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social media

This shows a teen on a phone, looking anxious.

·July 24, 2026·9 min read

High Social Media Use Linked to Youth Anxiety, Suicidal Ideation

A new study links six or more hours of daily social media use to a two-fold increase in anxiety and a three-fold increase in suicidal ideation among youth.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 21, 2026·7 min read

Digital Media Alters Cognitive Willingness

A new study proposes that digital media usage alters human focus through a mechanism called "effort recalibration."

this shows a person looking at a phone and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 2, 2026·13 min read

Social Media Recalibrates How the Brain Values Mental Effort

Digital media does not destroy raw cognitive capacity, but rather recalibrates our value-based decision systems. By saturating the mind with effortless, instant algorithmic rewards, digital platforms subjectively inflate the cost of mental exertion, training users to abandon deep, demanding tasks in favor of constant, low-friction digital exploration.

This shows a sad teen on her cell phone.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 11, 2026·9 min read

Two Hours of Daily Social Media Linked to Teen Depression

A new study establishes that adolescents who engage with social media for two or more hours per day face increased risks for depressive symptoms and poorer well-being one year later.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 8, 2026·7 min read

Digital Memory Paradox: Social Networking “Mutes” Content Learning

New research shows that as we form online connections, our brains prioritize "social mapping" over "content learning." This shift is even more dramatic for those with high working memory, who use their digital networks as external storage, resulting in a 40% drop in content recall.

This shows a brain coming out of a cell phone.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 15, 2026·8 min read

Is Social Media Addiction a Clinical Reality?

Following a $6M lawsuit against Meta and Google, researchers argue that while social media impacts brain rewards, it lacks the formal APA criteria to be classified as a clinical addiction.

This shows a person crying on a cell phone screen.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 7, 2026·7 min read

Stoic Arguments Change More Minds Than Emotional Pleas

Research finds that emotional social media posts are viewed as manipulative and insincere, even by those who agree with the message. While "venting" feels good, it fails to change minds.

This shows two teens in a school hallway.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 8, 2026·9 min read

Teen Friendships: Besties Deal in Emotions While Popular Control Appearance

New research reveals that while best friends shape how a teen feels, the popular kids shape how they want to be seen.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 2, 2025·6 min read

TikTok ADHD Misinformation Can Mislead Young Minds

College students increasingly turn to TikTok for information, including on mental health. A new study found that exposure to misinformation about ADHD on the platform reduced students’ factual knowledge but increased their confidence in that knowledge. Participants who viewed misleading content were also more likely to seek both scientifically supported and unproven treatments.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 22, 2025·6 min read

More Social Media, More Depression: Study Links Cause and Effect

A new study has found that as preteens increase their social media use, depressive symptoms also rise—but not the other way around. Researchers tracked nearly 12,000 youth over three years and discovered that increased screen time predicted later depression, while depressive symptoms did not predict more social media use.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 10, 2025·5 min read

Heavy Social Media Use Linked to Believing and Spreading Fake News

Individuals who experience high levels of distress and functional impairment from excessive social media use are significantly more likely to believe fake news and interact with it. Researchers found that problematic users were more inclined to click, like, comment on, and share false news stories, regardless of their accuracy.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 10, 2025·4 min read

Moral Outrage Goes Viral, But Doesn’t Drive Action Online

A new study analyzing over a million posts linked to online petitions found that while moral outrage boosts a post's virality, it doesn't significantly increase petition signatures. Emotional and morally charged content spreads widely on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), but fails to translate into real-world collective actions.