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February 3, 2025 19 mins

How does spending too much time online change your brain?

When social media first became mainstream, it was touted as a way to promote social connection and togetherness. Over the years, these sites have become known for prioritizing hostility and negativity over positive interactions. So why do people continue using social media? And how is that use impacting your brain?

I’m excited to welcome Dr. Ben Rein to the show today. Dr. Rein has completed groundbreaking research on the neurobiology of social behavior. His insights have gained him recognition from some of the top institutions around the world and he’s here to help shed some light on why it’s easier for people to behave negatively online.

When someone disagrees with you in person, the odds of them being confrontational are very low. But when you’re online, you miss vital social cues that can make it much easier to be mean—even to your friends. If you want to understand how social media has potentially changed your brain development and what you can do to make the digital world a more empathetic space, this episode is for you.

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