Fear and loathing in the network: the paradox of social media & collective well-being | Johan Bollen

The N2 2024: The Noosphere & the Global South conference explored the intersection of technology, society, and the noosphere-the sphere of human thought and collective consciousness. Hosted by Human Energy and UM6P, this year’s event brought together leading thinkers, visionaries, and innovators to discuss solutions to the challenges posed by the techno-social era. Through engaging presentations and collaborative dialogue, N2 2024 aims to inspire actionable insights and transformative change.
Johan Bollen Presentations
Fear and loathing in the network: the paradox of social media and collective well-being
Modern life is marked by a strange paradox: we are now more socially connected than ever which is an important condition for human thriving, yet the prevalence of mental health disorders has increased sharply. Mental health disorders are now one of the world’s leading causes of disability. This is particularly the case for our youth. Suicide rates for young adults are now considered very high, a source of great concern. How can the most socially connected generation since the dawn of humanity also be its most anxious and depressed? In my talk I will revisit some of the evidence pointing towards the involvement of social media in this paradox. While social media platforms provide an unprecedented opportunity to establish meaningful social connections across geographical and socio-cultural boundaries, they are marked by several characteristics which may drive the present rise in mental health disorders. Since young adults are online practically continuously, they may be most exposed to these effects. I will discuss how network effects such as assortativity and the friendship paradox may conspire against our mental health. In addition, I will look at the interaction between cognitive distortions and the psycho-linguistic effects of online social networks. Evidence is pointing towards online social networks serving as vectors for the diffusion and propagation of a mode of thinking and communicating that is quite common among individuals with internalizing disorders such as depression and anxiety. We have analyzed large-scale text databases and shown marked increases of markers of cognitive distortions in books and other content. Finally, I will highlight some fascinating relations between cognitive distortions and societal polarization which may be fueling political and societal dysfunction in the West.
N2 2024: The Noosphere & The Global South took place on December 16th - 18th in Ben Guerir, Morocco 🌐
The N2 Conference looks to deepen our present understanding and future vision for the noosphere, the sphere of human consciousness and mental activity especially in regard to its influence on the biosphere and in relation to evolution.
N2 is an international, interdisciplinary conference bringing together leading scientists, scholars from across the disciplines, thought leaders, creative artists, and all those who are interested in the meaning and possibility of the noosphere for our collective future.
We invite you to join the conversation and keep watching more N2 2024 presentations on this channel. Subscribe for updates and insights as we continue to explore the transformative potential of worldview, technology and the noosphere.
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How is this countered?