Social Media

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.

An international survey reveals that spending more time on social media and dating apps is tied to lower body satisfaction. The study highlights how these platforms are linked to a higher drive for muscularity, particularly in men.

Instagram posts tagged with #SexPositivity often promote objectification, narrow beauty standards, and commercial branding more than sexual empowerment, according to research published in Sex Roles.

A recent study of over two million tweets suggests members of Congress are increasingly using angry rhetoric on social media. Researchers found that Democratic lawmakers are disproportionately driving this trend of digital outrage to build their political brands.

Social media is often blamed for toxic political debates, but a new global study links digital aggression to offline issues. Researchers found that users in less democratic and economically unequal countries report experiencing significantly more online hostility.