Max Sahin 🧠🤖
@maxsahin.bsky.social
Behavioral scientist & research nerd working to make tech reflect the best of us instead of the worst. Amateur tailor🪡 Writer🖋️
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
🚨 New Preprint 🚨
Some people are at greater risk of experiencing negative mental health outcomes of social media use than others, but why?
🧵
We examined whether individual differences in cognitive processes shape risk and resilience to mental health effects on social media: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Some people are at greater risk of experiencing negative mental health outcomes of social media use than others, but why?
🧵
We examined whether individual differences in cognitive processes shape risk and resilience to mental health effects on social media: osf.io/preprints/ps...
October 17, 2025 at 11:20 AM
🚨 New Preprint 🚨
Some people are at greater risk of experiencing negative mental health outcomes of social media use than others, but why?
🧵
We examined whether individual differences in cognitive processes shape risk and resilience to mental health effects on social media: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Some people are at greater risk of experiencing negative mental health outcomes of social media use than others, but why?
🧵
We examined whether individual differences in cognitive processes shape risk and resilience to mental health effects on social media: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
If you're a scientist or researcher sharing your work online, here are some resources to help you manage the risks of being public. socialmedialab.ca/km-compass/
Pro Tip: Share them with your communications office and encourage them to form a rapid response team, with a plan of action in place.
Pro Tip: Share them with your communications office and encourage them to form a rapid response team, with a plan of action in place.
KM Compass - A Knowledge Mobilization App - Social Media Lab
“Helping You Share What You Know, Where It Matters Most“ At a time when public trust in institutions is fragmented and misinformation spreads faster than evidence, researchers and experts face a criti...
socialmedialab.ca
October 2, 2025 at 10:43 PM
If you're a scientist or researcher sharing your work online, here are some resources to help you manage the risks of being public. socialmedialab.ca/km-compass/
Pro Tip: Share them with your communications office and encourage them to form a rapid response team, with a plan of action in place.
Pro Tip: Share them with your communications office and encourage them to form a rapid response team, with a plan of action in place.
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
don't know who needs to hear it but if you fumble something because you're imperfect that's (a) true of everyone and (b) extra lately from external stress. things that go well can't happen without making the same best judgment calls you can as you go, sawdust and wood shavings come with making stuff
reminds me of my brief time at a giant company where an intern worried he wasn't very productive that day, so asked if he should put fewer hours on his time card. I asked if the company would want him to put extra hours on days he was very productive. ups and downs are all any of us are working with
A little motivation
September 19, 2025 at 5:03 PM
don't know who needs to hear it but if you fumble something because you're imperfect that's (a) true of everyone and (b) extra lately from external stress. things that go well can't happen without making the same best judgment calls you can as you go, sawdust and wood shavings come with making stuff
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
Life is chaos. Learning to ride the chaos and enjoy the good moments it gives you is the only way to survive
Learning to live with the knowledge that you could lose everything at any time, to accept that as a core fact of the universe, is one great strength of religious practice, but you don't need religious practice.
You do need to accept the point of building is to build, the point of living is to live.
You do need to accept the point of building is to build, the point of living is to live.
September 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Life is chaos. Learning to ride the chaos and enjoy the good moments it gives you is the only way to survive
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
Reminder: You can’t find solutions with people who want the problems
September 11, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Reminder: You can’t find solutions with people who want the problems
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
I’m recruiting a PhD student in Social Psychology @ TCU for this application cycle!
My lab examines how beliefs and attitudes form, generalize, & shape behavior. We apply this general interest to the study of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and health behavior.
My lab examines how beliefs and attitudes form, generalize, & shape behavior. We apply this general interest to the study of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and health behavior.
September 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I’m recruiting a PhD student in Social Psychology @ TCU for this application cycle!
My lab examines how beliefs and attitudes form, generalize, & shape behavior. We apply this general interest to the study of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and health behavior.
My lab examines how beliefs and attitudes form, generalize, & shape behavior. We apply this general interest to the study of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and health behavior.
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
My new piece on the shift in "user centered design" with #AI in @fastcompany.com Hint: we are no longer the target audience. www.fastcompany.com/91397818/lar...
LLMs are the users now
Tech companies have shifted focus from designing for people to prioritizing algorithms.
www.fastcompany.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:15 PM
My new piece on the shift in "user centered design" with #AI in @fastcompany.com Hint: we are no longer the target audience. www.fastcompany.com/91397818/lar...
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
artists aren’t the fucking bourgeois or “elite”. every artist i know can barely make rent. every artist i know is one severe enough hospital bill away from being homeless. we’re not all banksy or andy warhol. sick of this idea being passed around as we deal with companies exploiting us constantly.
September 7, 2025 at 10:25 PM
artists aren’t the fucking bourgeois or “elite”. every artist i know can barely make rent. every artist i know is one severe enough hospital bill away from being homeless. we’re not all banksy or andy warhol. sick of this idea being passed around as we deal with companies exploiting us constantly.
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
Thus, people assume that men in suits must always be part of the conservative establishment. But this was not always so. The suit was once a working man's garment. When Keir Hardie, founder of the British Labour Party, arrived for his first day in Parliament, he wore a suit.
September 6, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Thus, people assume that men in suits must always be part of the conservative establishment. But this was not always so. The suit was once a working man's garment. When Keir Hardie, founder of the British Labour Party, arrived for his first day in Parliament, he wore a suit.
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
Le Guin undefeated at "the fuck you say to me" as subtext
Is science fiction dead or dying? Some wise words from Ursula K Le Guin to the TLS a decade ago:
August 30, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Le Guin undefeated at "the fuck you say to me" as subtext
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
If the thing you built doesn't change user behavior, then *they're not using your thing* are they?? It doesn't matter how usable it is. If no one is using it, you failed.
Don't make the product management mistake of looking for product market fit after you've already built a product.
Don't make the product management mistake of looking for product market fit after you've already built a product.
August 26, 2025 at 1:56 PM
If the thing you built doesn't change user behavior, then *they're not using your thing* are they?? It doesn't matter how usable it is. If no one is using it, you failed.
Don't make the product management mistake of looking for product market fit after you've already built a product.
Don't make the product management mistake of looking for product market fit after you've already built a product.
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
A good essay would put this next to evangelical Christianity which suggests freedom is making yourself a “slave to god” - outsourcing all decisions to your pastor
Life is a continuous series of burdensome choices. True freedom comes when you give yourself over to the algorithm.
When I let ChatGPT manage my social life for a week, AI texted my friends and picked my outfits. It was strange but helpful.
When I first turned to ChatGPT to run my social life, I felt weird. But AI made me a better texter and I became someone who actually planned hangouts.
www.businessinsider.com
August 23, 2025 at 1:23 PM
A good essay would put this next to evangelical Christianity which suggests freedom is making yourself a “slave to god” - outsourcing all decisions to your pastor
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
Weekly reminder that if you're looking for a #horror themed #discord server, we've got ~600 members, host three weekly activities, and our doors are open 🙂 We're also a #podcast that delves into the #psychological side of your favorite horror creators!
discord.gg/vkbmUdyaXk
discord.gg/vkbmUdyaXk
Join the Horror Makes Us Happy Discord Server!
Find out more about who we are on our Linktree page: https://linktr.ee/horrormakesushappy | 688 members
discord.gg
August 23, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Weekly reminder that if you're looking for a #horror themed #discord server, we've got ~600 members, host three weekly activities, and our doors are open 🙂 We're also a #podcast that delves into the #psychological side of your favorite horror creators!
discord.gg/vkbmUdyaXk
discord.gg/vkbmUdyaXk
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
If you need cheering up, I can strongly recommend adding some cool scientists to your feed.
Scientists of Bluesky, introduce yourselves by replying to this post and I’ll share it and help you get some followers!
I’m David, I’m based in DC and study shark ecology and conservation policy. I’m the author of “Why Sharks Matter.”
🧪🦑🌎🐠🦈
I’m David, I’m based in DC and study shark ecology and conservation policy. I’m the author of “Why Sharks Matter.”
🧪🦑🌎🐠🦈
August 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
If you need cheering up, I can strongly recommend adding some cool scientists to your feed.
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
Scientists of Bluesky, introduce yourselves by replying to this post and I’ll share it and help you get some followers!
I’m David, I’m based in DC and study shark ecology and conservation policy. I’m the author of “Why Sharks Matter.”
🧪🦑🌎🐠🦈
I’m David, I’m based in DC and study shark ecology and conservation policy. I’m the author of “Why Sharks Matter.”
🧪🦑🌎🐠🦈
August 20, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Scientists of Bluesky, introduce yourselves by replying to this post and I’ll share it and help you get some followers!
I’m David, I’m based in DC and study shark ecology and conservation policy. I’m the author of “Why Sharks Matter.”
🧪🦑🌎🐠🦈
I’m David, I’m based in DC and study shark ecology and conservation policy. I’m the author of “Why Sharks Matter.”
🧪🦑🌎🐠🦈
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
My name is Graham Platner and I’m running for US Senate to defeat Susan Collins and topple the oligarchy that’s destroying our country.
I’m a veteran, oysterman, and working class Mainer who’s seen this state become unlivable for working people. And that makes me deeply angry.
I’m a veteran, oysterman, and working class Mainer who’s seen this state become unlivable for working people. And that makes me deeply angry.
August 19, 2025 at 12:37 PM
My name is Graham Platner and I’m running for US Senate to defeat Susan Collins and topple the oligarchy that’s destroying our country.
I’m a veteran, oysterman, and working class Mainer who’s seen this state become unlivable for working people. And that makes me deeply angry.
I’m a veteran, oysterman, and working class Mainer who’s seen this state become unlivable for working people. And that makes me deeply angry.
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
The quote makes me think of how a lot of software people say they want process (agile, scrum, spotify model, whatever) when what they mean is that they want a mechanistic process that they don't ever have to think about.
I love this post about science and metascience. A lot of quotables but I’ll lead with this:
“Those seeking a scientific method – one that can be written down and followed mechanically […] – betray a kind of childish impatience with a process they clearly don’t understand.”
“Those seeking a scientific method – one that can be written down and followed mechanically […] – betray a kind of childish impatience with a process they clearly don’t understand.”
This is sort of part two to the far more enjoyable (to write and, hopefully, to read) essay "how to science a science with science". You might want to read that first.
diagrammonkey.wordpress.com/2025/07/03/h...
diagrammonkey.wordpress.com/2025/07/03/h...
August 14, 2025 at 4:07 AM
The quote makes me think of how a lot of software people say they want process (agile, scrum, spotify model, whatever) when what they mean is that they want a mechanistic process that they don't ever have to think about.
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
Large Language models (LLMs) do not simulate human psychology. That's the title of our new paper, available as preprint today (1/12):
arxiv.org/abs/2508.06950
arxiv.org/abs/2508.06950
Large Language Models Do Not Simulate Human Psychology
Large Language Models (LLMs),such as ChatGPT, are increasingly used in research, ranging from simple writing assistance to complex data annotation tasks. Recently, some research has suggested that LLM...
arxiv.org
August 12, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Large Language models (LLMs) do not simulate human psychology. That's the title of our new paper, available as preprint today (1/12):
arxiv.org/abs/2508.06950
arxiv.org/abs/2508.06950
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
I'm so excited that Hidden Door is out in the world today!
We're thrilled to launch our roleplay meets fanfic platform, where we are making the tech, game, and biz in sync to let us all share more of the worlds we love, while rewarding the brilliant writers we admire.
Check it out at hiddendoor.co
We're thrilled to launch our roleplay meets fanfic platform, where we are making the tech, game, and biz in sync to let us all share more of the worlds we love, while rewarding the brilliant writers we admire.
Check it out at hiddendoor.co
August 13, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I'm so excited that Hidden Door is out in the world today!
We're thrilled to launch our roleplay meets fanfic platform, where we are making the tech, game, and biz in sync to let us all share more of the worlds we love, while rewarding the brilliant writers we admire.
Check it out at hiddendoor.co
We're thrilled to launch our roleplay meets fanfic platform, where we are making the tech, game, and biz in sync to let us all share more of the worlds we love, while rewarding the brilliant writers we admire.
Check it out at hiddendoor.co
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
I'll tap the sign. The sign is long, and a decade old, but still sadly relevant.
www.muledesign.com/blog/on-surv...
www.muledesign.com/blog/on-surv...
On Surveys — Mule Design
Surveys are the most dangerous research tool — misunderstood and misused. They frequently straddle the qualitative and quantitative, and at their worst represent the worst of both. In tort law the a...
www.muledesign.com
August 7, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I'll tap the sign. The sign is long, and a decade old, but still sadly relevant.
www.muledesign.com/blog/on-surv...
www.muledesign.com/blog/on-surv...
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
For a Student Who Used AI to Write a Paper
August 4, 2025 at 5:37 PM
For a Student Who Used AI to Write a Paper
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
I spent seven years writing a book on this and she just… said it in three succinct paragraphs to politico.
Stand by this: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
July 31, 2025 at 11:21 AM
I spent seven years writing a book on this and she just… said it in three succinct paragraphs to politico.
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
"suffers from bias"
"There is literally nothing stopping anyone"
This is like encountering medieval physics. BIAS CREATES EFFECTS THAT STOP PEOPLE FROM LEARNING. FOR EXAMPLE BEING THREATENED DIRECTLY IMPAIRS WORKING MEMORY
"There is literally nothing stopping anyone"
This is like encountering medieval physics. BIAS CREATES EFFECTS THAT STOP PEOPLE FROM LEARNING. FOR EXAMPLE BEING THREATENED DIRECTLY IMPAIRS WORKING MEMORY
Programming as a profession suffers from bias, gatekeeping, discrimination (sex, age, disability), overspecialization, outsourcing, “bro culture” amongst other negatives.
But there is literally nothing stopping anyone from learning to code. There are more free resources available than ever.
But there is literally nothing stopping anyone from learning to code. There are more free resources available than ever.
July 30, 2025 at 6:12 PM
"suffers from bias"
"There is literally nothing stopping anyone"
This is like encountering medieval physics. BIAS CREATES EFFECTS THAT STOP PEOPLE FROM LEARNING. FOR EXAMPLE BEING THREATENED DIRECTLY IMPAIRS WORKING MEMORY
"There is literally nothing stopping anyone"
This is like encountering medieval physics. BIAS CREATES EFFECTS THAT STOP PEOPLE FROM LEARNING. FOR EXAMPLE BEING THREATENED DIRECTLY IMPAIRS WORKING MEMORY
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
I see grocery/takeout shaming discourse going around again, so this is your periodic historian reminder that cooking from scratch daily while working has never been sustainable, and for millennia everyone either relied on takeout & restaurants or ate in huge households w/ big dorm-like group dining.
July 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
I see grocery/takeout shaming discourse going around again, so this is your periodic historian reminder that cooking from scratch daily while working has never been sustainable, and for millennia everyone either relied on takeout & restaurants or ate in huge households w/ big dorm-like group dining.
Reposted by Max Sahin 🧠🤖
Most of the internet used to be like this. This is actually the default, it took companies enclosing the internet and adding weird, soul-killing incentives to make people behave the way they do now. In a way, there is truly nothing special about Wikipedia except that it survived longer.
“Wikipedia is this economic anomaly. In many ways, it’s sort of magical that people will just volunteer without explicit economic incentives to create artifacts that are meant to share knowledge with everyone in the world”
July 26, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Most of the internet used to be like this. This is actually the default, it took companies enclosing the internet and adding weird, soul-killing incentives to make people behave the way they do now. In a way, there is truly nothing special about Wikipedia except that it survived longer.