Viral and harmful: Violence in media and its impact on empathy
keywords:
media violence / empathy / social media / desensitization / adolescents
Viral and harmful: Violence in media and its impact on empathy
From fight videos on TikTok to hate comments on Instagram, violence is omnipresent online, but what does it do to our empathy? Studies reveal that repeated exposure to digital aggression can reduce our ability to feel concern or discomfort when witnessing others' pain, especially in teens. Yet empathy doesn’t have to erode. This article explains how online violence affects our ability to care and offers practical strategies to maintain compassion in virtual spaces and effectively strengthen empathy over the long term. / more
FOMO: The fun everybody else has
FOMO: The fun everybody else has
Have you ever felt that nagging sense of missing out on something exciting? Did you feel like you did not take on an opportunity that may never come again -a concert, party, or a meeting with friends?Then you probably know what it feels like to have FOMO. / more
Social media use towards self-diagnosing and health anxiety
keywords:
self-diagnosis / social media / mediated communication / health anxiety
Social media use towards self-diagnosing and health anxiety
Self-diagnosing occurs when individuals who are not medical professionals intrinsically establish themselves as living with a particular medical diagnosis. Self-diagnosing is becoming all the more prominent due to increasing communication about health, symptoms, and diagnoses online, namely on algorithmically-dominated social media platforms. While this can be an empowering process for individuals suffering from health issues, it can also perpetuate health anxiety. Users should carefully review health information which they consume on social media and online. / more
Scrolling against hate: Developing critical media competence to counter online antisemitism
keywords:
antisemitism on social media / young adults / critical media competence / digital culture of solidarity and empathy
Scrolling against hate: Developing critical media competence to counter online antisemitism
Social media connects – but also divides. This article explores how antisemitism appears online, why young adults are especially vulnerable, and what we can do about it. Based on existing research, it offers practical tools to build media competence and promote responsible, intentional communication in the fight against online hate. / more
Covert control: How political elites and influencers use manipulation on social media
keywords:
political influencers / manipulation / misinformation / social media / media literacy
Covert control: How political elites and influencers use manipulation on social media
The popularity of users like politicians and political influencers on social media demonstrates their power and sway over public discourse today. But how do these political users gain and maintain power? This article explores how the current media landscape is dominated by political influencers and elites, making it harder for users to know what’s trustworthy and detect misinformation. By spotlighting the tactics that some of these sources use to build influence with their audiences, we bring attention to how political information is shared and processed in today’s digital landscape. / more
Dressed for the feed: The psychology of fashion in a filtered world
Dressed for the feed: The psychology of fashion in a filtered world
Fashion balances expression and expectation, but on social media, it reshapes body image through constant comparison and self-objectification, often leading to anxiety and dissatisfaction. This article explores the psychological costs of online fashion and the pressures it places on self-perception, while also showing its potential to nurture self-awareness. / more
The viral power of migrant crime messaging: Fear, emotion, and algorithms
keywords:
migrant crime messaging / fear appeals / social media algorithms / misinformation / digital psychology
The viral power of migrant crime messaging: Fear, emotion, and algorithms
Fear-driven stories about migrant crime continue to circulate widely across social media platforms. This article examines how emotional triggers, psychological shortcuts, and platform design interact to influence public perception. The result is a digital environment where fear spreads faster than facts and reinforces harmful stereotypes. / more
Digital moral distortion: How social media can negatively shape our judgement of right and wrong
keywords:
morality / social media / moral judgement / moral outrage / misinformation
Digital moral distortion: How social media can negatively shape our judgement of right and wrong
Social media is far more than a tool for communication, it is a digital social environment at scale. Unlike any other space before it, social media platforms expose us to the judgements of others. From expressions of admiration to condemnation, we are immersed in the opinions of others with unprecedented frequency. In this article, we explore how such online environments hold the potential to distort our perception of societal consensus on core moral issues and influence our understanding of what is considered right and wrong in society. / more
Internet, dating, addiction: A match made in heaven
keywords:
online dating / internet addiction / social media / smartphone addiction / problematic internet use
Internet, dating, addiction: A match made in heaven
Dating apps are said to have turned dating into an addiction. Instead of efficiently connecting people for in-person dates, users may get lost in “binge swiping”. But what makes it so hard to stop swiping – and when does it become a problem? We review existing research and explain what researchers mean by “online dating addiction”, why the science isn’t so simple, and what you can do to resist the pull. / more