We all know using social media is considered bad for you. A high social media diet is linked to anxiety, depression and FOMO (the fear of missing out). Even internal research data from Meta, the company behind Instagram and Facebook, agrees. However, over the last decade, social media has become woven into the fabric of our […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Scroll less, connect more: A new study shows how to make social media work for you
Strength training: from what age?
Although body worship never goes out of fashion, the idealisation of one’s own image has become a global phenomenon in recent years, mainly due to the abuse of social networks such as Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. This obsession with aesthetics has been particularly deep-rooted among the so-called Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) and […] … learn more→
Rethinking screen time: A better understanding of what people do on their devices is key to digital well-being
In an era where digital devices are everywhere, the term “screen time” has become a buzz phrase in discussions about technology’s impact on people’s lives. Parents are concerned about their children’s screen habits. But what if this entire approach to screen time is fundamentally flawed? While researchers have made advances in measuring screen use, a detailed […] … learn more→
Can you sleep your way to better decision making? Here’s what the science says
The author John Steinbeck said: “It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.” Many others have claimed they formulated breakthroughs and innovations in dreams. Recent studies on the science of sleep suggest these claims are supported by modern science. A 2024 study suggests […] … learn more→
The evolutionary benefits of being forgetful
Forgetting is part of our daily lives. You may walk into a room only to forget why you went in there – or perhaps someone says hi on the street and you can’t remember their name. But why do we forget things? Is it simply a sign of memory impairment, or are there benefits? One […] … learn more→
Talking to dead people through AI: the business of ‘digital resurrection’ might not be helpful, ethical… or even legal
Earlier this year, a Spanish TV programme showed several people listening to digital recreations of the voices of their deceased relatives that had been generated by artificial intelligence from real audios. It sparked widespread debate in both public and professional spheres, as these recreations not only mimicked loved ones’ voices, but also asked poignant, evocative questions, provoking […] … learn more→
‘It just lifted me’: new research suggests shared reading groups combat loneliness – and the effects can be astounding
In Eleanor Rigby, the Beatles asked: “All the lonely people – where do they all come from?” The answer to that question is complex, but loneliness is a widespread feeling among Australians. One in three people feel lonely, and one in six experience severe loneliness. The findings of our research suggest that shared reading groups, where people from […] … learn more→
Research shows our understanding of ‘posh’ words is all wrong
If you live in the UK or are familiar with its wide range of accents and dialects, you can probably tell the difference between a posh or upper-class accent, (think the “King’s English”) and one more associated with the working class (such as Cockney). Besides accents, it is a popular view, reinforced in media and pop culture, that certain words […] … learn more→
‘Mindfulness’ in the digital age: how to train your brain to stay focused in a fast-paced world?
In this digital era, the flow of information comes non-stop. The latest news, emails, and social media content fill our gadgets every day. This condition causes us to experience information overload, which is a situation where someone is exposed to an excessive amount of information so that it is difficult to process and filter the information effectively. […] … learn more→
Public speaking: an essential subject that is still pending
Knowing how to speak and express yourself in public is not only a useful skill in the workplace. It goes much further: it serves to trigger thought, to develop empathy and listening, and to conserve the energy that we all have. The conviction that true and complete communication necessarily involves knowing how to speak in […] … learn more→