In this discussion, Amy Orben, a leading expert from the University of Cambridge on digital mental health, delves into the impact of social media on teens. She breaks down how constant online engagement affects their mental health, stressing the dual nature of social media as both a risk and a tool for connection. Orben also emphasizes the need for critical evaluation of technology’s role in society and offers parental guidance for managing screen time, encouraging open communication to support healthy development.
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Amy Orben's Academic Journey
Amy Orben's initial interest was biology, swayed briefly by Angela Merkel's political career.
She chose physics for its challenge but later switched to psychology, finding it more relevant and suited to her skills.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Social Media Research Origin
Amy Orben's interest in social media research stemmed from a project using Facebook data.
She pursued it despite it being an unconventional PhD topic at the time.
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Societal Concerns about Technology
Societal concerns about technology often stem from rapid changes and perceived loss of control.
People often link technology to concerning societal trends, sometimes misattributing causation.
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In 'Behind Their Screens', Emily Weinstein and Carrie James delve into the intricate digital world of teenagers, revealing the nuances of their online experiences and the challenges they face. The book offers insights into how adults can more effectively engage with and support adolescents in navigating the digital landscape.
Humans inhabit a social world. With the march of history and the discovery of novel technologies, our ability to socialise has been in a state of constant flux to varying degrees. However, modes of human interaction have undergone a massive shift in the 21st century with the emergence of smartphones and social media platforms. According to a Pew report, almost half of US teens say that they are online ‘almost constantly’. This is understandably terrifying for the previous generation, especially parents of young people, witnessing this shift in sociality. Simultaneously, in the current public discourse, claims about the negative impact of these technologies on mental health and cognition are widespread. But what does the relevant science say? What can it say? Should we really be worried? If so, what precisely should these worries be? Today’s guest is here to answer all these questions, or at least some of them.
Amy Orben is a Programme Leader Track Scientist at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (CBU) and a Fellow at St. John's College, University of Cambridge. She leads the Digital Mental Health programme at the MRC CBU. She is a multi-award winning psychologist and a world expert on examining how digitalisation & social media use impact adolescent mental health. Prior to leading the digital mental health programme at Cambridge, she completed an MA in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge before joining the University of Oxford to obtain her DPhil in Experimental Psychology, for which she was awarded the BPS Award for Outstanding Doctoral Research 2019.
Book recommended by Amy
Behind Their Screens: Carrie James and Emily Weinstein
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