TikTok use is associated with increased body dissatisfaction, study finds
Do you scroll through TikTok as a form of entertainment? While it may seem like a harmless activity, a study published in Body Image suggests that TikTok usage is related to body dissatisfaction, appearance comparison, and body surveillance.
Read moreDetailsFacebook addiction increases depression severity among people who are already depressed
A longitudinal study found that the addictive use of Facebook can increase depression severity among people diagnosed with depression. The findings suggest that overuse of Facebook can diminish a person’s sense of self-worth. The study was published in Computers in Human...
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Psychologists have started to examine why people engage in “sad-fishing” on the internet
New research published in the Journal of American College Health investigated the relationship of sad-fishing to attachment style as well as interpersonal and online support.
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Eye-tracking study suggests that negative comments on social media are more attention-grabbing than positive comments
When it comes to reading news stories on social media, new psychology findings suggest that people pay more attention to negative comments than positive ones. This evidence comes from an eye-tracking study published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior.
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Adolescents with eating disorders report exposure to “pro-Ana” materials on TikTok without searching for it
Social media is a very prevalent mode of communication, especially among young people, but it comes with significant pitfalls. A study published in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics suggests that the use of TikTok can reduce self-esteem and encourage disordered...
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Liberals produce more tweets about important events, conservatives are more likely to share rumors
Two analyses of Twitter posts showed that liberals produced more tweets about important social events, but that conservatives were much more likely to share rumors. While rumor-spreading decreased among liberals after official correction, it often increased among conservatives. The study...
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Study indicates TikTok #fitspo content may have negative consequences for women
New research from Flinders University in Australia finds that TikTok "fitspiration" videos increased women's tendency to compare their appearance with others, resulting in a negative mood.
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Sharing content online makes people feel more knowledgeable, even when they did not read it
A recent series of studies showed that sharing content online, even when the person did not read it, increases subjective knowledge (how much one thinks he/she knows about a topic), but not necessarily objective (how much he/she really knows about...
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Smartphone-induced flow experiences may act as a trigger for compulsive buying behavior among Gen Z
A recent survey of students in Italy found that smartphone addiction and online compulsive buying are related. Additionally, the mental activities a person uses to regulate his/her mood strengthen that link. Flow experiences, i.e. cognitive states of total absorption in...
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Romantic partners who get phubbed are more likely to spy on digital communications, study finds
New research provides evidence that people who have been "phubbed" by their romantic partner are more likely to snoop on their partner's electronic communications. The findings have been published in Computers in Human Behavior.
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Journalists less likely to use words that denote analytical thinking and numerical evidence when writing on Twitter
Journalist tend to rely on rapid, low-effort cognitive processes when posting content to the social media website Twitter, according to new research that analyzed more than 12 million words produced by campaign reporters during the run-up to the 2016 election.
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Psychology experts urge social media giants to increase transparency around algorithms to protect users’ mental health
In a new article published in the journal Body Image, a team of psychology researchers outline a mountain of evidence linking social media use to body image issues. The researchers describe how algorithms may be intensifying this link and urge social...
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41% of teenagers can’t tell the difference between true and fake online health messages
A new study has found that teenagers have a hard time discerning between fake and true health messages. Only 48% of the participants trusted accurate health messages (without editorial elements) more than fake ones. Meanwhile, 41% considered fake and true...
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Most mental health related videos on TikTok are received with support, study suggests
Many people turn to the internet for health-related information. Adolescents tend to seek information about healthy lifestyles (fitness, diet, sexual health, mental health, etc.) online on social media such as TikTok, a video sharing platform. New research published in JMIR...
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Addictive-like use of social media associated with sexual distress and poorer sexual functioning
The addictive-like use of social networking sites like Facebook might be a risk factor for impaired sexual function, according to new research published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. The study provides evidence that frequent and compulsive use of social...
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