Digital World, Real World

Artificial Intelligence

What Are the Best Nationalities and Personalities for Detecting AI Text?

Phil Reed D.Phil. on September 28, 2023

How is it possible to recognise machine-generated text, and which nationalities and personalities would be best at doing this?

How is it possible to recognise machine-generated text, and which nationalities and personalities would be best at doing this?

Attention

Why Digital News Can Make Us Feel Helpless

Phil Reed D.Phil. on September 23, 2023

Learned helplessness helps us understand how our endless newsfeeds play a role in our negative mental state.

Learned helplessness helps us understand how our endless newsfeeds play a role in our negative mental state.

Social Life

Holiday Time and the Mobile Phone

Phil Reed D.Phil. on September 18, 2023

Will your holiday feel longer or shorter, and better or worse, with a digital device in your pocket?

Will your holiday feel longer or shorter, and better or worse, with a digital device in your pocket?

Cognition

The Dangers of Back-to-Back Digital Meetings

Phil Reed D.Phil. on June 25, 2023

Research suggests that too many digital meetings could reduce what we take in, narrow our ability to interpret novel ideas, and negatively affect our vision.

Research suggests that too many digital meetings could reduce what we take in, narrow our ability to interpret novel ideas, and negatively affect our vision.

Depression

Zoom Slump: Physical and Mental Health Effects

Phil Reed D.Phil. on May 22, 2023

There are possibilities that video conferencing has impacts on physical health, which have surprising knock-on effects for psychological states.

There are possibilities that video conferencing has impacts on physical health, which have surprising knock-on effects for psychological states.

Relationships

Are You Securely Attached to Your Mobile Phone?

Phil Reed D.Phil. on May 21, 2023

Your relationship to your mobile phone may tell you about your relationship style in general. Try asking yourself these questions.

Your relationship to your mobile phone may tell you about your relationship style in general. Try asking yourself these questions.

Loneliness

Loneliness and Social Media Use Amid and After the Pandemic

Phil Reed D.Phil. on March 28, 2023

Three recent studies have offered a fascinating insight into the impact of the pandemic on the relationship between social media use and loneliness.

Three recent studies have offered a fascinating insight into the impact of the pandemic on the relationship between social media use and loneliness.

Social Networking

Social Media Use and Poor Health

Phil Reed D.Phil. on February 25, 2023

Research shows that high levels of social media use can negatively impact physical health.

Research shows that high levels of social media use can negatively impact physical health.

Anger

Are Women Just as Aggressive as Men?

Phil Reed D.Phil. on February 3, 2023

Digital behavior suggests women are just as actively aggressive as men, and, in some circumstances, more so.

Digital behavior suggests women are just as actively aggressive as men, and, in some circumstances, more so.

Cognition

Digitally-Induced Language Death

Phil Reed D.Phil. on December 22, 2022

The widespread impact of the digital world upon people’s lives introduces additional components that are important for the vitality of a language.

The widespread impact of the digital world upon people’s lives introduces additional components that are important for the vitality of a language.

Anxiety

Doom-Scrolling and the Manipulation of Anxiety

Phil Reed D.Phil. on December 9, 2022

Recent science allows a clearer picture of why we see an unremittingly bleak view of the world through the lens of social media newsfeeds.

Recent science allows a clearer picture of why we see an unremittingly bleak view of the world through the lens of social media newsfeeds.

Media

Why Bad News Has Such an Impact

Phil Reed D.Phil. on November 12, 2022

Why does bad news capture our attention more readily? Learning and neuroscience research may show reasons why people are drawn to the negative on social media.

Why does bad news capture our attention more readily? Learning and neuroscience research may show reasons why people are drawn to the negative on social media.

Media

Social Media and "Side Character Energy"

Phil Reed D.Phil. on September 22, 2022

The presumed benefits of adopting "side character energy" may not be as clear-cut as many have suggested.

The presumed benefits of adopting "side character energy" may not be as clear-cut as many have suggested.

Anxiety

The Origins of Digital Anxiety

Phil Reed D.Phil. on September 15, 2022

Psychosocial theories help to explain the consequences of incongruence between the development of real and digital worlds.

Psychosocial theories help to explain the consequences of incongruence between the development of real and digital worlds.

Media

Odysseus and How to Be a Successful Influencer

Phil Reed D.Phil. on August 25, 2022

Whether they know it or not, successful influencers rely on viewers’ confusion about what they do, aping conversational language to work their influence.

Whether they know it or not, successful influencers rely on viewers’ confusion about what they do, aping conversational language to work their influence.

Media

Newsfeed Anxiety

Phil Reed D.Phil. on June 27, 2022

The ways in which fear responses, and social media newsfeeds, work create a perfect environment for the development and maintenance of anxiety.

The ways in which fear responses, and social media newsfeeds, work create a perfect environment for the development and maintenance of anxiety.

Openness

The Importance of Earnestly Being

Phil Reed D.Phil. on June 1, 2022

Many people do not get a sense of being in a virtual world. What does this mean for the potential impacts of a metaverse?

Many people do not get a sense of being in a virtual world. What does this mean for the potential impacts of a metaverse?

Psychology

The Psychology of Non-fungible Tokens

Phil Reed D.Phil. on May 17, 2022

We need awareness that old currency-goods relationships no longer hold in a digital age, with consequences for our economic behaviors and sensitivities to marketplaces.

We need awareness that old currency-goods relationships no longer hold in a digital age, with consequences for our economic behaviors and sensitivities to marketplaces.

Media

Social Media Withdrawal Symptoms Differ in Older and Younger People

Phil Reed D.Phil. on March 24, 2022

New research suggests differences in the harmful impacts of social media for younger and older people, including how they experience withdrawal effects.

New research suggests differences in the harmful impacts of social media for younger and older people, including how they experience withdrawal effects.

Attachment

What Attachment to Social Media May Reveal About One's Childhood

Phil Reed D.Phil. on March 1, 2022

Research suggests that the way people use their digital devices may reveal clues about their relationship with their parents.

Research suggests that the way people use their digital devices may reveal clues about their relationship with their parents.