Social Media

What drives unhealthy social media use? A new study suggests it's more than a bad habit, linking it to our deepest anxieties about relationships, loneliness, and even our own mortality.

TikTok users are more likely to interact with political videos that target out-groups, express negative emotion, or call for action. Engagement patterns differ by political leaning, but conflict-driven and emotionally charged content consistently performs better across the ideological spectrum.

Researchers have found that TikTok activity is linked to both body appreciation and dissatisfaction among young women. The findings suggest that different types of engagement on the app may shape how users view themselves and cosmetic surgery.

For some young women, a sexual attraction to criminals may be linked to their TikTok habits and personality. A recent study found that engaging with videos that romanticize offenders, along with having higher psychopathy scores, predicted greater hybristophilic tendencies.

A new study in PNAS Nexus suggests that political users on Reddit express morality differently depending on context. Left-leaning users consistently moralize their views, while right-leaning users appear to express moral judgments more selectively, depending on the audience.

After Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, many scientists report the platform is no longer suitable for professional use. A recent survey indicates that researchers are increasingly turning to Bluesky, which they view as more useful, welcoming, and aligned with their...

New research finds young adults who are "night owls" are more prone to problematic smartphone and social media use. A study in PLOS One suggests this isn't just about sleep patterns but is strongly linked to underlying feelings of loneliness...

A large twin study suggests the weak associations between social media use and mental health may reflect shared genetic influences, not direct effects. The findings challenge alarmist narratives and point to the need for more personalized approaches to understanding online...

By analyzing thousands of Reddit posts with large language models, scientists discovered that hate speech communities resemble psychiatric disorder forums—particularly those linked to Cluster B traits—far more than control communities, highlighting possible overlaps between online hostility and clinical patterns of...

A study of nearly 3,000 Chinese adolescents suggests mobile phone dependence affects creativity in domain-specific ways. At low levels it predicts reduced scientific and artistic creativity, but after a threshold the negative link disappears for science and turns positive for...

A new study published in PNAS suggests that moments of political crisis can shift what goes viral. After the Trump assassination attempt and Biden’s campaign suspension, people engaged more with posts expressing unity than with posts attacking the other side.

Psychologists find that not everyone responds to partner phone use the same way. A daily diary study shows attachment-anxious individuals report stronger feelings of rejection and are more likely to retaliate when phubbed, underscoring how early relational patterns shape digital...

TikTok is flooded with misleading content about contraception, according to a new study. Most viral videos are not made by medical experts and often promote “natural” methods while casting doubt on hormonal options and professional medical advice.

Researchers exploring social media addiction in Türkiye found that boredom and manipulative personality traits were key contributors. While loneliness was not a significant factor, individuals high in Machiavellianism and sadism reported more addiction symptoms, especially when boredom in life was...

People who frequently experience unintentional mind wandering spend more time using their smartphones for social purposes, according to new research. The study also found that mindfulness may reduce this link by weakening the mental preoccupation with online content.