I wanted to share some learnings from my recent journey exploring the phenomenon of “doomscrolling.” Earlier this year, I wrote an article for The Conversation examining how social media consumption patterns might affect our collective well-being.

What started as a local exploration has unexpectedly sparked conversations across Australia, New Zealand, and even South Korea, where I recently had the opportunity to discuss these findings on several radio shows.

Did you know the average person scrolls through approximately 90 meters of content daily? That’s roughly equivalent to the height of the Statue of Liberty. This striking finding comes from research examining how digital consumption shapes our perception of reality.

The fascinating paper “Inside the Funhouse Mirror Factory” by Robertson, del Rosario, and Van Bavel offers important insights into how social media can distort our understanding of social norms. Their research suggests that online environments often amplify extreme opinions while moderate voices remain relatively quiet, creating an illusion that society is more divided than it actually is.

Psychologists have found that this “doomscrolling” behaviour isn’t just a harmless habit – it actually impacts our cognitive functions, emotional well-being, and ability to focus. Our brains are wired with a negativity bias that makes us pay more attention to bad news than good, which once helped our ancestors avoid threats but now keeps us in an unnecessary state of high alert when consuming negative content online.

Some approaches experts recommend include:

I’m researching and discussing this phenomenon daily, and I would value hearing about your experiences with social media consumption. Have you developed any strategies for creating healthier digital habits? What approaches have worked for you?

 

Key Considerations for Effective Implementation

The rapid advancement and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have created opportunities and challenges across various sectors. While AI promises enhanced productivity and innovation, improper implementation can reduce effectiveness and potential ethical concerns. This article examines key principles for avoiding common pitfalls in AI usage while maximising its benefits.

Fundamental Misconceptions in AI Usage

A primary error in AI implementation is treating it as a simple tool rather than an interactive system requiring context and guidance (Rich, 1985). Users often approach AI with a “calculator mindset,” expecting immediate, accurate results without providing necessary context or engaging in iterative refinement. Research indicates that AI systems benefit from ongoing interaction and contextual understanding to develop more effective responses (Toker & Akgun, 2024).

The Search Engine Fallacy

Another common mistake is treating AI like a traditional search engine, expecting perfect results from initial queries. Unlike search engines, AI interactions benefit from continuous dialogue and refinement (Nguyen & Mateescu, 2024). Research demonstrates that AI systems perform better when users:

Limited Application Scope

Organisations often restrict AI usage to basic tasks, missing opportunities for broader strategic implementation. Cochrane (2023) argues that limiting AI to simple automation significantly underutilises its potential. Instead, practitioners should consider how AI can transform entire business processes and workflows rather than individual tasks.

Ethical Considerations and Best Practices

Research indicates several critical factors for ethical AI implementation:

Recommendations for Effective Implementation

Based on current research, organisations should:

Effective AI implementation requires moving beyond simplistic applications toward more sophisticated, context-aware usage. Organisations must balance the potential benefits of AI with ethical considerations and proper implementation strategies. Success depends not just on the technology itself but on how organisations approach its implementation and ongoing development.

References

Cochrane, J. H. (2023). AI, society, and democracy: Just relax. Digitalist Papers.

Cotton, D. R. E., Cotton, P. A., & Shipway, J. R. (2024). Chatting and cheating: Ensuring academic integrity in the era of chatgpt. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 61(2), 228-239.

Nguyen, A., & Mateescu, A. (2024). Generative AI and labor: Power, hype, and value at work. Data & Society.

Pansoni, S., Tiribelli, S., Paolanti, M., Di Stefano, F., Frontoni, E., & Malinverni, E. S. (2023). Artificial intelligence and cultural heritage: Design and assessment of an ethical framework. International Archives of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 48, 1149-1155.

Rich, E. (1985). Artificial intelligence and the humanities. Computers and the Humanities, 19(2), 117-122.

Toker, S., & Akgun, M. (2024). The role of task complexity in reducing AI plagiarism: A study of generative AI tools. arXiv preprint arXiv:2412.13412.

We’ve all been there – it starts with a quick check of social media before bed, and suddenly, two hours have vanished into an endless stream of concerning headlines and updates. That familiar tension in your shoulders builds as you scroll through one troubling story after another.

In my recent article for The Conversation, I explore this modern phenomenon known as “doomscrolling” and offer practical strategies to break free from this cycle while staying meaningfully informed about world events.

Why This Matters

While staying informed helps us make better decisions and engage with our communities, research shows that endless consumption of negative news can seriously impact our mental health and sleep patterns. The key is finding balance – staying connected without letting it overwhelm us.

Key Takeaways for Healthier News Consumption:

Set clear boundaries around when and how you consume news
Choose trusted sources rather than letting algorithms decide
Pay attention to your physical and emotional responses
Consider implementing a “digital sunset” – a cutoff time before bed
Focus on in-depth articles rather than endless scrolling
Look for solution-focused stories that highlight positive change

Taking Action

Breaking the doomscrolling habit doesn’t mean disconnecting completely. It’s about being intentional with how we engage with news and information. The article provides practical tools and strategies to help you develop healthier digital habits while staying informed about things that matter.

Want to learn more about creating a balanced approach to news consumption? Read the full article where I dive deeper into specific strategies and tools you can start using today.

Remember: Staying informed doesn’t mean staying constantly connected. Your well-being matters, too.

Read the full article to discover more strategies for mindful news consumption.

As a media and communications academic, I find myself at a fascinating crossroads between traditional media education and the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-driven content creation. The question isn’t whether AI will transform media industries—it’s already happening—but how we can best prepare our students for this new reality while preserving the fundamental skills that make great communicators.

The Changing Media Landscape

The media industry has always been dynamic, but the introduction of generative AI represents a paradigm shift unlike anything we’ve seen since the rise of social media. Today’s students will enter a workforce where AI can generate articles, create images, edit videos, and produce basic broadcasts. However, this technological revolution doesn’t spell the end of human creativity—rather, it demands a new kind of media professional.

Essential Skills for Tomorrow’s Media Professionals

1. AI Technical Fluency
Students must develop a deep understanding of AI tools as users and critical evaluators. Traditional literacy is not enough, they need to be fluent and:

– Understand the capabilities and limitations of different AI systems

– Learn to prompt effectively and iterate with AI tools

– Recognise AI-generated content and its markers

– Evaluate the ethical implications of AI usage in media

2. Enhanced Critical Thinking
The abundance of AI-generated content makes critical thinking more crucial than ever. Students must become experts at:

– Fact-checking and verification

– Understanding context and nuance

– Identifying bias in both human and AI-generated content

– Making ethical decisions about AI implementation

3. Human-Centric Skills
As AI handles more routine tasks, distinctly human capabilities become more valuable:

– Emotional intelligence and empathy

– Complex storytelling and narrative development

– Cultural sensitivity and awareness

– Strategic thinking and creative problem-solving

– Interpersonal communication and relationship building

Reshaping the Curriculum

To address these needs, media and communications programs must evolve. Here’s how I’m approaching this challenge in my teaching:

Integration of AI Tools
Rather than banning AI tools, I encourage their thoughtful use in appropriate contexts. Students learn to:

– Use AI as a brainstorming partner

– Leverage AI for initial research and content organisation

– Experiment with AI-assisted content creation

– Develop workflows that combine human creativity with AI efficiency

Focus on Higher-Order Skills
While AI can generate basic content, it cannot replace human judgment and creativity. Our coursework emphasises:

– Strategic communication planning

– Advanced storytelling techniques

– Ethical decision-making

– Cross-cultural communication

– Leadership and project management

Real-World Applications
Students need hands-on experience with AI in media contexts. This includes:

– Collaborative projects using AI tools

– Case studies of successful AI implementation in media

– Discussions with industry professionals about AI integration

– Ethical considerations in real-world scenarios

The Future of Media Education
As we prepare students for media and communications careers, we must balance embracing technological innovation and preserving the human elements that make communication powerful. The goal isn’t to compete with AI but to work alongside it effectively.

Key Considerations for Educators
1. Stay current with AI developments and their impact on media industries

2. Maintain strong connections with industry professionals to understand evolving needs

3. Regularly update curriculum to reflect technological changes

4. Foster ethical discussions about AI use in media

5. Encourage experimentation while maintaining academic rigour

Conclusion

The future of media and communications education lies not in resisting AI but in embracing it as a powerful tool while developing the uniquely human skills that will always be essential to effective communication. Our role as educators is to prepare students for the industry as it exists today and for the rapidly evolving landscape they’ll enter tomorrow.

By combining traditional communication fundamentals with AI literacy and enhanced critical thinking skills, we can ensure our graduates are well-equipped to lead the next generation of media professionals in an AI-augmented industry. The key is to view AI not as a replacement for human creativity and judgment but as a powerful tool that can enhance and amplify human capabilities in the media landscape.