We spend hours on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, seduced by their promise: to be able to share our life and our opinions with the whole world. In this virtual world, everyone is happy. Everyone has perfect bodies, lives fulfilled lives in stylish houses surrounded by beautiful friends and family. Everyone shows off and everyone judges. But this irresistible quest for recognition can quickly turn into addiction, wreaking havoc on our mental health. And teenagers are the most susceptible. In this film, we examine the real dangers of the “happycracy” promoted on social networks and hear from some of its young victims.

Meta is the target of state lawsuits over allegations it has harmed the mental health of children and misled the public about safety. State attorneys general argue Facebook and Instagram deliberately manipulate their apps in ways that addict kids and failed to keep them off despite age limits..

A recent study found that "Super Mario Odyssey" reduced depression symptoms more than cognitive training or standard treatments, with participants showing higher motivation and selective memory improvements.

Aberystwyth University study first to show a creative group with lower scores on psychotic traits than general population

Colin Xu and Robert DeRubeis discuss a recently published meta-analysis of the effects of urbanicity on depression in developing and developed countries.

New research found that adults with ADHD are nearly three times as likely to develop dementia. Researchers did not prove causation, simply a correlation between the mental health disorder and impacted cognitive function.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed House Bill 2717 which will provide the state's 911 operators unlimited mental health services.

A link between vision issues in older adults and an increased likelihood of dementia.

Tesla's autonomous vehicle tech has been perennially stuck at Level 2 self-driving, as BMW and other rivals try to leapfrog to Level 3.

Social media has redefined human connection, especially if you’re part of the millennial or Gen Z generation. It is so deeply interwoven into every aspect of our lives that it’s almost impossible for us to withdraw from our digital devices. Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp and other such platforms are everywhere, allowing us to communicate and connect with people from all over the world.

A meta-analytic review of previous studies indicates that obese individuals have an increased risk of depression and that this relationship isn't just correlational -- obesity might be one of the causes of depression. The researchers argue that the increased occurrence of depression in the population in recent decades might be at least partly due to the increase in obesity. The study was published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. ...

A brief article published in Current Directions in Psychological Science discusses how relationships that become conflicted, unsatisfying or distressing can trigger a biological or psychological predisposition for mental illness.

From Australia to Canada, Big Tech has resisted lawmakers' efforts to force them to pay news publishers for carrying their articles. Now, that battle is playing out in California.

American lore is full of tales of the lone cowboy, the rugged individualist who will do what needs to be done. But, in reality, loneliness in the U.S. can be deadly: this month, the U.S. surgeon general declared it an epidemic

Original broadcast date: January 21, 2022. Fiction can serve as a window into multiple realities—to imagine different futures or understand our own past. This hour, author and TED speaker Dave Eggers talks technology, education, and the healing power of writing. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) sponsor-free. Sign-up at: plus.npr.org/ted

People diagnosed with dementia are more likely to self-harm within the first six to 12 months after initial diagnosis, highlighting the need for health services to offer more follow-up support in this crucial period. In what is believed to be the largest study of its kind, researchers with expertise in medicine, psychiatry and psychology at UNSW Sydney looked at NSW hospital data captured for more than 180,000 people admitted to hospital between 2001 and 2015.

A striking decline in teen mental health has coincided with the rise of smartphones and social media. Is social media causing the mental health challenges? Finally, research can answer that question.

In people with advanced cancer, psychedelic drugs like psilocybin, LSD and MDMA may significantly reduce the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms. Roughly 10% of patients with cancer experience anxiety, while 20% report depression. However, current research suggests that available prescription antidepressants do not significantly decrease depressive symptoms in cancer patients compared with a placebo.

Even when we know they’re “fake,” placebos can tame our emotional distress.