Social Media

A new study analyzing human hair samples reveals that severe internet addiction is associated with lower long-term accumulations of the stress hormone cortisol, suggesting the body’s biological stress response may become exhausted over time.

A new survey of American teenagers suggests that negative online experiences vary wildly by platform, with TikTok and Instagram users reporting much higher rates of sleep disruption and negative social comparison than those using YouTube.

A recent field experiment on Reddit reveals why a vocal minority dominates online political discussions, finding that toxic environments silence the majority while fueling the most active users.

People who sell explicit digital content online are heavily sexually objectified by observers, yet they are still viewed as capable individuals with free will. These findings challenge traditional psychological assumptions about objectification and dehumanization.

Getting a smartphone early in childhood may have lasting consequences. A new study links early phone ownership and social media access to worse psychological well-being, disrupted sleep, and strained family relationships in young adulthood.

How do extreme internet subcultures go viral? Recent research breaks down the spread of "looksmaxxing," showing how influencers use short-form clips, controversy, and "diagnostic masculinity" to turn young men's insecurities into mainstream attention and profit.

A new computational model reveals that simply increasing the number of close social connections past a certain threshold naturally forces society to splinter into deeply divided, polarized echo chambers.

A new study reveals a surprising disconnect: while people with dark personality traits claim to engage in more toxic online behavior, an analysis of their actual Reddit comments shows no measurable link between their personalities and digital footprints.

A new survey details exactly who people share their smartphone location data with and the motivations driving these digital disclosures. While couples often track each other for practical coordination, family members rely on the technology for passive safety.

A one-year study tracking high school students suggests addictive use of short-form videos limits teenagers' ability to focus on the future. This shortened perspective makes it harder for them to bounce back from everyday academic setbacks.

Young adults who spend at least an hour daily on apps like TikTok show increased connectivity across multiple brain networks compared to lighter users, according to new research.

A new study suggests that for people with dark personality traits, problematic social media use is often tied to relationship jealousy. For these individuals, compulsive scrolling frequently involves suspicious thoughts and cyberstalking their romantic partners.

The passive consumption of endless short-form videos creates cognitive fatigue popularly known as brain rot. A new study reveals how this digital exhaustion initiates a psychological cascade of burnout, stress, and anxiety that ultimately precipitates depression.

A new study suggests that highly dedicated celebrity fans, commonly known as stans, are more likely to be female, LGBTQ+, and politically liberal. These individuals use social media to find social connection and promote their favorite public figures.

Managing smartphone use in schools consumes over three full-time staff salaries a year, according to a new economic analysis. While restrictive policies are slightly cheaper to enforce, they offer no measurable boost to students' mental health.