth). Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines a qualitative exploration with university instructors and a quantitative analysis with students, employing structural equation modeling. The results show that the perceived relative advantage of the tool positively influences both students’ attitudes and behavioral intentions. In turn, attitude significantly impacts the perceived reputation of the course and the institution. A favorable reputation is also confirmed to enhance students’ future intentions to use and recommend the tool. These findings highlight the importance of institutional perception in the adoption of educational technologies and underscore the need to strengthen collaboration between universities and industry. The study concludes that integrating technological tools not only improves teaching effectiveness but also reinforces institutional prestige, enhancing both the educational experience and students’ professional preparation.

Geopolitics on Latin-American preferences on Netflix

Rosario Radakovich — Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The article analyzes the origin of Latin Americans’ favorite audiovisual content on Netflix, exploring the extent to which North American hegemony persists and how the emergence of production hubs in the global semi-peripheries impacts. Previous studies agree on the broadening of the origins of the content in the platform’s catalogs, but little is known about which ones are chosen by audiences. The methodology was quantitative, based on the creation of a database and statistical analysis of the most watched audiovisual content in four Latin American countries: Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina and of global, North American, French and Indian preferences in a six-week sample between June 2021 - February 2024, whose data source was the Top10 Netflix, enriched with contributions from IMDB and FilmAffinity. The results highlight that although the centrality of Anglo-Saxon preferences persists - inherited from the pre-digital Hollywood model - the matrix of Latin American preferences on Netflix is revealed to be hybrid, integrating European, Latin American and, to an incipient extent, Asian content. This reveals a taste that combines tradition and innovation, regional roots and an appreciation of European cultural heritage, as well as a cosmopolitan tendency associated with the consumption of mainly South Korean content.

Innovation in Physiotherapy Teaching: Problem-Based Learning and QR codes in the teaching-learning process in the subject of Locomotor System Physiotherapy

Dr. Alberto Melián Ortiz, Dra. Rosa Rojo López, Dr. José Javier Galán Hernández — Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Lectures remain the predominant teaching method in higher education despite their limited effectiveness in developing critical skills. In physiotherapy education, combining active methodologies with technological tools may enhance student training. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of implementing Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and QR codes on academic performance, class participation, and student perceptions in a Locomotor Apparatus Physiotherapy course. A longitudinal mixed-methods convergent design study was conducted with an intentional sample of 39 students (2023-24 cohort). A digital platform was developed to generate and administer interactive QR code questions, complemented by PBL clinical cases. Results were compared with previous cohorts, and student perceptions were assessed through self-evaluation questionnaires. Findings demonstrated significant academic improvement: higher average theoretical exam scores (7.1 vs. 6.5 in previous years) and increased pass rates (86% vs. 70%). Students highly valued the methodology (mean perceived usefulness score: 8.9/10). The study concludes that combining PBL with QR codes optimizes physiotherapy education by promoting active learning, showing positive impacts on academic performance, student motivation, and addressing contemporary educational challenges.

Podcasts as Pedagogical Tool for Learning and Disseminating History. The Case of Spanish Journalism History Subject

Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the use of podcasts as a pedagogical tool in the History of Spanish Journalism course, part of the Journalism Degree and the Journalism and Audiovisual Communication Double Degree at the University of Seville. The goal is to explore how creating podcasts helps students deepen their theoretical knowledge of journalism history while gaining new skills, including the narrative, technical and production dimensions of a podcast. The study employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, primarily through a survey of the 267 students who participated in the activity, with 101 responses. Findings indicate that students are highly receptive to the assignment, as it enables them to practice skills such as documentation research, teamwork, podcast scriptwriting, and production in the university’s radio studios. The conclusion suggests that podcasts are an effective methodological tool in history courses, facilitating both theoretical learning and practical application, thus fostering a comprehensive skill set in journalism, communication, and specialized content dissemination.

The Effect of Using Robots on Mathematics Learning in Early Childhood Education

Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The inclusion of educational robotics in teaching and learning processes has gained increasing interest within the interdisciplinary approach of the STEAM methodology (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics). Mathematical skills begin to develop at an early age, with various precursors influencing their learning. This study analyzes the influence of educational robotics on early mathematical competence in preschool students through a quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest measurements using the TEMT test. The sample included 43 children (M = 67.98 months). The application of the Robotimath program consisted of 8 sessions. The results showed a significant improvement in mathematical competence in the experimental group, which initially had the lowest level, with statistically significant differences according to the Wilcoxon Test: in the relational subtest (p = .007, d = .49); in the numerical subtest (p = .015, d = .40); and in the total test score (p = .002, d = .50). These findings suggest that the use of educational robotics can support the development of mathematical competence in the second cycle of preschool education.