Steve Rathje
@steverathje.bsky.social
Incoming Assistant Professor of HCI at Carnegie Mellon studying the psychology of technology. NSF postdoc at NYU, PhD from Cambridge, BA from Stanford. stevenrathje.com
Pinned
Steve Rathje
@steverathje.bsky.social
· Oct 1
🚨 New preprint 🚨
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
Really enjoyed speaking with tech ethicist Tristan Harris, who you might know from the Netflix documentary "The Social Dilemma" or his work with the Center for Humane Technology.
🎥 Watch here on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFm3...
🎧 Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0Oi6...
🎥 Watch here on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFm3...
🎧 Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0Oi6...
October 22, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Really enjoyed speaking with tech ethicist Tristan Harris, who you might know from the Netflix documentary "The Social Dilemma" or his work with the Center for Humane Technology.
🎥 Watch here on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFm3...
🎧 Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0Oi6...
🎥 Watch here on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFm3...
🎧 Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0Oi6...
Reposted by Steve Rathje
The Science Behind Why Social Media Makes Us Miserable
I was on the @andrew-yang.bsky.social podcast to discuss the impact of social media.
We discussed what goes viral online, how it impacts our lives, and what we can do about it (with @steverathje.bsky.social):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrDV...
I was on the @andrew-yang.bsky.social podcast to discuss the impact of social media.
We discussed what goes viral online, how it impacts our lives, and what we can do about it (with @steverathje.bsky.social):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrDV...
October 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The Science Behind Why Social Media Makes Us Miserable
I was on the @andrew-yang.bsky.social podcast to discuss the impact of social media.
We discussed what goes viral online, how it impacts our lives, and what we can do about it (with @steverathje.bsky.social):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrDV...
I was on the @andrew-yang.bsky.social podcast to discuss the impact of social media.
We discussed what goes viral online, how it impacts our lives, and what we can do about it (with @steverathje.bsky.social):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrDV...
Reposted by Steve Rathje
What do 92% of scientists agree on regarding social media and smartphone use? blog.andrewyang.com/p/the-scienc...
The Science of Smartphones
Hello, I hope that you’re doing great.
blog.andrewyang.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:17 PM
What do 92% of scientists agree on regarding social media and smartphone use? blog.andrewyang.com/p/the-scienc...
Really enjoyed talking with @andrew-yang.bsky.social and @jayvanbavel.bsky.social about the science of social media. Thanks for having us on your podcast, @andrew-yang.bsky.social
Why does online content seem so angry and emotional? Professors @jayvanbavel.bsky.social and @steverathje.bsky.social join andrewyang.com/podcast to talk the science of social media including why polarization gets revved up by a tiny percentage of accounts.
October 20, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Really enjoyed talking with @andrew-yang.bsky.social and @jayvanbavel.bsky.social about the science of social media. Thanks for having us on your podcast, @andrew-yang.bsky.social
Reposted by Steve Rathje
Why does online content seem so angry and emotional? Professors @jayvanbavel.bsky.social and @steverathje.bsky.social join andrewyang.com/podcast to talk the science of social media including why polarization gets revved up by a tiny percentage of accounts.
October 20, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Why does online content seem so angry and emotional? Professors @jayvanbavel.bsky.social and @steverathje.bsky.social join andrewyang.com/podcast to talk the science of social media including why polarization gets revved up by a tiny percentage of accounts.
Reposted by Steve Rathje
Why do some ideas spread widely, while others fail to catch on?
Our new review paper on the PSYCHOLOGY OF VIRALITY is now out in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social (it was led by @steverathje.bsky.social)
Read the full paper here: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Our new review paper on the PSYCHOLOGY OF VIRALITY is now out in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social (it was led by @steverathje.bsky.social)
Read the full paper here: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
October 7, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Why do some ideas spread widely, while others fail to catch on?
Our new review paper on the PSYCHOLOGY OF VIRALITY is now out in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social (it was led by @steverathje.bsky.social)
Read the full paper here: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Our new review paper on the PSYCHOLOGY OF VIRALITY is now out in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social (it was led by @steverathje.bsky.social)
Read the full paper here: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Our recent review article "The Psychology of Virality" with @jayvanbavel.bsky.social
is on the front cover of this month's issue of
@cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social.
is on the front cover of this month's issue of
@cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social.
October 7, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Our recent review article "The Psychology of Virality" with @jayvanbavel.bsky.social
is on the front cover of this month's issue of
@cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social.
is on the front cover of this month's issue of
@cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social.
Reposted by Steve Rathje
Would you notice if Gemini or ChatGPT was just flattering you?
Read @steverathje.bsky.social's new preprint to learn about how people actually feel towards overly agreeable chatbots.
OSF: osf.io/preprints/ps...
(summary in thread below!)
Read @steverathje.bsky.social's new preprint to learn about how people actually feel towards overly agreeable chatbots.
OSF: osf.io/preprints/ps...
(summary in thread below!)
October 6, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Would you notice if Gemini or ChatGPT was just flattering you?
Read @steverathje.bsky.social's new preprint to learn about how people actually feel towards overly agreeable chatbots.
OSF: osf.io/preprints/ps...
(summary in thread below!)
Read @steverathje.bsky.social's new preprint to learn about how people actually feel towards overly agreeable chatbots.
OSF: osf.io/preprints/ps...
(summary in thread below!)
Reposted by Steve Rathje
AI always calling your ideas “fantastic” can feel inauthentic, but what are sycophancy’s deeper harms? We find that in the common use case of seeking AI advice on interpersonal situations—specifically conflicts—sycophancy makes people feel more right & less willing to apologize.
October 3, 2025 at 10:53 PM
AI always calling your ideas “fantastic” can feel inauthentic, but what are sycophancy’s deeper harms? We find that in the common use case of seeking AI advice on interpersonal situations—specifically conflicts—sycophancy makes people feel more right & less willing to apologize.
Reposted by Steve Rathje
Cool new study by @joelleforestier.bsky.social @page-gould.bsky.social & Alison Chasteen
Can social media contact reduce prejudice?
#PrejudiceResearch
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
Can social media contact reduce prejudice?
#PrejudiceResearch
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
October 3, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Cool new study by @joelleforestier.bsky.social @page-gould.bsky.social & Alison Chasteen
Can social media contact reduce prejudice?
#PrejudiceResearch
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
Can social media contact reduce prejudice?
#PrejudiceResearch
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
Reposted by Steve Rathje
🚨 New preprint 🚨
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
October 1, 2025 at 3:16 PM
🚨 New preprint 🚨
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
Reposted by Steve Rathje
In a new paper, we find that sycophantic #AI chatbots make people more extreme--operating like an echo chamber
Yet, people prefer sycophantic chatbots and see them as less biased
Only open-minded people prefer disagreeable chatbots: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Led by @steverathje.bsky.social
Yet, people prefer sycophantic chatbots and see them as less biased
Only open-minded people prefer disagreeable chatbots: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Led by @steverathje.bsky.social
October 2, 2025 at 3:55 PM
In a new paper, we find that sycophantic #AI chatbots make people more extreme--operating like an echo chamber
Yet, people prefer sycophantic chatbots and see them as less biased
Only open-minded people prefer disagreeable chatbots: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Led by @steverathje.bsky.social
Yet, people prefer sycophantic chatbots and see them as less biased
Only open-minded people prefer disagreeable chatbots: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Led by @steverathje.bsky.social
Reposted by Steve Rathje
So excited to see this research! My students just learned the word “sycophantic” today, for exactly this reason! We talked about the types and qualities of conversations you can have with a sycophant, and why this matters for how we process the output of LLMs.
🚨 New preprint 🚨
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
October 1, 2025 at 5:44 PM
So excited to see this research! My students just learned the word “sycophantic” today, for exactly this reason! We talked about the types and qualities of conversations you can have with a sycophant, and why this matters for how we process the output of LLMs.
🚨 New preprint 🚨
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
October 1, 2025 at 3:16 PM
🚨 New preprint 🚨
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
Reposted by Steve Rathje
🚨Out now in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social 🚨
We explore the use of cognitive theories/models with real-world data for understanding mental health.
We review emerging studies and discuss challenges and opportunities of this approach.
With @yaelniv.bsky.social and @eriknook.bsky.social
Thread ⬇️
We explore the use of cognitive theories/models with real-world data for understanding mental health.
We review emerging studies and discuss challenges and opportunities of this approach.
With @yaelniv.bsky.social and @eriknook.bsky.social
Thread ⬇️
September 29, 2025 at 3:05 PM
🚨Out now in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social 🚨
We explore the use of cognitive theories/models with real-world data for understanding mental health.
We review emerging studies and discuss challenges and opportunities of this approach.
With @yaelniv.bsky.social and @eriknook.bsky.social
Thread ⬇️
We explore the use of cognitive theories/models with real-world data for understanding mental health.
We review emerging studies and discuss challenges and opportunities of this approach.
With @yaelniv.bsky.social and @eriknook.bsky.social
Thread ⬇️
Reposted by Steve Rathje
Depolarization is not "a scalable solution for reducing societal-level conflict.... achieving lasting depolarization will likely require....moving beyond individual-level treatments to address the elite behaviors and structural incentives that fuel partisan conflict" www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
September 23, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Depolarization is not "a scalable solution for reducing societal-level conflict.... achieving lasting depolarization will likely require....moving beyond individual-level treatments to address the elite behaviors and structural incentives that fuel partisan conflict" www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Steve Rathje
Our new paper explains the #polarization of public health
Identifying with a social group can shape people’s beliefs and values, leading them to act in ways that have consequences for their health
From vaccine hesitancy to smoking cessation, identity plays a critical role:
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Identifying with a social group can shape people’s beliefs and values, leading them to act in ways that have consequences for their health
From vaccine hesitancy to smoking cessation, identity plays a critical role:
osf.io/preprints/ps...
September 18, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Our new paper explains the #polarization of public health
Identifying with a social group can shape people’s beliefs and values, leading them to act in ways that have consequences for their health
From vaccine hesitancy to smoking cessation, identity plays a critical role:
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Identifying with a social group can shape people’s beliefs and values, leading them to act in ways that have consequences for their health
From vaccine hesitancy to smoking cessation, identity plays a critical role:
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Steve Rathje
Demand for human-generated, trust-certified internet content is skyrocketing.
There is a major business opportunity, in *every* country, for media firms to meet this rising demand with innovation.
Fascinating new experiment by @filipecampante.bsky.social et al.—> filipecampante.org/wp-content/u...
There is a major business opportunity, in *every* country, for media firms to meet this rising demand with innovation.
Fascinating new experiment by @filipecampante.bsky.social et al.—> filipecampante.org/wp-content/u...
September 14, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Demand for human-generated, trust-certified internet content is skyrocketing.
There is a major business opportunity, in *every* country, for media firms to meet this rising demand with innovation.
Fascinating new experiment by @filipecampante.bsky.social et al.—> filipecampante.org/wp-content/u...
There is a major business opportunity, in *every* country, for media firms to meet this rising demand with innovation.
Fascinating new experiment by @filipecampante.bsky.social et al.—> filipecampante.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Steve Rathje
New preprint: From vaccinations to masking, politics predicts health behaviors. In this review we discuss these differences in light of classic psychological theories of group identity and behavioral decision-making.
We welcome any feedback on this working paper!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
We welcome any feedback on this working paper!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
OSF
osf.io
September 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
New preprint: From vaccinations to masking, politics predicts health behaviors. In this review we discuss these differences in light of classic psychological theories of group identity and behavioral decision-making.
We welcome any feedback on this working paper!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
We welcome any feedback on this working paper!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Steve Rathje
A 76% point gap between how satisfied Republicans are with the country versus how satisfied Democrats are. The largest partisan gap ever. news.gallup.com/poll/694370/...
September 1, 2025 at 1:52 AM
A 76% point gap between how satisfied Republicans are with the country versus how satisfied Democrats are. The largest partisan gap ever. news.gallup.com/poll/694370/...
Reposted by Steve Rathje
Recommended reading:
The Psychology of Virality
Steve Rathje
@jayvanbavel.bsky.social
Trends in Cognitive Science, 2025
Link to paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.ti...
The Psychology of Virality
Steve Rathje
@jayvanbavel.bsky.social
Trends in Cognitive Science, 2025
Link to paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.ti...
August 30, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Recommended reading:
The Psychology of Virality
Steve Rathje
@jayvanbavel.bsky.social
Trends in Cognitive Science, 2025
Link to paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.ti...
The Psychology of Virality
Steve Rathje
@jayvanbavel.bsky.social
Trends in Cognitive Science, 2025
Link to paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.ti...
Had an amazing time on the Progression to Analog podcast with Caitlin Begg! We talked about:
-The psychology of virality
-My "feud" with Facebook
-Debates about the impact of social media
-AI sycophancy
And much more! Check out the full conversation here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqqN...
-The psychology of virality
-My "feud" with Facebook
-Debates about the impact of social media
-AI sycophancy
And much more! Check out the full conversation here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqqN...
August 25, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Had an amazing time on the Progression to Analog podcast with Caitlin Begg! We talked about:
-The psychology of virality
-My "feud" with Facebook
-Debates about the impact of social media
-AI sycophancy
And much more! Check out the full conversation here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqqN...
-The psychology of virality
-My "feud" with Facebook
-Debates about the impact of social media
-AI sycophancy
And much more! Check out the full conversation here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqqN...
Reposted by Steve Rathje
🤔Why do some ideas spread widely, while others fail to catch on? This #MemberMonday, we're learning about the psychology of virality with a recent article by SPSP members @steverathje.bsky.social and @jayvanbavel.bsky.social.
Learn more: ow.ly/Grl050WLlb8
Learn more: ow.ly/Grl050WLlb8
August 25, 2025 at 2:20 PM
🤔Why do some ideas spread widely, while others fail to catch on? This #MemberMonday, we're learning about the psychology of virality with a recent article by SPSP members @steverathje.bsky.social and @jayvanbavel.bsky.social.
Learn more: ow.ly/Grl050WLlb8
Learn more: ow.ly/Grl050WLlb8
Reposted by Steve Rathje
New York Times story with profiles of researchers whose grants were terminated.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
Opinion | America First? Not When It Comes to Your Health.
www.nytimes.com
August 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
New York Times story with profiles of researchers whose grants were terminated.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
Reposted by Steve Rathje
I have a new paper on "The Psychology of Virality" with @steverathje.bsky.social
We explain how similar psychological processes (eg preferential attention to negativity, social motives, etc.) drive the spread of information across online and offline contexts: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We explain how similar psychological processes (eg preferential attention to negativity, social motives, etc.) drive the spread of information across online and offline contexts: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
July 23, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I have a new paper on "The Psychology of Virality" with @steverathje.bsky.social
We explain how similar psychological processes (eg preferential attention to negativity, social motives, etc.) drive the spread of information across online and offline contexts: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We explain how similar psychological processes (eg preferential attention to negativity, social motives, etc.) drive the spread of information across online and offline contexts: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...