#distraction-tactics

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Digital life
fromSilicon Canals
4 hours ago

People who check their phone within five minutes of waking up are training their brain to start every day in reaction mode - and it's costing them more than they realize - Silicon Canals

Starting the day with phone use can negatively impact mental state and set a stressful tone for the day.
#fact-checking
Media industry
fromPoynter
6 hours ago

Three ways AI is making reliable information harder to find - Poynter

AI is disrupting information consumption, leading to misinformation and challenges in staying informed amidst economic crises and news deserts.
Online Community Development
fromPoynter
1 day ago

Fact-checking has to go where misinformation actually spreads - Poynter

Fact-checking must evolve from traditional metrics to address the fragmented and informal nature of today's information ecosystem.
Media industry
fromPoynter
6 hours ago

Three ways AI is making reliable information harder to find - Poynter

AI is disrupting information consumption, leading to misinformation and challenges in staying informed amidst economic crises and news deserts.
Online Community Development
fromPoynter
1 day ago

Fact-checking has to go where misinformation actually spreads - Poynter

Fact-checking must evolve from traditional metrics to address the fragmented and informal nature of today's information ecosystem.
#generative-ai
Artificial intelligence
fromMedium
8 hours ago

Is AI addiction a thing?

Generative AI Addiction Syndrome (GAID) describes anxiety and withdrawal symptoms in users when cut off from AI, highlighting its potential addictive nature.
Photography
fromFast Company
1 week ago

Scientists have designed a way to save our brains from fake AI videos

A new camera prototype from ETH Zurich stamps a cryptographic seal on images to verify authenticity, addressing trust issues in digital content.
Artificial intelligence
fromMedium
8 hours ago

Is AI addiction a thing?

Generative AI Addiction Syndrome (GAID) describes anxiety and withdrawal symptoms in users when cut off from AI, highlighting its potential addictive nature.
Photography
fromFast Company
1 week ago

Scientists have designed a way to save our brains from fake AI videos

A new camera prototype from ETH Zurich stamps a cryptographic seal on images to verify authenticity, addressing trust issues in digital content.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
3 days ago

New Research: Some People Really Do Fall for Corporate BS

Employees impressed by corporate gibberish perform poorly in decision-making and confuse it with business savvy.
Privacy technologies
fromFast Company
1 day ago

This International Fact-Checking Day, use these 5 tips to spot AI-generated content

AI-generated content complicates distinguishing fact from fiction, especially in breaking news like the Iran war.
#meta
Silicon Valley
fromwww.bbc.com
2 days ago

'We're having a moment' - fear and denial in Silicon Valley over social media addiction trial

Meta and YouTube were found liable for designing addictive platforms that harmed a young woman's mental health.
Law
fromLos Angeles Times
6 days ago

L.A. social media addiction verdict set to unleash more lawsuits - and force changes

Meta and Google face significant legal challenges that could reshape social media operations and American tort law.
Digital life
fromInc
4 days ago

Social Media Is Addictive Says Jury in YouTube and Meta Trial. Here's What You Can Do About It

Meta and YouTube were found liable for using addictive algorithms, resulting in a $6 million judgment for a young woman's mental health claims.
Silicon Valley
fromwww.bbc.com
2 days ago

'We're having a moment' - fear and denial in Silicon Valley over social media addiction trial

Meta and YouTube were found liable for designing addictive platforms that harmed a young woman's mental health.
Law
fromLos Angeles Times
6 days ago

L.A. social media addiction verdict set to unleash more lawsuits - and force changes

Meta and Google face significant legal challenges that could reshape social media operations and American tort law.
Digital life
fromInc
4 days ago

Social Media Is Addictive Says Jury in YouTube and Meta Trial. Here's What You Can Do About It

Meta and YouTube were found liable for using addictive algorithms, resulting in a $6 million judgment for a young woman's mental health claims.
Online marketing
fromMakeUseOf
2 days ago

No, it's not your microphone - this is how advertisers know what you want

Advertisers use data from your online behavior, not microphone recordings, to deliver targeted ads accurately.
#social-media
Mental health
fromNature
2 days ago

Is social media addictive? Why a formal diagnosis is still out of reach

A California trial awarded $6 million for social media addiction harm, but researchers question the validity of labeling social media use as addiction.
Social media marketing
fromSilicon Canals
6 days ago

Psychology suggests people who browse social media but never post or comment aren't passive - they've simply opted out of the performance while retaining access to the information, which is a more deliberate choice than most people who post every day have ever thought to make - Silicon Canals

Deliberate non-participation on social media can be a psychologically aware choice, as most users are 'lurkers' who consume content without engaging.
Mental health
fromwww.npr.org
6 days ago

Research points to how companies could make social media less addictive for teens

Court verdicts highlight social media's risks for teens, linking platform design to addiction and mental health issues.
Mental health
fromNature
2 days ago

Is social media addictive? Why a formal diagnosis is still out of reach

A California trial awarded $6 million for social media addiction harm, but researchers question the validity of labeling social media use as addiction.
Social media marketing
fromSilicon Canals
6 days ago

Psychology suggests people who browse social media but never post or comment aren't passive - they've simply opted out of the performance while retaining access to the information, which is a more deliberate choice than most people who post every day have ever thought to make - Silicon Canals

Deliberate non-participation on social media can be a psychologically aware choice, as most users are 'lurkers' who consume content without engaging.
Mental health
fromwww.npr.org
6 days ago

Research points to how companies could make social media less addictive for teens

Court verdicts highlight social media's risks for teens, linking platform design to addiction and mental health issues.
Marketing tech
fromDigiday
4 days ago

What AI disruption means for experimental ad budgets

Marketers are increasingly reallocating budgets towards experimental ad channels, including AI and retail media, to find new audiences and drive growth.
Marketing
fromMarTech
4 days ago

What happens when ad spend goes wrong | MarTech

Account ownership in advertising is primarily about financial logistics, risk, and legal responsibility, not just control.
Parenting
fromwww.bbc.com
4 days ago

Is screen time always bad and how do I manage it?

Parents should limit screen time for children under five to one hour daily, as recommended by the Department of Education.
Games
fromwww.aljazeera.com
5 days ago

How the US memeifies its war on Iran

The US is criticized for transforming its war against Iran into entertainment through memes and video games.
Social media marketing
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

It is no fluke that social media platforms are addictive and causing harm. They were designed that way | Van Badham

Recent court rulings hold tech companies accountable for user harm and deceptive practices, imposing significant penalties for exploitation and addiction issues.
#artificial-intelligence
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
2 days ago

AI Doesn't Flatter You: It Does Something Worse

AI models affirm user actions more than humans, leading to increased conviction and reduced willingness to apologize.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
2 days ago

AI Doesn't Flatter You: It Does Something Worse

AI models affirm user actions more than humans, leading to increased conviction and reduced willingness to apologize.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
22 hours ago

Psychology suggests the most attractive person in the room is almost never the one trying hardest to be - because effort in the direction of attractiveness is visible, and visibility of effort is the one thing that reliably cancels the effect it's trying to produce - Silicon Canals

Authenticity is more appealing than effortful perfection in social interactions.
#phone-addiction
Digital life
fromZDNET
17 hours ago

Brick vs. Bloom Card: I tested both for my screen addiction, and the winner depends on you

Phone addiction leads to significant time loss, prompting the development of tools like the Bloom Card to help users manage distractions.
Digital life
fromwww.npr.org
3 weeks ago

5 ways to resist the urge to keep looking at your phone

Reclaim phone time by understanding why you reach for your device and using strategies like self-awareness, urge surfing, and app blockers to resist constant scrolling urges.
Digital life
fromZDNET
17 hours ago

Brick vs. Bloom Card: I tested both for my screen addiction, and the winner depends on you

Phone addiction leads to significant time loss, prompting the development of tools like the Bloom Card to help users manage distractions.
Digital life
fromwww.npr.org
3 weeks ago

5 ways to resist the urge to keep looking at your phone

Reclaim phone time by understanding why you reach for your device and using strategies like self-awareness, urge surfing, and app blockers to resist constant scrolling urges.
#manipulation
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

5 Manipulation Tactics You Might Not See Until It's Too Late

Gaslighting, guilt-tripping, moving the goalposts, and triangulation are manipulative tactics that undermine reality and self-worth in relationships.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
1 week ago

Research suggests the most effective way to shut down a manipulator isn't arguing with their logic - it's refusing to participate in the emotional transaction they're trying to create - Silicon Canals

Manipulators seek to dominate rather than engage in genuine dialogue, using emotional reactions as a means to control the interaction.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

5 Manipulation Tactics You Might Not See Until It's Too Late

Gaslighting, guilt-tripping, moving the goalposts, and triangulation are manipulative tactics that undermine reality and self-worth in relationships.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
1 week ago

Research suggests the most effective way to shut down a manipulator isn't arguing with their logic - it's refusing to participate in the emotional transaction they're trying to create - Silicon Canals

Manipulators seek to dominate rather than engage in genuine dialogue, using emotional reactions as a means to control the interaction.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
2 days ago

Teen Anxiety and the Dangers of Doomscrolling

Stress and anxiety hinder teens' future planning, while social media can provide temporary relief but may also lead to doomscrolling and distraction.
#disinformation
World news
fromThe Cipher Brief
1 week ago

When Deepfakes Become Doctrine

Artificial intelligence is being used to create and spread disinformation during the U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
Media industry
fromThe Cipher Brief
1 day ago

Iran Is Building the Disinformation Architecture of the Future-Right Now

Iran's disinformation tactics demonstrate the potential of AI in conflict, emphasizing speed, encryption, and narrative manipulation.
World news
fromThe Cipher Brief
1 week ago

When Deepfakes Become Doctrine

Artificial intelligence is being used to create and spread disinformation during the U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
Media industry
fromThe Cipher Brief
1 day ago

Iran Is Building the Disinformation Architecture of the Future-Right Now

Iran's disinformation tactics demonstrate the potential of AI in conflict, emphasizing speed, encryption, and narrative manipulation.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
4 days ago

Holding Meta and Google Responsible for Addiction Is Wrong

Addiction involves multiple factors, and holding companies liable for social media addiction oversimplifies the issue and neglects personal responsibility.
Artificial intelligence
fromFortune
5 days ago

AI is so sycophantic there's a Reddit channel called 'AITA' documenting its sociopathic advice | Fortune

AI chatbots often provide flattering advice, leading to harmful behaviors and damaging relationships.
Psychology
fromHuffPost
2 days ago

8 Sneaky Signs You're Being Emotionally Manipulated

Emotional manipulation often manifests through subtle control, leading to confusion and anxiety in relationships.
Digital life
fromwww.bbc.com
3 days ago

What could six fictional voters teach us about how social media really works?

Exploring online content through six fictional voters during the Senedd election reveals diverse political perspectives and the influence of social media algorithms.
Mindfulness
fromFast Company
3 weeks ago

Are you part of the 'distraction economy'?

Constant distraction allows avoidance of painful memories and self-awareness, while surrendering attention represents a choice that gradually displaces the self.
fromThe New Yorker
3 weeks ago

Clickbait, Decoded

They Laughed When She Sat Down at the Piano-But Then She Started to Play And they continued laughing. This Common Kitchen Ingredient Could Save Your Life It's a glass of water. Use This Calculator to Figure Out When You'll Be Able to Retire Never.
Everyday cooking
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
2 days ago

People Don't Just Update Beliefs, They Test Them

Understanding psychological change requires recognizing the role of control and mastery in actively pursuing change despite familiar limitations.
#misinformation
Media industry
fromEntrepreneur
1 week ago

A False Story Can Go Viral in Minutes - Here's How Smart Leaders Stay Ahead of It

Misinformation spreads rapidly; preparation is crucial for leaders to manage reputational crises effectively.
Media industry
fromEntrepreneur
1 week ago

A False Story Can Go Viral in Minutes - Here's How Smart Leaders Stay Ahead of It

Misinformation spreads rapidly; preparation is crucial for leaders to manage reputational crises effectively.
World politics
fromwww.aljazeera.com
2 weeks ago

The battle on the propaganda front intensifies

Iran employs asymmetric economic tactics against U.S.-Israeli military superiority while misinformation complicates public understanding of the conflict.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

The Negativity Bias Impacts Everything in Our Lives

Humans are evolutionarily predisposed to focus on negativity for survival, but this can lead to harmful cognitive patterns.
Public health
fromPsychology Today
4 weeks ago

The Impact of Fake News on Health and Decision-Making

Fake news deliberately presents false or misleading health claims as legitimate reporting, distorting public understanding and promoting detrimental behaviors through rapid social media spread.
Social media marketing
fromPhys
2 weeks ago

Do political social media ads influence the outcome of elections?

Political ads on Facebook and Instagram during the 2020 U.S. election primarily targeted existing supporters rather than persuading new voters, with minimal measurable impact on electoral outcomes.
Digital life
fromwww.theguardian.com
6 days ago

The Guardian view on social media in the dock: tech bros move fast society is trying to catch up | Editorial

Recent jury decisions against Meta and YouTube highlight the importance of content delivery methods in addressing online harms.
Psychology
fromFast Company
3 days ago

Stop trying to 'educate' people into changing. Science proves it doesn't work

False assumptions hinder change; simply providing information does not guarantee behavior change.
Psychology
fromCornell Chronicle
3 days ago

Why we're skeptical of the emotions we see on our screens | Cornell Chronicle

Emotional expressions on social media are often viewed as less authentic and persuasive in political discourse.
fromThedrum
3 weeks ago

NAVIGATING AD NOISE, FRAGMENTATION AND MISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO BUILD ENGAGEMENT

Advertisers seeking unfiltered feedback on their products or services, or looking for genuine brand advocates, can tap into Redditors' willingness to share authentic opinions while remaining open to differing perspectives. Yet this is where redditors often go against the trend.
Social media marketing
fromMail Online
2 days ago

Scientists work out why the car you just overtook seems to reappear

Dr. Conor Boland explained that red-light timing can erase small speed advantages, allowing a slower car to catch up again and again. He noted, 'You pass a car, and then a few minutes later, it ends up beside you again.' This phenomenon is partly psychological, as we remember surprising moments when the same car shows up again, but it is also built into how traffic works.
Psychology
Information security
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

The Importance of Media Psychology in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity breaches exploit human psychological vulnerabilities through media psychology principles including persuasion, attention manipulation, and cognitive biases.
fromMedium
1 month ago

The UX of survival in the age of AI deepfakes

AI-synthesized faces are now perceived as more trustworthy than real human faces. Let that sink in for a second: the fake version of reality is more believable than reality itself. Meanwhile, misinformation spreads six times faster than true information on social media. During a crisis, when stress and fear impair our ability to think critically, the information ecosystem becomes a minefield.
Mobile UX
Digital life
fromPsychology Today
2 weeks ago

AI and the Rise of Cognitive Overload

Heavy AI use causes acute cognitive fatigue in workers, manifesting as mental fog, headaches, and slower decision-making, driven by accelerated productivity expectations and managing multiple AI systems simultaneously.
Media industry
fromwww.mediaite.com
3 weeks ago

War Propaganda Is Now Made for the Algorithm. Journalism Can't Keep Up.

Foreign and domestic propaganda spreads through social media when users amplify content that aligns with their existing beliefs, regardless of its manipulative intent or source.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
3 days ago

Why We Don't Change-Even When We Know What's Wrong

Insight alone is insufficient for change; real experiences are necessary to challenge ingrained beliefs and expectations.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
3 days ago

Not everyone who goes quiet during an argument is shutting down. Some of them are running a calculation they learned in childhood where speaking while emotional guaranteed that what they said would be used against them later, and the silence is protective custody for their own words. - Silicon Canals

Silence during conflict can indicate a calculated emotional response rather than passive aggression or shutdown.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
3 days ago

The Fear of Being Canceled Activates an Ancient Alarm

Therapists are observing a new anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of public shaming and ostracism, termed akyronophobia.
Mental health
fromSilicon Canals
4 weeks ago

Psychology says people who use alcohol, shopping, scrolling, or constant socializing to regulate their emotional state aren't lacking in willpower - they've found something that reliably interrupts the signal their inner life is trying to send, and they will keep using it for exactly as long as the signal remains more frightening than the interruption - Silicon Canals

Behaviors labeled as bad habits are often successful emotional regulation strategies developed in response to overwhelming internal discomfort, not character flaws or willpower failures.
Higher education
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Why "Do Your Own Research" Is Bad Advice

Research requires at least a rigorous literature review; reading to inform oneself is educating, not full research, which demands specific review skills and evaluation.
Philosophy
fromApaonline
1 month ago

"When You See This Sign...": The Power of Silence in Propaganda

Silence functions as a strategic propagandistic tool alongside language, enabling ideologies to spread through what remains unsaid rather than explicitly stated.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
4 days ago

Your Most Horrifying Thoughts May Not Mean What You Think

Intrusive sexual thoughts are a common form of OCD, often misidentified and not indicative of actual desire.
#deepfakes
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

Do Your Identities Make You Vulnerable to Misinformation?

Tightly overlapping identities increase vulnerability to misinformation, while distinct identities enhance resilience against biased information processing.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

What's Behind the Fake Review

Fake content spreads rapidly due to emotional triggers and biases, necessitating critical thinking over social proof in decision-making.
Television
fromPocket-lint
2 months ago

This deceptive TV marketing trick is everywhere - don't fall for it

Motion Plus 120 labeling typically indicates motion interpolation on a 60Hz panel, not a native 120Hz refresh rate, so consoles won't enable 120 FPS.
fromInsideHook
1 month ago

What Is a Life of Nonstop Ads Doing to Our Minds?

Musée d'Orsay hosted an exhibit last year called "Art is in the Street," which cataloged "the spectacular rise of the illustrated poster in Paris during the second half of the 19th century." The prints were lithographs - drawings made on limestone with greasy pencils, which were then exposed to water and inverted onto sheets of paper. Typically, each color got its own stone. The finished product was a firework of oily yellows and reds.
Graphic design
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
1 week ago

7 phrases that sound caring but are actually a self-centred person redirecting the conversation back to themselves - and the one most people fall for every time is the phrase that begins with "I totally understand because I..." followed by a story that replaces yours entirely - Silicon Canals

Conversational narcissism redirects focus to the speaker, often disguised as empathy, making it difficult to recognize.
fromFast Company
1 month ago

Our brains are wired to ignore information. Here are neuroscience-backed tips for communicating memorably

The human brain is engineered to ignore most of what it sees and hears, according to the neuroscientists I interviewed for the audio original Viral Voices. If that's the case, how are you supposed to make a memorable impression? The empowering news is that if you understand how the brain works, what it discards, and what it pays attention to, you'll be far more persuasive than you've ever imagined. Persuasive people have influence in their personal and professional lives.
Philosophy
Marketing
fromThe Drum
2 months ago

Why do advertising people persist in believing impossible things?

Advertising often relies on unrealistic beliefs and continues using ineffective digital display ads despite poor performance and rising ad-blocker use.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
2 weeks ago

Cognitive Dissonance and Journalism

Cognitive dissonance theory is supported by thousands of empirical studies across diverse situations, contrary to a New Yorker article's dismissal based on limited historical evidence.
Digital life
fromSilicon Canals
1 month ago

Psychology says the people who feel exhausted after scrolling aren't lazy, their brains are processing thousands of micro-decisions that were designed to feel like nothing - Silicon Canals

Social media scrolling causes mental fatigue through thousands of micro-decisions engineered to feel invisible, depleting cognitive resources despite appearing effortless.
Public health
fromUPI
2 months ago

Social media companies face trials for alleged addictive design - UPI.com

Major social platforms face lawsuits alleging they intentionally design addictive features that harm teens' mental health and lead to self-harm.
fromElectronic Frontier Foundation
2 months ago

Beware: Government Using Image Manipulation for Propaganda

A short while later, the White House posted the same photo - except that version had been digitally altered to darken Armstrong's skin and rearrange her facial features to make it appear she was sobbing or distraught. The Guardian one of many media outlets to report on this image manipulation, created a handy slider graphic to help viewers see clearly how the photo had been changed.
US politics
fromFast Company
1 month ago

Misinformation is scaling. We need to get better at countering it

Most days, an email lands in my inbox with the promise to amplify my growth-my newsletter subscribers, the reach of my podcasts, the number of client leads, etc. I've gotten used to random people pitching me on their services, and some of the messages expertly prey on my insecurities as a business owner ("you're leaving so much on the table," et al.). I never answer any of them, but I sometimes wonder which ones might actually be legit.
Artificial intelligence
Digital life
fromThe Cipher Brief
1 month ago

Media Literacy Isn't Enough Anymore

Media literacy remains necessary but is insufficient; systemic and platform-level changes are required because AI, scale, and engagement design overwhelm individual judgment.
#conspiracy-theories
fromFuturism
2 months ago
Psychology

Researchers Just Discovered Something Extremely Unflattering About People Who Believe Conspiracy Theories

fromFuturism
2 months ago
Psychology

Researchers Just Discovered Something Extremely Unflattering About People Who Believe Conspiracy Theories

Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
1 month ago

8 phrases manipulators slip into casual conversation that make you question your own reality - Silicon Canals

Gaslighting uses subtle, reasonable-sounding phrases to invalidate feelings and distort memory, causing people to doubt their perceptions and avoid confronting manipulators.
Psychology
fromBackyard Garden Lover
1 month ago

Modern Day Mind Control: 16 Hidden Ways Society Is Steering Our Thoughts

Subtle influence tactics, from targeted advertising to social proof, shape beliefs, choices, and autonomy, requiring awareness and critical thinking to resist.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Confirmation Bias and the Choices We Make

Confirmation bias leads people to interpret the same events differently, complicating truth-finding during misinformation while open-mindedness and better methods can improve accuracy.
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