social media
Social media dramatically impacts our offline lives and mental well-being; examine its benefits, risks and controversies through scientific studies, real-life anecdotes and more.
The Algorithm Knows Me Better Than My Best Friend
It started innocently enough — a few likes, a late-night search, a quick scroll before bed. But somewhere between my third “How to fix your sleep schedule” video and another ad for anxiety journals, I realized something unsettling. My phone knew me. Not just my name or favorite color — it knew my patterns, my moods, and even my thoughts before I could name them myself. Every scroll felt like looking into a mirror I didn’t remember building.
By Nangyal khan5 months ago in Psyche
The Weight of Labels
I did not get angry because I was attacked. I got angry because I felt invisible. That is what labeling does. It reduces a human being—a soul with thoughts, experiences, and convictions—into a set of categories that can be dismissed before they even speak.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast5 months ago in Psyche
The Price of Going Viral
He wasn’t famous. He wasn’t rich. He was just ordinary. A regular young man named Rayen, sitting in a dimly lit room, scrolling through the endless ocean of viral videos — people dancing, crying, acting, and pretending — all for a few seconds of fame.
By Rai Sohaib 5 months ago in Psyche
Etsy Used to Be Magic. Now It’s a Failing Mall.
There was a time when Etsy felt like magic. It was the golden era of the handmade internet: the digital farmer’s market that honored the village markets of old, where artisans could finally make a living doing what they loved. Every listing felt personal. Every product had a story. You could scroll through the site or app, and find hundreds of items that were truly unique. It was once a space where the imagination was made tangible.
By Autumn Stew5 months ago in Psyche
When Inclusion Means Assimilation: Why We’re Done Playing ‘Normal’
Inclusion shouldn’t mean erasure. But for many disabled people, that’s exactly what it feels like. We’re told to “blend in,” “mask,” “act normal.” We’re praised when we suppress our natural communication styles, sensory needs, or mobility tools. We’re rewarded for being palatable, not authentic.
By Tracy Stine5 months ago in Psyche
How We Are Scientifically Becoming Dumber
Have you ever Thought... Wow... People Seem To Becoming Dumber? Well... It Seems like this is Actually a Reality. Now, Nearly Two Years Ago, I wrote an Article about How IQ is Not a Static Trait.
By Dr. Cody Dakota Wooten, DFM, DHM, DAS (hc)5 months ago in Psyche
The Daily Crime Against Your Own Brain
Feed your brain junk long enough and it starts acting like a suspect under pressure—fidgety, unreliable, and ready to snap. That isn’t poetry. It’s what shows up in psychological evaluations, probation reports, and medical charts across professions and age groups.
By Dr. Mozelle Martin5 months ago in Psyche
Keeping the Mind Young: Science-Backed Ways to Slow Brain Ageing
As we age, we often expect wrinkles, weaker bones, or slower movement — but what truly worries most people is the ageing of the mind. Forgetting names, losing focus, or feeling mentally fatigued can be frightening signs that our brain is changing. Yet, science is uncovering hopeful news: the brain is not a machine doomed to wear out. It’s a living, adaptable organ capable of renewal, repair, and growth at any age — if we give it the right conditions.
By Esther Sun5 months ago in Psyche
The Truth About Shadow
When I was really small and the world was really big and scary, I had an imaginary friend who I had become very reliant on. His name was Shadow and it was kind of a play on Peter Pan's Shadow, and how Peter always had to sew his Shadow back onto the soles of his feet. As a child, surrounded by other children who also loved Peter Pan, the pre-woke generation that didn't see the Racism depicted in it, I felt safe enough to bring my Shadow everywhere.
By Parsley Rose 6 months ago in Psyche
Showing Up
Human beings are social creatures, and much of our identity is built on how others perceive us. Most of us want to be respected, admired, and included. Yet for some people, this need turns into a compulsion. They develop the habit of “showing up”— inserting themselves into situations not to contribute meaningfully, but to be noticed, admired, or seen as superior. To observers, this behavior often comes across as arrogant or ignorant. But psychology shows that behind such attention-seeking displays lie complex motivations, insecurities, and social dynamics.
By Life Hopes6 months ago in Psyche
