Aired Sep 25, 2024

In this episode, we examine the complex world of Twitter’s societal effects with Victoria Oldemburgo de Mello, a fourth-year PhD student at the University of Toronto. Victoria’s research offers a fresh perspective, focusing on the psychological impacts of Twitter use rather than the platform’s structural elements.

Our conversation explores the nuances of Victoria’s findings, emphasizing the challenges of establishing causality in social media research. We discuss how specific Twitter behaviors and motivations influence users’ well-being, polarization, and sense of belonging. The episode also offers practical takeaways for listeners, encouraging mindful Twitter use and highlighting the potential benefits of active engagement over passive scrolling.

Finally, Victoria shares her future research directions, hinting at exciting possibilities for understanding the evolving relationship between social media and society. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of Twitter’s impact on our lives and learn how to navigate the platform more responsibly.

Victoria Oldemburgo de Mello is a fourth-year PhD student at the University of Toronto who is interested in how people perceive and are affected by technology. She has been at the forefront of exploring the psychological impacts of Twitter. Her latest study reveals a nuanced picture: yes, there are negative effects, but there are also surprising benefits that we don’t often hear about.

Links

Twitter (X) use predicts substantial changes in well-being, polarization, sense of belonging, and outrage (Communications Psychology)