Social Media

Feed algorithms are not politically neutral. According to a recent study published in the journal Nature, using the algorithmic feed on X shifted users' political views toward conservative positions and permanently altered their online environment.

A new study published in Addictive Behaviors provides evidence that excessive smartphone use and feelings of disconnection fuel a daily cycle. When college students reach for their phones for relief, they tend to feel more detached the following day.

A new study suggests that while most teenagers avoid sexting, those who participate face high risks. Nearly half of adolescents who send intimate images eventually have them shared without permission or become targets of sextortion.

New findings suggest that social media use tends to lower heart rates in adolescents. The study indicates that digital devices likely disrupt sleep by changing schedules rather than by causing physical arousal before bed.

Parents often worry about screen time, but how teens use apps matters more. A new study reveals distinct user profiles, suggesting that online platforms mostly reinforce existing friendships rather than helping isolated youth build new connections.

Scientists have identified a pathway from traits like vulnerable narcissism to compulsive technology use. The findings indicate that social media apps often trigger broader phone dependency in emotionally fragile users.

It is a commonly held belief that social media drives the youth mental health crisis. However, a recent study tracking 25,000 teenagers finds little evidence that time spent online causes anxiety or depression, challenging the popular narrative.

A new study reveals that tweets expressing collective narcissism—a belief in a group’s superiority and victimhood—were central to the "Stop the Steal" movement. These messages went viral by tapping into deep-seated psychological needs for recognition.

A new fMRI study finds that people with excessive smartphone habits show increased activity in brain regions associated with social pain when excluded. This suggests hypersensitivity to rejection may drive compulsive connectivity.

A recent study highlights how content farms use AI-generated images to manipulate human emotions. Researchers found that specific visual tropes trigger psychological shortcuts, making users more likely to overlook signs of deception.

Approximately 19% of American adults live with an anxiety disorder. A new survey suggests that for young people, heavy social media use is a major driving factor behind these rising numbers.

The line between real and fake news is blurring. A paper in Nature Human Behaviour demonstrates that accurate stories from reputable outlets are often co-opted by misinformation spreaders to validate conspiracy theories and misleading worldviews.

Researchers analyzed 11 million posts to find that while political bias varies by site, the preference for low-quality news is universal online.

Four studies show that both active surveillance and passive exposure to an ex-partner's social media content predict worse recovery outcomes.

A systematic review of 98,000 people finds that engaging with short-form videos is associated with poorer cognitive performance.