Jay Van Bavel, PhD
@jayvanbavel.bsky.social
Professor of Psychology at NYU (jayvanbavel.com) | Author of The Power of Us Book (powerofus.online) | Director of NYU Center for Conflict & Cooperation | trying to write a new book about collective decisions
Pinned
Are a few people ruining the internet for the rest of us?
Why does the online world seem so toxic compared with normal life? Our research shows that a small number of divisive accounts could be responsible – and offers a way out
www.theguardian.com
Only a small % of people engage in toxic activity online, but they’re responsible for a disproportionate share of hostile or misleading content on nearly every platform
Because super-users are so active, they dominate our collective impression of the internet www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
Because super-users are so active, they dominate our collective impression of the internet www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
✖️Who produces most online hate speech and how effective is counterspeech?
➡️ @gloriagennaro.bsky.social et al. find that hate speech is concentrated among a few users and that counterspeech on X mostly fails to curb prolific offenders www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #FirstView
➡️ @gloriagennaro.bsky.social et al. find that hate speech is concentrated among a few users and that counterspeech on X mostly fails to curb prolific offenders www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #FirstView
December 30, 2025 at 8:14 AM
✖️Who produces most online hate speech and how effective is counterspeech?
➡️ @gloriagennaro.bsky.social et al. find that hate speech is concentrated among a few users and that counterspeech on X mostly fails to curb prolific offenders www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #FirstView
➡️ @gloriagennaro.bsky.social et al. find that hate speech is concentrated among a few users and that counterspeech on X mostly fails to curb prolific offenders www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #FirstView
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
AI cannot take accountability. AI cannot be “sorry.”
You have no control over the outputs of AI if you did not make it yourself, train it on very specific data sets, and create extremely rigorous control methods. Even then the safeguards are limited.
The creators must be held accountable
You have no control over the outputs of AI if you did not make it yourself, train it on very specific data sets, and create extremely rigorous control methods. Even then the safeguards are limited.
The creators must be held accountable
January 2, 2026 at 5:23 PM
AI cannot take accountability. AI cannot be “sorry.”
You have no control over the outputs of AI if you did not make it yourself, train it on very specific data sets, and create extremely rigorous control methods. Even then the safeguards are limited.
The creators must be held accountable
You have no control over the outputs of AI if you did not make it yourself, train it on very specific data sets, and create extremely rigorous control methods. Even then the safeguards are limited.
The creators must be held accountable
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
An AI Voter bot improves knowledge about politics
But, the AI bot has weak effects on downstream outcomes like vote preferences and party evaluations among respondents whose primary issue position aligns closely with one of the parties.
Partisan action is hard to change.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
But, the AI bot has weak effects on downstream outcomes like vote preferences and party evaluations among respondents whose primary issue position aligns closely with one of the parties.
Partisan action is hard to change.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
December 17, 2025 at 7:34 PM
An AI Voter bot improves knowledge about politics
But, the AI bot has weak effects on downstream outcomes like vote preferences and party evaluations among respondents whose primary issue position aligns closely with one of the parties.
Partisan action is hard to change.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
But, the AI bot has weak effects on downstream outcomes like vote preferences and party evaluations among respondents whose primary issue position aligns closely with one of the parties.
Partisan action is hard to change.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
This is the tricky part for achieving any goal—life is fundamentally about trade offs and priorities.
For any serious goal you want to achieve, make a plan about what you are willing to quit to free up the necessary time, resources, etc.
For any serious goal you want to achieve, make a plan about what you are willing to quit to free up the necessary time, resources, etc.
2. This is the tricky part--What are you *not* going to do, so that you can write? While I was writing my 2nd book, I didn't cook a single dinner. I am a slow email replier. I write very few grants and admit few students. Writing more usually requires tolerating being worse at other things.
January 1, 2026 at 2:36 PM
This is the tricky part for achieving any goal—life is fundamentally about trade offs and priorities.
For any serious goal you want to achieve, make a plan about what you are willing to quit to free up the necessary time, resources, etc.
For any serious goal you want to achieve, make a plan about what you are willing to quit to free up the necessary time, resources, etc.
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
"If you *only* used SAT to admit to elite colleges, share of admits from top 1% income falls 15.8% → 9.9% and representation from <$200k rises by +8.8%, with no reduction in post-college outcomes."
December 30, 2025 at 5:16 PM
"If you *only* used SAT to admit to elite colleges, share of admits from top 1% income falls 15.8% → 9.9% and representation from <$200k rises by +8.8%, with no reduction in post-college outcomes."
Runners in group recorded 78% more active time than those who ran solo. Working out with others has at least three significant benefits: accountability, support, and community.
In other words, you’ll be in better shape and build friends at the same time www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/why-willpo...
In other words, you’ll be in better shape and build friends at the same time www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/why-willpo...
December 29, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Runners in group recorded 78% more active time than those who ran solo. Working out with others has at least three significant benefits: accountability, support, and community.
In other words, you’ll be in better shape and build friends at the same time www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/why-willpo...
In other words, you’ll be in better shape and build friends at the same time www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/why-willpo...
How can you make your new years resolution stick?
I was interviewed in Vogue and here is my advice--achieve your goals with a group! I created a writing group my 1st year at NYU and we meet each month to set our writing goals & provide support. It's fun & effective.
www.vogue.com/article/how-...
I was interviewed in Vogue and here is my advice--achieve your goals with a group! I created a writing group my 1st year at NYU and we meet each month to set our writing goals & provide support. It's fun & effective.
www.vogue.com/article/how-...
December 28, 2025 at 9:31 PM
How can you make your new years resolution stick?
I was interviewed in Vogue and here is my advice--achieve your goals with a group! I created a writing group my 1st year at NYU and we meet each month to set our writing goals & provide support. It's fun & effective.
www.vogue.com/article/how-...
I was interviewed in Vogue and here is my advice--achieve your goals with a group! I created a writing group my 1st year at NYU and we meet each month to set our writing goals & provide support. It's fun & effective.
www.vogue.com/article/how-...
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
I think a lot about accuracy-motivated reasoning and understanding how team social norms can move away from groupthink and toward valuing divergent perspectives and evidence-evaluation cycles
e.g., the scientific norms work of @jayvanbavel.bsky.social
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
e.g., the scientific norms work of @jayvanbavel.bsky.social
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
(PDF) Breaking Groupthink: Why Scientific Identity and Norms Mitigate Ideological Epistemology
PDF | On Jan 2, 2020, Jay J. Van Bavel and others published Breaking Groupthink: Why Scientific Identity and Norms Mitigate Ideological Epistemology | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ...
www.researchgate.net
December 27, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I think a lot about accuracy-motivated reasoning and understanding how team social norms can move away from groupthink and toward valuing divergent perspectives and evidence-evaluation cycles
e.g., the scientific norms work of @jayvanbavel.bsky.social
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
e.g., the scientific norms work of @jayvanbavel.bsky.social
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
"Even after accounting for the upfront costs and delayed benefits, enrolling marginal applicants to public universities generates substantial net returns for society, the marginal students themselves, and the government budget."
Public Universities FTW!
Public Universities FTW!
December 24, 2025 at 9:00 PM
"Even after accounting for the upfront costs and delayed benefits, enrolling marginal applicants to public universities generates substantial net returns for society, the marginal students themselves, and the government budget."
Public Universities FTW!
Public Universities FTW!
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
Are you leading a (mostly) happy life, a meaningful life, or a psychologically rich life? Take this fun quiz at the Washington Post and find out!
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...?
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...?
Are you living a good life? Take this quiz to find out.
Now is a good time to reflect on the life you’re leading — and what you want out of it.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Are you leading a (mostly) happy life, a meaningful life, or a psychologically rich life? Take this fun quiz at the Washington Post and find out!
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...?
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...?
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
@jayvanbavel.bsky.social hosts a terrific newsletter, "The Power of Us," and it was an honor to contribute to it, along with @madva.bsky.social and @dryan149.bsky.social.
@mitpress.bsky.social
@mitpress.bsky.social
"We got mad about the endless either/or debate between the “individual action” versus “systemic change” and decided to try to fix it."
Read our fantastic interview on the new book "Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone can Help Create Social Change": www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/how-anyone...
Read our fantastic interview on the new book "Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone can Help Create Social Change": www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/how-anyone...
How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change
An interview & book giveaway with Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva, and Daniel Kelly about their new book "Somebody should do something"
www.powerofusnewsletter.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
@jayvanbavel.bsky.social hosts a terrific newsletter, "The Power of Us," and it was an honor to contribute to it, along with @madva.bsky.social and @dryan149.bsky.social.
@mitpress.bsky.social
@mitpress.bsky.social
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change
"We got mad about the endless either/or debate between the “individual action” versus “systemic change” and decided to try to fix it."
Read our fantastic interview on the new book "Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone can Help Create Social Change": www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/how-anyone...
Read our fantastic interview on the new book "Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone can Help Create Social Change": www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/how-anyone...
How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change
An interview & book giveaway with Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva, and Daniel Kelly about their new book "Somebody should do something"
www.powerofusnewsletter.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:47 PM
How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change
"We got mad about the endless either/or debate between the “individual action” versus “systemic change” and decided to try to fix it."
Read our fantastic interview on the new book "Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone can Help Create Social Change": www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/how-anyone...
Read our fantastic interview on the new book "Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone can Help Create Social Change": www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/how-anyone...
How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change
An interview & book giveaway with Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva, and Daniel Kelly about their new book "Somebody should do something"
www.powerofusnewsletter.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
"We got mad about the endless either/or debate between the “individual action” versus “systemic change” and decided to try to fix it."
Read our fantastic interview on the new book "Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone can Help Create Social Change": www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/how-anyone...
Read our fantastic interview on the new book "Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone can Help Create Social Change": www.powerofusnewsletter.com/p/how-anyone...
The psychology of everyday authoritarianism:
Authoritarians will pay money to impose arbitrary rules on others
Authoritarians will pay money to impose arbitrary rules on others
We tend to assume that rules are mostly about maintaining order, reducing prediction errors, and generally helping people cooperate. But not all rules do that--and, as Connie Chiu and I found in our most recent paper, people will buy rules in economic games of little use osf.io/preprints/ps...
December 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
The psychology of everyday authoritarianism:
Authoritarians will pay money to impose arbitrary rules on others
Authoritarians will pay money to impose arbitrary rules on others
This was a fantastic policy—we need more like this in other cities.
Many people defended the status quo, but then liked the policy a lot once it was implemented.
There was far too many policies like this—held up because people can’t imagine an alternative.
Many people defended the status quo, but then liked the policy a lot once it was implemented.
There was far too many policies like this—held up because people can’t imagine an alternative.
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
December 23, 2025 at 4:24 PM
This was a fantastic policy—we need more like this in other cities.
Many people defended the status quo, but then liked the policy a lot once it was implemented.
There was far too many policies like this—held up because people can’t imagine an alternative.
Many people defended the status quo, but then liked the policy a lot once it was implemented.
There was far too many policies like this—held up because people can’t imagine an alternative.
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
Idea for platforms that want to reduce toxic division & boost engagement: uprank posts that use "connective language."
New research finds that people will spend 25% more time reading posts that use phrases like “this is just my opinion” or “I may be wrong."
mediaengagement.org/research/con...
New research finds that people will spend 25% more time reading posts that use phrases like “this is just my opinion” or “I may be wrong."
mediaengagement.org/research/con...
December 22, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Idea for platforms that want to reduce toxic division & boost engagement: uprank posts that use "connective language."
New research finds that people will spend 25% more time reading posts that use phrases like “this is just my opinion” or “I may be wrong."
mediaengagement.org/research/con...
New research finds that people will spend 25% more time reading posts that use phrases like “this is just my opinion” or “I may be wrong."
mediaengagement.org/research/con...
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
Clear evidence that at universities conservatives don't face higher obstacles than liberals to establish student groups + invite outside speakers.
"These results fail to offer support for the view that conservative students encounter more difficulty in efforts to access campus resources."
"These results fail to offer support for the view that conservative students encounter more difficulty in efforts to access campus resources."
December 20, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Clear evidence that at universities conservatives don't face higher obstacles than liberals to establish student groups + invite outside speakers.
"These results fail to offer support for the view that conservative students encounter more difficulty in efforts to access campus resources."
"These results fail to offer support for the view that conservative students encounter more difficulty in efforts to access campus resources."
There are always people trying to argue that misinformation doesn’t matter.
But every time I read the news there is some horrific story or policy grounded in false beliefs that have been circulating online.
But every time I read the news there is some horrific story or policy grounded in false beliefs that have been circulating online.
"Death is the policy.
Under RFK Jr., ‘Make America Healthy Again’ means junk science like ‘survival of the fittest.’"
www.theverge.com/health/66136...
Under RFK Jr., ‘Make America Healthy Again’ means junk science like ‘survival of the fittest.’"
www.theverge.com/health/66136...
Death is the policy
RFK Jr.‘s measles response is junk science and social Darwinism.
www.theverge.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:37 AM
There are always people trying to argue that misinformation doesn’t matter.
But every time I read the news there is some horrific story or policy grounded in false beliefs that have been circulating online.
But every time I read the news there is some horrific story or policy grounded in false beliefs that have been circulating online.
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
NEW EPISODE OUT🗣️!! In this episode, Su @sudkrc.bsky.social chats with Dr. Steve Rathje @steverathje.bsky.social on why certain content spreads rapidly online and offline! LISTEN NOW🎧: open.spotify.com/episode/7CoK...
166 - Steve Rathje: The Psychology of Virality
open.spotify.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:54 PM
NEW EPISODE OUT🗣️!! In this episode, Su @sudkrc.bsky.social chats with Dr. Steve Rathje @steverathje.bsky.social on why certain content spreads rapidly online and offline! LISTEN NOW🎧: open.spotify.com/episode/7CoK...
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
📈New research suggests that low-effort studies conducted on online platforms may suffer less from volunteer bias than other research recruitment strategies.
Read more in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin: https://ow.ly/qLth50XLGcW
Read more in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin: https://ow.ly/qLth50XLGcW
December 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM
📈New research suggests that low-effort studies conducted on online platforms may suffer less from volunteer bias than other research recruitment strategies.
Read more in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin: https://ow.ly/qLth50XLGcW
Read more in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin: https://ow.ly/qLth50XLGcW
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
Partisans differ in economic perceptions based on who is president, even if you pay them to get correct answers:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Expressive Responding and the Economy: The Case of Trump’s Return to Office | Journal of Experimental Political Science | Cambridge Core
Expressive Responding and the Economy: The Case of Trump’s Return to Office
www.cambridge.org
December 20, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Partisans differ in economic perceptions based on who is president, even if you pay them to get correct answers:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
I regularly criticize social media.
This wasn't always the case. I used to advise all my students to go on social media. But the more research I've done, the more I've been convinced that most social media platforms--on average--have major downsides for individuals and society.
This wasn't always the case. I used to advise all my students to go on social media. But the more research I've done, the more I've been convinced that most social media platforms--on average--have major downsides for individuals and society.
December 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I regularly criticize social media.
This wasn't always the case. I used to advise all my students to go on social media. But the more research I've done, the more I've been convinced that most social media platforms--on average--have major downsides for individuals and society.
This wasn't always the case. I used to advise all my students to go on social media. But the more research I've done, the more I've been convinced that most social media platforms--on average--have major downsides for individuals and society.
Politics feels angrier and more tribal than it used to, but how much should we blame social media?
I spoke to @rafaelbehr.bsky.social about how our group instincts collide with godlike technology to distort what we see & erode trust in our institutions.
open.spotify.com/episode/5Gb2...
I spoke to @rafaelbehr.bsky.social about how our group instincts collide with godlike technology to distort what we see & erode trust in our institutions.
open.spotify.com/episode/5Gb2...
December 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Politics feels angrier and more tribal than it used to, but how much should we blame social media?
I spoke to @rafaelbehr.bsky.social about how our group instincts collide with godlike technology to distort what we see & erode trust in our institutions.
open.spotify.com/episode/5Gb2...
I spoke to @rafaelbehr.bsky.social about how our group instincts collide with godlike technology to distort what we see & erode trust in our institutions.
open.spotify.com/episode/5Gb2...
Can Chatbots Emulate Human Connection?
Chatbots can be responsive in ways humans see as supportive, yet cannot provide the benefits of a real human.
My concern is that as more people go to chatbots for social contact, they will not be available to real humans.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Chatbots can be responsive in ways humans see as supportive, yet cannot provide the benefits of a real human.
My concern is that as more people go to chatbots for social contact, they will not be available to real humans.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Can Generative AI Chatbots Emulate Human Connection? A Relationship Science Perspective - Molly G. Smith, Thomas N. Bradbury, Benjamin R. Karney, 2025
The development of generative artificial intelligence capable of sustaining complex conversations has created a burgeoning market for companion chatbots promisi...
journals.sagepub.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Can Chatbots Emulate Human Connection?
Chatbots can be responsive in ways humans see as supportive, yet cannot provide the benefits of a real human.
My concern is that as more people go to chatbots for social contact, they will not be available to real humans.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Chatbots can be responsive in ways humans see as supportive, yet cannot provide the benefits of a real human.
My concern is that as more people go to chatbots for social contact, they will not be available to real humans.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
An AI Voter bot improves knowledge about politics
But, the AI bot has weak effects on downstream outcomes like vote preferences and party evaluations among respondents whose primary issue position aligns closely with one of the parties.
Partisan action is hard to change.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
But, the AI bot has weak effects on downstream outcomes like vote preferences and party evaluations among respondents whose primary issue position aligns closely with one of the parties.
Partisan action is hard to change.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
December 17, 2025 at 7:34 PM
An AI Voter bot improves knowledge about politics
But, the AI bot has weak effects on downstream outcomes like vote preferences and party evaluations among respondents whose primary issue position aligns closely with one of the parties.
Partisan action is hard to change.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
But, the AI bot has weak effects on downstream outcomes like vote preferences and party evaluations among respondents whose primary issue position aligns closely with one of the parties.
Partisan action is hard to change.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...