InBits
In bits: Deconstructing our digital lives Dr Liam Challenor and Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton explore areas of cyberpsychology that you’re curious about, with a different topic every two weeks. From social media “addiction” to attention span changes, from trolling and harassment to online activism, from gaming to online dating, from misogyny to radicalisation online. Our lives are fully immersed in technology, and people have concerns about how it might be affecting us all. There is a lot of poor media reporting and scaremongering in the field of cyberpsychology, but far less evidence-based content to offer an alternative. This podcast is informative and educational, directly addressing peoples’ concerns, worries and hopes, while also being entertaining and enjoyable to listen to. We breakdown challenging and sometimes difficult topics “in bits” to make them approachable, fun and easy to understand.
Episodes
In this episode we dive into ASMR! We discuss the ASMR, the similarities to other auditory and visual trends online. We focus on the content of videos that can induce ASMR, what makes them successful for ASMR-tists and the potential concerns that we might have from an online safety perspective. We review the research on our responses to ASMR triggers and our psychological responses behind why ASMR is the most watched content in 202...
This episode offers an in-depth exploration of cyberbullying, examining its prevalence, impact, and the evolving nature of online harassment in Ireland and beyond. We discuss the importance of definitions, platforms, and behaviours that have changed, with a focus on the link between increased screen time and rising incidents. The episode also discusses the lasting psychological, educational, and social consequences of cyberbullying...
This episode explores how extremist ideologies spread online and offline, who is most vulnerable to radicalization, and the pathways that lead people into — and sometimes out of — extremist communities. We discuss the role of social media, traditional media, and even bots in amplifying harmful narratives, as well as the psychological and social vulnerabilities that make individuals more susceptible. We break down the stages of radi...
In this episode, we explore the complex and often contradictory ways we present ourselves online. Are we the same person across Instagram, LinkedIn, and real life? Do we craft idealized versions of ourselves—or does the digital world give some of us a chance to finally be who we truly are?
From psychological theories of the self to why selfies spark moral panic (and who they target), we dive into the motivations behind online self-...
In today’s episode, we’re unpacking misinformation from a psychological angle. We’ll talk about what counts as misinformation and disinformation, How “fake news” thrives online, and the Psychological biases that make us vulnerable. The consequences of misinformation on behaviors and society and what’s being done to fight back—from legislation to digital literacy.
Content Warning: We discuss real-worl...
In this episode, we unpack the psychology and motivations behind catfishing—the act of creating false identities online. We explore how online environments foster deception, how attachment styles and personality traits like psychopathy and narcissism play into catfishing behavior, and what impact this has on victims. Drawing from psychological theories, research studies, and real-world examples, this episode unpacks how anonymity, ...
We debunk age-related biases. Learn why caution is key, and how with support, older adults can thrive in the digital world, minimizing online risks and maximizing tech benefits.
Resources and Links
Baldassar et al (2017) - Aging in place in a mobile world: New media and ol...
In this episode, we discuss how persuasion manifests online. We focus on how persuasion is used on social media by influencers and how we process and understand persuasive messages. We also discuss how persuasion is used in misinformation and some strategies to counter false or misleading information!
Misinformation Resources
https://spunout.ie/life/privacy-security/fake-news/
HTML Heroes - https://heroes.webwise.ie/html-heroes...
In this episode, we dig into why people troll, harass and gossip online and what makes it so common—from anonymity and online disinhibition to personality traits, from group dynamics to platform culture. We explore who trolls are, what motivates them, and how even ordinary people can get caught up in it. With real-life examples and research, we also look at how to tackle trolling and make the internet a kinder place.
Content warnin...
We take a deeper look at online harassment, particularly the rise and impact of trolling. Building on our online dating episode, we explore who is most affected, how it manifests, and the psychological toll it can take. Focusing on deliberate, harmful online behaviour meant to antagonise or disrupt, we unpack the different forms of trolling and why it’s become so widespread.
This is part one of a two-part topic (because Nicola like...
What does social support mean to you? What are your social support networks online and offline? Do you share content for support or do you see people 'over share' content? How do you react?
This week’s episode focuses on the different ways and reasons why we seek support online and examines some of these questions across different age groups and online communities.
This is Nicola's area of research so it turned into a two-part episode! This time we'll get into the darker side of online dating - abuse and harassment of different groups of people, why men send graphic unsolicited images.
Support resources If you have been affected by the content of this episode in any way, the supports at the link below may be of assistance. If you are not in Ireland, please seek supports local to you. Iri...
Is online dating on the decline? In this episode we take a look at who is dating online, why, and what they're getting out of it (and a little bit on what they would rather not be getting out of it!).
This is Nicola's area of research so it turned into a two-part episode! Next time we'll get into the darker side of online dating - but this episode we're looking at some of the positives!
Are we addicted to our devices? In this episode we focus on addiction, when it is and isn't the right term to use. We look at our screen use, gaming and when or how we use our phones to identify problematic behaviour.
Support resources If you have been affected by the content of this episode in any way, the supports at the link below may be of assistance. If you are not in Ireland, please seek supports local to you. Irish Heal...
In this episode we focus on moral panics about technology use and how this is driven by media reporting and societal discourse. We break down the actual research behind some of these panics, and look at what we do know about how tech is impacting us.
Support resources If you have been affected by the content of this episode in any way, the supports at the link below may be of assistance. If you are not in Ireland, please seek s...
In Bits - The podcast that deconstructs our digital lives. Listen to Episode 1 - Moral Panic and Technology on Tuesday 25th March.
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