Steve Rathje

Join Dr. Steve Rathje, a psychologist, as he discusses the psychology behind social media virality, the impact of smartphone usage, effects on mental health, changes in social media content, Dead Internet Theory, and personality quizzes. Explore how negativity drives engagement, challenges in changing minds, and the reliability of personality assessments. Delve into the influence of social media on mental health, the rise of ads, and the prevalence of AI bots in online content.

Steve Rathje, a postdoctoral researcher at NYU specializing in social psychology and technology, discusses the interplay of social media and polarization. He reveals how negative online interactions boost engagement and explores the fluidity of group identities. The conversation dives into conformity's power, highlighting its effects on individual behavior. Rathje also addresses the pitfalls of short-form content in psychology education and the challenges of misinformation, emphasizing the importance of media literacy in today's complex digital landscape.

Join Jay Van Bavel, a psychology and neuroscience professor at NYU, and Steven Rathje, a political psychology researcher and TikTok communicator, as they explore the dark side of social media. They discuss how social media fuels tribalism, amplifies polarization, and harms mental health—especially for young users. Discover the surprising impacts of algorithms on virality and the benefits of reducing social media usage. Their insights offer practical strategies to reclaim your mental well-being and improve real-world connections.