title: NekNominate: Social Norms, Social Media, and Binge Drinking.
abstract: This study examines the social-media-based binge drinking game NekNominate and how this phenomenon is related to social norms. NekNominate is a game wherein players are nominated to film themselves "neking" or chugging copious amounts of alcohol or drinking alcohol in a novel or humorous manner. The player then nominates other players via social media who then have a specific timeframe in which they must complete their challenge or face ridicule. Health communication research on drinking behaviors has often looked at the role of social norms in determining these behaviors. News stories (n = 44) of NekNominate and tweets (n = 851) culled using the hashtag #NekNominate during three different time periods are analyzed to identify the normative forces at play in this recent phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: a College of Communication and Information , University of Kentucky.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wombacher
authors.affiliation: b Adult and Child Center for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science , University of Colorado Denver.
authors.forename: Jenna E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Reno
authors.affiliation: c Department of Communication, College of Communication and Information , University of Kentucky.
authors.forename: Shari R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Veil
mesh_terms: D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D058015:Health Communication; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D010379:Peer Group; D012919:Social Behavior; D061108:Social Media; D066262:Social Norms; D055815:Young Adult