Table of Contents
Social media influencers as cultural intermediaries: Negotiating the Korean Wave in Malaysia
*Nurul Akqmie Badrul Hisham, Abdul Latiff Ahmad, Chang Peng Kee
Abstract: This study examines how social media influencers shape and sustain the Korean Wave (Hallyu) in Malaysia, emphasizing the intersection of mediatization and contemporary youth culture. Drawing on qualitative methods including in-depth interviews with influencers and Korean Embassy representatives as well as netnography of open social media accounts, this research investigates how digital platforms facilitate fan engagement, community-building and cultural learning. Findings show that social media serves as a catalyst for fans to construct their own mediated worlds, while influencers act as vital social agents, filtering information,...
Abstract: This study examines how social media influencers shape and sustain the Korean Wave (Hallyu) in Malaysia, emphasizing the intersection of mediatization and contemporary youth culture. Drawing on qualitative methods including in-depth interviews with influencers and Korean Embassy representatives as well as netnography of open social media accounts, this research investigates how digital platforms facilitate fan engagement, community-building and cultural learning. Findings show that social media serves as a catalyst for fans to construct their own mediated worlds, while influencers act as vital social agents, filtering information,...
Political cartoons as a means of setting the social and political agenda in Nigeria
Anthony Chigozie Nwachukwu, *Moniza Waheed, Abdul Mua’ti @ Zamri bin Ahmad, Nurul Ain Mohd Hasan
Abstract: While political cartoons play a significant role in shaping public perception and opinion, they have been underutilized in addressing social and political issues in Nigeria. Therefore, this study aims to determine the popularity of political cartoons in Nigeria, identify the most prominent frames among the seven generic frames in Nigerian political cartoons and determine the extent to which political cartons shape public attitudes and perceptions. The study employed qualitative content analysis and in-depth interviews that were guided by the agenda-setting and framing theory. The study identified and analysed 100 political cartoons, published in the Guardian...
Abstract: While political cartoons play a significant role in shaping public perception and opinion, they have been underutilized in addressing social and political issues in Nigeria. Therefore, this study aims to determine the popularity of political cartoons in Nigeria, identify the most prominent frames among the seven generic frames in Nigerian political cartoons and determine the extent to which political cartons shape public attitudes and perceptions. The study employed qualitative content analysis and in-depth interviews that were guided by the agenda-setting and framing theory. The study identified and analysed 100 political cartoons, published in the Guardian...
Visual rhetoric in Muslim-friendly tourism: A semiotic analysis of Malaysia’s promotional imagery
*Nurul Wahidah Mahmud Zuhudi, Noor Hanan Mohd Jafar, Azian Muhamad Adzmi
Abstract: The present study aims to systematically examine how advertisers and marketers semiotically construct the meaning and messages of Muslim-friendly tourism (MFT) through promotional visuals. Despite a growing interest in MFT, which mostly focuses on service provision and textual communication, there exists a gap pertaining to the exploration of visual communication strategies that shape travellers’ perceptions and interpretations. For a more precise interpretation across categories, this study performed a visual semiotic analysis using a detailed codebook based on Kress and Van Leeuwen’s visual grammar framework. Findings...
Abstract: The present study aims to systematically examine how advertisers and marketers semiotically construct the meaning and messages of Muslim-friendly tourism (MFT) through promotional visuals. Despite a growing interest in MFT, which mostly focuses on service provision and textual communication, there exists a gap pertaining to the exploration of visual communication strategies that shape travellers’ perceptions and interpretations. For a more precise interpretation across categories, this study performed a visual semiotic analysis using a detailed codebook based on Kress and Van Leeuwen’s visual grammar framework. Findings...
Enhancing user engagement in virtual reality in Korea: A diegetic interface approach within the technology acceptance model
Stephen W. Song, *Donghun Chung
Abstract: This study examines the impact of diegetic user interfaces on user experience in virtual reality environments, framing the investigation within the realms of the Technology Acceptance Model and Self-Determination Theory. Employing a 2 x 2 within-subjects experimental design, the research manipulates the presence of diegetic cues and the mode of score display (non-diegetic heads-up display versus diegetic integration) to assess their effects on user enjoyment. A bespoke virtual reality stimulus was created expressly for this experiment. The findings indicate that the inclusion of a diegetic user interface significantly enhances user enjoyment...
Abstract: This study examines the impact of diegetic user interfaces on user experience in virtual reality environments, framing the investigation within the realms of the Technology Acceptance Model and Self-Determination Theory. Employing a 2 x 2 within-subjects experimental design, the research manipulates the presence of diegetic cues and the mode of score display (non-diegetic heads-up display versus diegetic integration) to assess their effects on user enjoyment. A bespoke virtual reality stimulus was created expressly for this experiment. The findings indicate that the inclusion of a diegetic user interface significantly enhances user enjoyment...
The impact of social media and the desire of fame towards Malaysian influencers
Nur Widad Roslan, *Muhammad Irsyad bin Zulkifli, Mohamed Hamzani bin Mohamed Izzamudin, Nur Maisarah Roslan
Abstract: This research explores the impact of social media and the pursuit of fame among Malaysian social media influencers through the lens of Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT) and Agenda Setting Theory (AST). With the rising dominance of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, influencers have become key drivers in shaping online discourse and driving consumer behaviour. The study employed a qualitative approach by interviewing six Malaysian micro-influencers to uncover their motivations, strategies, and the emotional realities behind their public personas. Findings reveal that influencers use social media primarily for self-expression,...
Abstract: This research explores the impact of social media and the pursuit of fame among Malaysian social media influencers through the lens of Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT) and Agenda Setting Theory (AST). With the rising dominance of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, influencers have become key drivers in shaping online discourse and driving consumer behaviour. The study employed a qualitative approach by interviewing six Malaysian micro-influencers to uncover their motivations, strategies, and the emotional realities behind their public personas. Findings reveal that influencers use social media primarily for self-expression,...
A review on multimodal approaches for deception detection: State-of-the-art, challenges, and future directions
*Md Kowsar Hossain Sakib, Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, Shanjita Akter Prome,
Md Rafiqul Islam, Goh Wei Wei, David Asirvatham, Bharati Rathore
Abstract: Deception detection (DD) presents a critical challenge across high-stakes domains such as security, finance, and education, necessitating accurate, non-invasive, and portable solutions. Traditional unimodal DD systems, which often rely solely on facial expressions or basic physiological signals, exhibit inherent limitations in both accuracy and complexity. To overcome these shortcomings, multimodal approaches have become the state of the art, integrating diverse data streams, including facial cues, vocal characteristics, body language, and advanced physiological metrics, to capture deeper insights into deceptive behaviour. This literature review...
Abstract: Deception detection (DD) presents a critical challenge across high-stakes domains such as security, finance, and education, necessitating accurate, non-invasive, and portable solutions. Traditional unimodal DD systems, which often rely solely on facial expressions or basic physiological signals, exhibit inherent limitations in both accuracy and complexity. To overcome these shortcomings, multimodal approaches have become the state of the art, integrating diverse data streams, including facial cues, vocal characteristics, body language, and advanced physiological metrics, to capture deeper insights into deceptive behaviour. This literature review...
