Episode 18: Breaking the Screen Spell Series - Are We Friends? A Dive Into the Following with Dr. Georgia Turner

Synopsis: In this episode, co-hosts Deitra Hoang and Ellina Yin explore the impact of digital addiction on our perception of relationships and self-worth, and analyze how the role of technology has evolved over generations through a guest interview with Dr. Georgia Turner, a PhD student at the University of Cambridge. 

What is the followers/following ratio? How does it hold importance to teens who want a social media presence? What are the effects of putting too much attention on these numbers? Can social media warp our perspective on relationships (friends, family, peers)?

Intro Music: “Full Circle by Civic Flora

Somatic Exercise by Rashmi Guttal featuring music by Nature Healing Society

Rashmi (she/they) is a somatic practitioner, restorative justice facilitator, and mediator. Through her background in asana (yoga), meditation, and conflict resolution, she created somatic mediation, a coaching process to help individuals and couples resolve conflict. Using the Internal Family Systems model, Attachment Theory, and body-based practices, Rashmi guides folx into deeper awareness and compassion for their different ‘parts’. She focuses on nervous system regulation, emphasizing rest, silence, and moving slowly. https://www.rashmiguttal.com/

Resources:

1. "Research has shown that social media time can cause a hormonal spike with oxytocin levels rising as much as 13%." - https://buffer.com/resources/psychology-of-social-media/
2. “The positive effect of not following others on social media,” written by Dr. Francesca Valsesia https://dadepro.github.io/papers/following-followers.pdf
3. Several testimonies, such as by neurologist Susan Greenfield, say that “What social media delivers is experience, not thought." https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/instagram-effect-on-brain