What do we look for when choosing a video game for our children, nephews, or grandchildren? Probably that it’s not violent, that it’s age-appropriate, and that it encourages creativity. However, we rarely stop to consider a key question: who can young children interact with while they play? Many video games allow direct communication with other […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
The dark side of video games: how chat rooms put children at risk
How multilingualism can protect against brain ageing
People are living longer than ever around the world. Longer lives bring new opportunities, but they also introduce challenges, especially the risk of age-related decline. Alongside physical changes such as reduced strength or slower movement, many older adults struggle with memory, attention and everyday tasks. Researchers have spent years trying to understand why some people […] … learn more→
Another Global Pandemic: Financial Illiteracy
Imagine someone buying an appliance on installments, without understanding that they will pay double its value. A young couple using their first credit card as if it were extra money, without thinking about the accrued interest. Or a politician offering unlimited subsidies or nationalizing savings. In each case, ignorance weighs more heavily than a lack […] … learn more→
What teenagers want adults to know about their digital lives
Teenagers all over the world use social media and messaging apps as part of their daily lives. This is accompanied by growing concerns about negative effects of social media on youth mental health – and ongoing debates around limiting screen time and access to digital devices. What’s frequently missing in these conversations, though, is what teenagers […] … learn more→
Digital detox: disconnecting, between luxury and fundamental right
As the dangers of excessive digital usage become increasingly apparent, the ability to disconnect is becoming a luxury. Will disconnecting from the internet soon be reserved for only the very privileged few? According to Ouest France, nearly one in five French people said in 2025 that they wanted to reduce their digital usage , while Statista noted […] … learn more→
What is time? Rather than something that ‘flows,’ a philosopher suggests time is a psychological projection
“Time flies,” “time waits for no one,” “as time goes on”: The way we speak about time tends to strongly imply that the passage of time is some sort of real process that happens out there in the world. We inhabit the present moment and move through time, even as events come and go, fading […] … learn more→
Fear of Missing Out: Between Social Brain and Collective Anxiety
You’ve probably felt it before: that distinct sensation that your phone has just vibrated in your pocket. You quickly pull it out. No notification. Another scenario: You’re going away for the weekend, determined to “disconnect.” The first few hours are pleasant. Then anxiety mounts. What’s happening on your emails? What conversations are you missing? You’re […] … learn more→
Agree to disagree: Why we fear conflict and what to do about it
In an era of heightened political polarization, merely longing for civility is no longer enough. Understanding just how to debate and respectfully disagree has become truly imperative, now more than ever and for a couple good reasons. Humans are wired for connection. Our brains evolved for collaboration. Sharing experiences with people who see the world as we do […] … learn more→
Winning with misinformation: New research identifies link between endorsing easily disproven claims and prioritizing symbolic strength
Why do some people endorse claims that can easily be disproved? It’s one thing to believe false information, but another to actively stick with something that’s obviously wrong. Our new research, published in the Journal of Social Psychology, suggests that some people consider it a “win” to lean in to known falsehoods. We are social psychologists who study […] … learn more→
Virtual gifts, social pressure, gamification: TikTok Lives, machines for capturing teens’ attention and money
On Thursday, September 11, 2025, the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the psychological effects of TikTok on minors released its report, warning of one of the “worst networks targeting young people.” The platform most popular with young people, who spend an average of 110 minutes a day on it , TikTok relies on a business model designed to capture […] … learn more→