InBits
by Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton, Dr Liam Challenor
Latest episode
What even is social media?
What even is social media?
About this podcast
In bits: Deconstructing our digital lives
Dr Liam Challenor and Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton explore areas of cyberpsychology that you’re curious about, with a different topic each week. From social media “addiction” to attention span changes, from trolling and harassment to online activism, from gaming to online dating, from misogyny to radicalisation online.
Our lives are fully immersed in technology, and people have concerns about how it might be affecting us all. There is a lot of poor media reporting and scaremongering in the field of cyberpsychology, but far less evidence-based content to offer an alternative. This podcast is informative and educational, directly addressing peoples’ concerns, worries and hopes, while also being entertaining and enjoyable to listen to. We breakdown challenging and sometimes difficult topics “in bits” to make them approachable, fun and easy to understand.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 27 episodes
- What even is social media? · 18 min · Episode 26We talked to Evelyn Murray, Psychology PhD candidate at Aston University, at the BPS Cyberpsychology Conference in July last year. She presented her research on how people…
- Is Fandom Good for You? The Cyberpsychology of Stans, Ships and Parasocial Love · 1 h 21 min · Season 1 Episode 25Is fandom good for your mental health—or quietly wrecking it? We are joined by researcher Derek Laffan to discuss his research on K-pop, the positives and negatives of fandom…
- The Truth About Cyberstalking · 1 h 13 min · Episode 24This week we're focusing on cyberstalking, something far more serious than secretly checking someone's Instagram. We're joined by an incredible guest, Dr Cassidy Weekes, whose…
- The internet is made of cats · 50 min · Episode 23We have a fun episode to start the new year, where we explores the psychology, history, and science behind the internet's (and Nicola’s) obsession with feline content. We were…
- The Cyber Christmas Special · 1 h 2 min · Episode 22Christmas has gone digital—we shop online, video call the family abroad, and scroll through everyone's seemingly perfect holiday posts. But what's all this screen time actually…
- Cyber Christmas trailer! Dropping 12th December! · 3 minWe were planning to take a break over Christmas, but Liam surprised us all (including Nicola) with a Christmas special! It drops Friday the 12th, then we'll be on hiatus until…
- The Algorithm Will See You Now: The promise and perils of AI therapy · 1 h 7 min · Episode 20In this episode, we explore AI's growing role in mental health support and therapy. We revisit the story of ELIZA, the 1960s chatbot that unexpectedly convinced users it could…
- Loving an AI Bot: Digital Soulmates? · 1 h 11 min · Episode 19From AI “boyfriends” to chatbots helping you flirt on dating apps, artificial intelligence is quietly stepping into the most human of spaces: emotional connection. In this…
- Beyond Stranger Danger: Rethinking Online Risks for Kids · 52 min · Episode 18This episode explores the realities of online safety for children and adolescents, addressing our common concerns, device use, and the shifting risks in today’s digital…
- Scrolling for Perfection: How Social Media Shapes Body Image · 60 min · Episode 17In this episode we deep dive into the relationship between social media and our perceptions of body image. We examine how social media platforms influence body image for people…
- Mind games: how scammers hijack your brain · 1 h 7 min · Episode 16This episode takes a look at how cybercriminals use psychology to manipulate people through online scams. From phishing emails and phone fraud to romance scams, sextortion, and…
- Mind Tingling: The Psychology Behind ASMR · 1 h 1 min · Episode 15In this episode we dive into ASMR! We discuss the ASMR, the similarities to other auditory and visual trends online. We focus on the content of videos that can induce ASMR, what…
- Behind The Screens: Deconstructing Cyberbullying · 49 min · Episode 14This episode offers an in-depth exploration of cyberbullying, examining its prevalence, impact, and the evolving nature of online harassment in Ireland and beyond. We discuss the…
- Algorithms, echo chambers, and the road to extremism · 1 h 3 min · Episode 13This episode explores how extremist ideologies spread online and offline, who is most vulnerable to radicalization, and the pathways that lead people into — and sometimes out of…
- Selfies, Selves, and the Stories We Tell Online · 1 h 1 min · Episode 12In this episode, we explore the complex and often contradictory ways we present ourselves online. Are we the same person across Instagram, LinkedIn, and real life? Do we craft…
- Trust Issues: Misinformation in the Digital Age · 55 min · Episode 11In today’s episode, we’re unpacking misinformation from a psychological angle.We’ll talk about what counts as misinformation and disinformation, How “fake news” thrives online…
- Catfishing: Love and lies online · 1 h 8 min · Episode 10In this episode, we unpack the psychology and motivations behind catfishing—the act of creating false identities online. We explore how online environments foster deception, how…
- Older Adults & Tech: Debunking bias & thriving online · 53 min · Episode 9We debunk age-related biases. Learn why caution is key, and how with support, older adults can thrive in the digital world, minimizing online risks and maximizing tech benefits…
- Persuasion · 59 min · Episode 8In this episode, we discuss how persuasion manifests online. We focus on how persuasion is used on social media by influencers and how we process and understand persuasive…
- Trolled part 2: Unmasking the Trolls · 54 min · Episode 7In this episode, we dig into why people troll, harass and gossip online and what makes it so common—from anonymity and online disinhibition to personality traits, from group…
