Believing “news will find me” is linked to sharing fake news, study finds
People who rely on social media to “stumble upon” news are more prone to spreading misinformation, according to a new longitudinal study.
Memes can serve as strong indicators of coming mass violence
A new study finds that surges in visual propaganda—like memes and doctored images—often precede political violence. By combining AI with expert analysis, researchers tracked manipulated content leading up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, revealing early warning signs of instability.
TikTok “edits” can reshape how voters see politicians, study suggests
A new study finds that TikTok-style “edits” portraying politicians as attractive or powerful can sway public perceptions, boosting attractiveness and favorability—especially for Donald Trump. These videos may signal a shift in how political influence is crafted and consumed.
Extraversion, narcissism, and histrionic tendencies predict the desire to become an influencer
Teens who score higher in extraversion, narcissism, and dramatic emotional expression are more likely to want to be influencers, according to a new study. The findings suggest that personality shapes how young people see their future in the digital age.
Passive scrolling linked to increased anxiety in teens, study finds
New research shows that teens who spend more than two hours a day on screens—especially passively scrolling through content—are more likely to report anxiety and emotional or behavioral problems, even when accounting for age, gender, and existing vulnerabilities.
Sharing false information online boosts visibility for Republican legislators, study finds
A new study reveals that U.S. state legislators who posted false or inflammatory content during times of political turmoil sometimes gained online visibility—especially Republicans spreading low-credibility claims. But uncivil language often had the opposite effect, particularly for extremists.
Political lies have a pattern — and radical-right populist parties are leading the charge
Analyzing millions of tweets, researchers found that misinformation is strongly linked to radical-right populist parties—not populism in general or partisan politics alone.
Most TikTok fitspiration content promotes misinformation and unrealistic body ideals
TikTok’s popular fitness hashtags are flooded with idealized bodies, objectifying imagery, and questionable health advice, according to a recent study.
Brain rot and the crisis of deep thought in the age of social media
As attention spans shrink, storytelling — and truth — may be the greatest casualties of digital culture.
This common activity is linked to 59% higher odds of insomnia, study finds
Spending more time on screens after bedtime is associated with shorter sleep and a higher chance of insomnia, researchers report.
Teens in poverty use social media more—but don’t suffer more because of it, study suggests
Despite spending more time online, deprived adolescents aren't more negatively affected by social media use, according to a decade-long UK study of over 23,000 teenagers.
Social media may be trapping us in a cycle of loneliness, new study suggests
Social media use—active or passive—predicts a steady rise in loneliness, according to a decade-long study.
Hostility towards outsiders motivates engagement on social media
Polarization pays online. A new study shows posts about political opponents drive higher shares and reactions than positive posts about one’s own party.
Study identifies two psychological factors that predict digital dating abuse
Digital dating abuse is linked to intrasexual competitiveness and low agreeableness, suggesting that rivalry and personality traits shape how people control their romantic partners online.
Social media’s disturbing role in “delusion amplification” highlighted in new psychology research
A new systematic review examining over 2,500 studies has uncovered a troubling link between high social media use and psychiatric disorders that involve distortions of self-perception.
