Digital World, Real World

Social Media

Can Social Media Cause Mental Health Conditions?

Phil Reed D.Phil. on March 28, 2024

Understanding links between social media and mental health conditions is not straightforward and requires an understanding of what mental health diagnoses involve.

Understanding links between social media and mental health conditions is not straightforward and requires an understanding of what mental health diagnoses involve.

Social Media

Why People Write Purposely Vague Social Media Posts

Phil Reed D.Phil. on March 23, 2024

What can be made of "vaguebooking," and what is known about its predictors and consequences?

What can be made of "vaguebooking," and what is known about its predictors and consequences?

Social Media

Understanding the Digital Swarm

Phil Reed D.Phil. on February 9, 2024

Studies of biological swarms give insight into digital swarming, allowing social media users to recognize and understand the behaviors of others in their digital group.

Studies of biological swarms give insight into digital swarming, allowing social media users to recognize and understand the behaviors of others in their digital group.

Social Media

Will Social Media Destroy Christmas Traditions?

Phil Reed D.Phil. on December 22, 2023

If Christmas traditions need social learning, their digital future is uncertain. Some say "good," but removing traditions may undermine social cohesion and learning opportunities.

If Christmas traditions need social learning, their digital future is uncertain. Some say "good," but removing traditions may undermine social cohesion and learning opportunities.

Social Media

Can Social Media Help the Search for Truth?

Phil Reed D.Phil. on December 19, 2023

Efforts to determine true posts have importance for disinformation management, but what if this misses the point, and the function of social media has nothing to do with truth?

Efforts to determine true posts have importance for disinformation management, but what if this misses the point, and the function of social media has nothing to do with truth?

ADHD

Is There a Link Between ADHD and Social Media?

Phil Reed D.Phil. on December 16, 2023

Caution is needed about claims that social media increases ADHD, but there are reasons why social media is preferred by those with ADHD, which may not lead to positive outcomes.

Caution is needed about claims that social media increases ADHD, but there are reasons why social media is preferred by those with ADHD, which may not lead to positive outcomes.

Artificial Intelligence

What Are the Best Nationalities and Personalities for Detecting AI Text?

Phil Reed D.Phil. on September 28, 2023

How is it possible to recognise machine-generated text, and which nationalities and personalities would be best at doing this?

How is it possible to recognise machine-generated text, and which nationalities and personalities would be best at doing this?

Attention

Why Digital News Can Make Us Feel Helpless

Phil Reed D.Phil. on September 23, 2023

Learned helplessness helps us understand how our endless newsfeeds play a role in our negative mental state.

Learned helplessness helps us understand how our endless newsfeeds play a role in our negative mental state.

Social Life

Holiday Time and the Mobile Phone

Phil Reed D.Phil. on September 18, 2023

Will your holiday feel longer or shorter, and better or worse, with a digital device in your pocket?

Will your holiday feel longer or shorter, and better or worse, with a digital device in your pocket?

Cognition

The Dangers of Back-to-Back Digital Meetings

Phil Reed D.Phil. on June 25, 2023

Research suggests that too many digital meetings could reduce what we take in, narrow our ability to interpret novel ideas, and negatively affect our vision.

Research suggests that too many digital meetings could reduce what we take in, narrow our ability to interpret novel ideas, and negatively affect our vision.

Depression

Zoom Slump: Physical and Mental Health Effects

Phil Reed D.Phil. on May 22, 2023

There are possibilities that video conferencing has impacts on physical health, which have surprising knock-on effects for psychological states.

There are possibilities that video conferencing has impacts on physical health, which have surprising knock-on effects for psychological states.

Relationships

Are You Securely Attached to Your Mobile Phone?

Phil Reed D.Phil. on May 21, 2023

Your relationship to your mobile phone may tell you about your relationship style in general. Try asking yourself these questions.

Your relationship to your mobile phone may tell you about your relationship style in general. Try asking yourself these questions.

Loneliness

Loneliness and Social Media Use Amid and After the Pandemic

Phil Reed D.Phil. on March 28, 2023

Three recent studies have offered a fascinating insight into the impact of the pandemic on the relationship between social media use and loneliness.

Three recent studies have offered a fascinating insight into the impact of the pandemic on the relationship between social media use and loneliness.

Social Networking

Social Media Use and Poor Health

Phil Reed D.Phil. on February 25, 2023

Research shows that high levels of social media use can negatively impact physical health.

Research shows that high levels of social media use can negatively impact physical health.

Anger

Are Women Just as Aggressive as Men?

Phil Reed D.Phil. on February 3, 2023

Digital behavior suggests women are just as actively aggressive as men, and, in some circumstances, more so.

Digital behavior suggests women are just as actively aggressive as men, and, in some circumstances, more so.

Cognition

Digitally-Induced Language Death

Phil Reed D.Phil. on December 22, 2022

The widespread impact of the digital world upon people’s lives introduces additional components that are important for the vitality of a language.

The widespread impact of the digital world upon people’s lives introduces additional components that are important for the vitality of a language.

Anxiety

Doom-Scrolling and the Manipulation of Anxiety

Phil Reed D.Phil. on December 9, 2022

Recent science allows a clearer picture of why we see an unremittingly bleak view of the world through the lens of social media newsfeeds.

Recent science allows a clearer picture of why we see an unremittingly bleak view of the world through the lens of social media newsfeeds.

Media

Why Bad News Has Such an Impact

Phil Reed D.Phil. on November 12, 2022

Why does bad news capture our attention more readily? Learning and neuroscience research may show reasons why people are drawn to the negative on social media.

Why does bad news capture our attention more readily? Learning and neuroscience research may show reasons why people are drawn to the negative on social media.

Media

Social Media and "Side Character Energy"

Phil Reed D.Phil. on September 22, 2022

The presumed benefits of adopting "side character energy" may not be as clear-cut as many have suggested.

The presumed benefits of adopting "side character energy" may not be as clear-cut as many have suggested.

Anxiety

The Origins of Digital Anxiety

Phil Reed D.Phil. on September 15, 2022

Psychosocial theories help to explain the consequences of incongruence between the development of real and digital worlds.

Psychosocial theories help to explain the consequences of incongruence between the development of real and digital worlds.