Amy Orben
@orbenamy.bsky.social
tech + teens + better science @ http://digitalmentalhealth.group // Group Leader, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge // Fellow + Director of Studies, St. John's College // 📸 marcus ginns
Reposted by Amy Orben
My first paper, out in PsychReview!!
Along with @orbenamy.bsky.social, Nik & @jaeggiadrian.bsky.social, @realadamhunt.bsky.social & I revisit an old theoretical question using concepts from evo psychiatry and anthro:
Why do mixed associations exist b/w social media & mental health?
A 🧵
Along with @orbenamy.bsky.social, Nik & @jaeggiadrian.bsky.social, @realadamhunt.bsky.social & I revisit an old theoretical question using concepts from evo psychiatry and anthro:
Why do mixed associations exist b/w social media & mental health?
A 🧵
November 4, 2025 at 8:04 AM
My first paper, out in PsychReview!!
Along with @orbenamy.bsky.social, Nik & @jaeggiadrian.bsky.social, @realadamhunt.bsky.social & I revisit an old theoretical question using concepts from evo psychiatry and anthro:
Why do mixed associations exist b/w social media & mental health?
A 🧵
Along with @orbenamy.bsky.social, Nik & @jaeggiadrian.bsky.social, @realadamhunt.bsky.social & I revisit an old theoretical question using concepts from evo psychiatry and anthro:
Why do mixed associations exist b/w social media & mental health?
A 🧵
Reposted by Amy Orben
This isn't just a national issue either; it is the single biggest soft power asset we have in a globally degrading information economy.
The end logic of this if you’re in the UK btw is DEFEND THE BBC.
Complain about it, protest bad coverage of course, but we won’t get another institution that makes safe, publicly funded, reliable, human-created, vetted content for kids if we let the BBC get destroyed.
Complain about it, protest bad coverage of course, but we won’t get another institution that makes safe, publicly funded, reliable, human-created, vetted content for kids if we let the BBC get destroyed.
We've reluctantly removed access to YouTube kids. It's now no longer just the odd thing
October 23, 2025 at 7:37 AM
This isn't just a national issue either; it is the single biggest soft power asset we have in a globally degrading information economy.
Reposted by Amy Orben
🚨 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 Amy Orben
Our need to belong
increases our dependence on social media feedback.
increases our dependence on social media feedback.
In a preregistered study of 535 US Twitter users, we found that people learn more from social rewards during periods of high isolation. That is, when isolated, they weigh 'Likes' more heavily in deciding how often to post.
September 16, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Our need to belong
increases our dependence on social media feedback.
increases our dependence on social media feedback.
Reposted by Amy Orben
Check out @bcdavidson.bsky.social's preprint (w/ @georgiaturner.bsky.social @orbenamy.bsky.social @livia-tomova.bsky.social and co.) about the (computational) consequences of social isolation in social media use during covid!
🚨 New Preprint 🚨
Prolonged Isolation is associated with an increased behavioural sensitivity to ‘Likes’ on social media.
🧵
Social media rewards are inherently social—but does posting change during social isolation, when in-person social rewards are limited?
It turns out, yes!
Prolonged Isolation is associated with an increased behavioural sensitivity to ‘Likes’ on social media.
🧵
Social media rewards are inherently social—but does posting change during social isolation, when in-person social rewards are limited?
It turns out, yes!
September 16, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Check out @bcdavidson.bsky.social's preprint (w/ @georgiaturner.bsky.social @orbenamy.bsky.social @livia-tomova.bsky.social and co.) about the (computational) consequences of social isolation in social media use during covid!
So excited this is now out!
🚨 New Preprint 🚨
Prolonged Isolation is associated with an increased behavioural sensitivity to ‘Likes’ on social media.
🧵
Social media rewards are inherently social—but does posting change during social isolation, when in-person social rewards are limited?
It turns out, yes!
Prolonged Isolation is associated with an increased behavioural sensitivity to ‘Likes’ on social media.
🧵
Social media rewards are inherently social—but does posting change during social isolation, when in-person social rewards are limited?
It turns out, yes!
September 16, 2025 at 11:53 AM
So excited this is now out!
Reposted by Amy Orben
Are you a potential, current, or past ReproducibiliTea organizer? ✨
Join our upcoming networking event!
📅 October 2, 2025 (16:00 CEST) on Zoom
👉 Register for the Zoom link: forms.gle/iH6sHt3dB4Wf...
Everyone is welcome!
Join our upcoming networking event!
📅 October 2, 2025 (16:00 CEST) on Zoom
👉 Register for the Zoom link: forms.gle/iH6sHt3dB4Wf...
Everyone is welcome!
August 28, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Are you a potential, current, or past ReproducibiliTea organizer? ✨
Join our upcoming networking event!
📅 October 2, 2025 (16:00 CEST) on Zoom
👉 Register for the Zoom link: forms.gle/iH6sHt3dB4Wf...
Everyone is welcome!
Join our upcoming networking event!
📅 October 2, 2025 (16:00 CEST) on Zoom
👉 Register for the Zoom link: forms.gle/iH6sHt3dB4Wf...
Everyone is welcome!
Great time in London watching intern @sineadcleary.bsky.social and research assistant Brandon Davidson give a fantastic presentation to the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology - what superstars I get to work with!
August 27, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Great time in London watching intern @sineadcleary.bsky.social and research assistant Brandon Davidson give a fantastic presentation to the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology - what superstars I get to work with!
Reposted by Amy Orben
An abbreviation (ABB) in a journal article (JA) or Grant Application (GA) is rarely worth the words it saves. Every ABB requires cognitive resources (CR) and at my age by the time I'm halfway through a JA or GA I no longer have the CR to remember what your ABB stood for.
August 15, 2025 at 9:39 AM
An abbreviation (ABB) in a journal article (JA) or Grant Application (GA) is rarely worth the words it saves. Every ABB requires cognitive resources (CR) and at my age by the time I'm halfway through a JA or GA I no longer have the CR to remember what your ABB stood for.
Can confirm it was a fantastic 250+km across 10 islands ... when I was not miserable with wet feet, knee deep in bog, or waking up with 50+ seed ticks invading my tent 😅! Disturbed by only one Radio 4 Today interview and a phone call with a senior govt official.
August 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Can confirm it was a fantastic 250+km across 10 islands ... when I was not miserable with wet feet, knee deep in bog, or waking up with 50+ seed ticks invading my tent 😅! Disturbed by only one Radio 4 Today interview and a phone call with a senior govt official.
BRB solo hiking the Outer Hebrides (south ➡️ north) over the next 2 weeks. 👋 No big news when I am away please, thanks.
July 19, 2025 at 9:46 AM
BRB solo hiking the Outer Hebrides (south ➡️ north) over the next 2 weeks. 👋 No big news when I am away please, thanks.
The rest of 2025 promises to be exceptionally important for advancing social media data access for UK researchers.
📣 UK social media researchers! Join us at the event below to hear directly from Ofcom and UK government on current ideas, next steps, and to also share your own perspectives ⬇️
📣 UK social media researchers! Join us at the event below to hear directly from Ofcom and UK government on current ideas, next steps, and to also share your own perspectives ⬇️
July 17, 2025 at 10:03 AM
The rest of 2025 promises to be exceptionally important for advancing social media data access for UK researchers.
📣 UK social media researchers! Join us at the event below to hear directly from Ofcom and UK government on current ideas, next steps, and to also share your own perspectives ⬇️
📣 UK social media researchers! Join us at the event below to hear directly from Ofcom and UK government on current ideas, next steps, and to also share your own perspectives ⬇️
Reposted by Amy Orben
We have a ✨NEW PREPRINT✨! Using data from the @clscohorts.bsky.social Millennium Cohort Study and linked healthcare records, we tested the association between social media use and psychiatric diagnoses in secondary care in young people in England. This is still a work in progress - feedback welcome!
Characterising the longitudinal relationship between social media use and psychiatric diagnoses in secondary care in adolescents in England: https://osf.io/87cze
July 14, 2025 at 5:59 AM
We have a ✨NEW PREPRINT✨! Using data from the @clscohorts.bsky.social Millennium Cohort Study and linked healthcare records, we tested the association between social media use and psychiatric diagnoses in secondary care in young people in England. This is still a work in progress - feedback welcome!
I'm hiring 2+ 2.5-year postdocs over the next few months.
Job 1: looking for someone with deep expertise in computational modelling (reinforcement learning, agent based modelling) on real-world/complex data (closing: 18 August, starting: October-December), www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/52059/
Job 1: looking for someone with deep expertise in computational modelling (reinforcement learning, agent based modelling) on real-world/complex data (closing: 18 August, starting: October-December), www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/52059/
July 16, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I'm hiring 2+ 2.5-year postdocs over the next few months.
Job 1: looking for someone with deep expertise in computational modelling (reinforcement learning, agent based modelling) on real-world/complex data (closing: 18 August, starting: October-December), www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/52059/
Job 1: looking for someone with deep expertise in computational modelling (reinforcement learning, agent based modelling) on real-world/complex data (closing: 18 August, starting: October-December), www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/52059/
Reposted by Amy Orben
Crazy coincidence how often [thing that will fix science of all of its ailments] coincides with [thing the speaker considers themselves an expert in]. Makes you think
July 15, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Crazy coincidence how often [thing that will fix science of all of its ailments] coincides with [thing the speaker considers themselves an expert in]. Makes you think
Reposted by Amy Orben
🚨New preprint 🚨
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬: 𝐀 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞-𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨-𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲
osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧵
Using a novel micro-narrative method, we collected ~ 900 first-person accounts of social media harms from young people across the UK and US.
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬: 𝐀 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞-𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨-𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲
osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧵
Using a novel micro-narrative method, we collected ~ 900 first-person accounts of social media harms from young people across the UK and US.
June 24, 2025 at 10:58 AM
🚨New preprint 🚨
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬: 𝐀 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞-𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨-𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲
osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧵
Using a novel micro-narrative method, we collected ~ 900 first-person accounts of social media harms from young people across the UK and US.
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬: 𝐀 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞-𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨-𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲
osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧵
Using a novel micro-narrative method, we collected ~ 900 first-person accounts of social media harms from young people across the UK and US.
Thanks for inviting me Anna, and the rest of the History and Philosophy of Science department 🙏
Thank you @orbenamy.bsky.social for speaking at Coffee with Scientist in HPS today! We discussed this pathbreaking paper. Also what it's like to be a science advisor grappling with all the right moral n epistemic qs with humility n wisdom, while being doubted from left n right. Stay strong, Amy!
New Paper! I'm truly excited to share @natematias.bsky.social and my new Policy Forum in Science published yesterday.
We evaluate science's ability to address technological harms, and offer recommendations for what could be done to improve on the status quo: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We evaluate science's ability to address technological harms, and offer recommendations for what could be done to improve on the status quo: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
June 14, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Thanks for inviting me Anna, and the rest of the History and Philosophy of Science department 🙏
Reposted by Amy Orben
Screen Sense: Parenting in a Digital World, the new podcast from @shuhbillskee.bsky.social and I - first episode is now live. We hope you enjoy it. open.substack.com/pub/screense...
Episode 1: Why does (digital) parenting feel so hard?
Listen now | How should we think about parenting in a digital age?
open.substack.com
June 13, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Screen Sense: Parenting in a Digital World, the new podcast from @shuhbillskee.bsky.social and I - first episode is now live. We hope you enjoy it. open.substack.com/pub/screense...
Reposted by Amy Orben
Very excited and grateful to receive the 2025 Psychology of Technology Dissertation Award for my PhD thesis!
A special thanks to the Institute, the organisers and my wonderful PhD supervisors @orbenamy.bsky.social & @tamsinford.bsky.social.
More info: psychoftech.substack.com/p/congratula...
A special thanks to the Institute, the organisers and my wonderful PhD supervisors @orbenamy.bsky.social & @tamsinford.bsky.social.
More info: psychoftech.substack.com/p/congratula...
We're excited to announce the 2025 Psychology of Technology Dissertation Award winners! Please join us in congratulating them!
June 5, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Very excited and grateful to receive the 2025 Psychology of Technology Dissertation Award for my PhD thesis!
A special thanks to the Institute, the organisers and my wonderful PhD supervisors @orbenamy.bsky.social & @tamsinford.bsky.social.
More info: psychoftech.substack.com/p/congratula...
A special thanks to the Institute, the organisers and my wonderful PhD supervisors @orbenamy.bsky.social & @tamsinford.bsky.social.
More info: psychoftech.substack.com/p/congratula...
Interested in improving researcher's access to social media data? Kate Dommett and myself are hiring for a Research Fellow (1 year; based at Sheffield) for an exciting new project to be announced soon: jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Research...
Research Fellow (UKRI Social Media Data Access for Researchers)
Research Fellow (UKRI Social Media Data Access for Researchers)
jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk
May 23, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Interested in improving researcher's access to social media data? Kate Dommett and myself are hiring for a Research Fellow (1 year; based at Sheffield) for an exciting new project to be announced soon: jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Research...
Reposted by Amy Orben
🔷New in Biological Psychiatry🔷
**Old Strategies, New Environments: Reinforcement Learning on Social Media**
In this Review, we argue that the computational framework of Reinforcement Learning can help us understand social media behaviour:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
**Old Strategies, New Environments: Reinforcement Learning on Social Media**
In this Review, we argue that the computational framework of Reinforcement Learning can help us understand social media behaviour:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
May 22, 2025 at 9:53 AM
🔷New in Biological Psychiatry🔷
**Old Strategies, New Environments: Reinforcement Learning on Social Media**
In this Review, we argue that the computational framework of Reinforcement Learning can help us understand social media behaviour:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
**Old Strategies, New Environments: Reinforcement Learning on Social Media**
In this Review, we argue that the computational framework of Reinforcement Learning can help us understand social media behaviour:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
I might just have missed something ... but... in other news, last week, my team went on a lovely retreat in North Norfolk and we had a lovely time unwinding and re-centring after an exceptionally hectic few months/year! Photographic evidence attached; more waffling on LinkedIn.
May 20, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I might just have missed something ... but... in other news, last week, my team went on a lovely retreat in North Norfolk and we had a lovely time unwinding and re-centring after an exceptionally hectic few months/year! Photographic evidence attached; more waffling on LinkedIn.
Reposted by Amy Orben
🚨 Job opportunity! 🚨 @sheffielduni.bsky.social with @profkatedommett.bsky.social and @orbenamy.bsky.social, Research Fellowship seeking to advance researcher access to social media data in the UK, apply here by 9th of June 👉👉 jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Research...
Research Fellow (UKRI Social Media Data Access for Researchers)
Research Fellow (UKRI Social Media Data Access for Researchers)
jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk
May 16, 2025 at 5:04 PM
🚨 Job opportunity! 🚨 @sheffielduni.bsky.social with @profkatedommett.bsky.social and @orbenamy.bsky.social, Research Fellowship seeking to advance researcher access to social media data in the UK, apply here by 9th of June 👉👉 jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Research...
So glad to see this out as a preprint!
New preprint with @jbakcoleman.bsky.social @lewan.bsky.social @randomwalker.bsky.social @orbenamy.bsky.social @lfoswaldo.bsky.social where we argue for a complex-system perspective to understand the causal effects of social media on society and for a triangulation of methods
arxiv.org/abs/2505.09254
arxiv.org/abs/2505.09254
Moving towards informative and actionable social media research
Social media is nearly ubiquitous in modern life, and concerns have been raised about its putative societal impacts, ranging from undermining mental health and exacerbating polarization to fomenting v...
arxiv.org
May 16, 2025 at 10:40 AM
So glad to see this out as a preprint!
Congratulations to @amiraskeggs.bsky.social for leading on this thoughtful and deeply considered piece of work. Interested in social media research? Amira is one to watch!
New Perspective out in @nathumbehav.nature.com today with co-author @orbenamy.bsky.social!
We propose a new framework for designing 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 that support well-being, grounded in self-determination theory 🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We propose a new framework for designing 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 that support well-being, grounded in self-determination theory 🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Social media interventions to improve well-being - Nature Human Behaviour
In this Perspective, the authors review current interventions on social media use among adolescents and propose a new theoretical model based on self-determination theory to guide the effective design...
www.nature.com
May 15, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Congratulations to @amiraskeggs.bsky.social for leading on this thoughtful and deeply considered piece of work. Interested in social media research? Amira is one to watch!