glen – Gráinne Kirwan

New Statesman: It me: how memes made us feel less alone

Sociologists have noted that the internet is instrumental in forging community bonds, and can be particularly helpful to those struggling with their identity – be that their sexuality, mental health, or social status. Yet meme culture is a less-studied aspect of this phenomenon. Dr Grainne Kirwan, a lecturer and expert in cyberpsychology, sheds some light on how and why memes allow us to feel connected to one another.

Quartz Media: Hasty decisions

March 1, 2017

glen

Online relationships

The hidden emotional consequences of de-friending ex-pals and former flames.

There are plenty of times when it’s fine to de-friend without overthinking it. Sometimes we’re just channeling our inner Marie Kondo: A Yale study found that we only recognize 72% of our Facebook friends. There’s no need to tell the distant acquaintances you’re unfollowing en masse why you’re giving them the boot. Sometimes we’re not acting out of spite, but would just prefer to our feeds to be clear of a former high-school classmate’s obnoxious rants or excessive selfies.