Social Media

A new study finds that liberals are less likely to share progressive causes on social media if the messages use conservative-leaning moral language, while conservatives readily share causes they support regardless of how they are worded.

Endless short videos can ruin your sleep, but exhaustion might also drive you to keep scrolling. A new study reveals how daytime tiredness acts as a gateway symptom, trapping users in a powerful cycle of media consumption.

Are social media users really as toxic as they seem? A massive new study suggests otherwise, finding that while Americans believe nearly half of all users post hateful content, the true number is actually less than ten percent.

A comprehensive review of thousands of study participants reveals that temporarily quitting social media doesn't routinely boost happiness or lower stress. Researchers suggest that totally disconnecting might not be the most effective way to improve mental wellness.

A recent study suggests problematic social media use alters how feelings of freedom relate to mental well-being. Heavy digital habits are linked to weaker mental health benefits from personal freedom, but stronger psychological benefits from national pride.

A new study reveals that feeling morally angry makes you more likely to share misinformation online. Researchers found that anger causes people to act impulsively and ignore source credibility, fueling the rapid spread of fake news.

A new study suggests that excessive short video consumption connects to a sequence of psychological challenges. Problematic use of platforms like TikTok predicts higher loneliness and elevated anxiety, which are associated with lower overall life satisfaction.

New research shows that young adolescents who spend more time on social media platforms exhibit a thinner outer layer of the brain. The study highlights how everyday digital habits might relate to physical changes during a sensitive developmental period.

Watching or liking TikTok "thirst traps" is associated with reduced romantic relationship quality. Researchers found this behavior tends to correlate with lower trust and satisfaction, especially if the creators look physically dissimilar to a person's current partner.

Compulsive social media habits are closely linked to later symptoms of depression and anxiety, and new research suggests poor sleep is a major factor. Protecting your nightly rest might be key to maintaining your psychological wellbeing.

A comprehensive review of brain imaging research suggests problematic smartphone use is associated with distinct neural differences. These variations appear in brain areas tied to reward processing, impulse control, and the deep-seated human need for social connection.

Young people who spend a lot of time comparing their bodies to others on the internet maintain those concerns into adulthood. A new longitudinal study reveals how digital appearance anxieties eventually catch up to almost all adolescents.

New research reveals that young adults with social anxiety are highly vulnerable to social media addiction. Tracking users over several months, investigators found that a habit of comparing oneself to others online often fuels this digital dependency.

A recent brain imaging experiment reveals that watching fragmented short videos leads to measurably worse memory recall compared to viewing continuous content. The fast-paced format reduces brain activity in regions dedicated to focusing attention and processing deep meaning.

A new study reveals how science communicators achieve viral success online. Researchers found that adapting to platform-specific behaviors—from quick facts on TikTok to deep irony on YouTube—determines whether educational videos attract a wide audience.