#DigitalSociety

A quick look at how someone uses their phone can reveal more about personality than we might assume. New research shows a strong link between compulsive social media use and narcissistic traits. The study, conducted at the University of Gdańsk and published in the Journal of Research in Personality, suggests that excessive online activity goes beyond vanity and affects mental health and social wellbeing. For Thai readers, these findings come at a crucial time as social platforms are deeply woven into daily life and work.

A simple glance at someone’s phone habits may reveal more about their personality than previously thought. Recent psychological research has spotlighted compulsive social media use as a tell-tale sign of narcissistic tendencies, with experts warning of consequences that extend beyond the screen and into mental health and social wellbeing. The findings, anchored by a new study from the University of Gdańsk and published in the Journal of Research in Personality, provide timely insights—especially for countries like Thailand, where social platforms are woven deeply into daily life (Daily Mail).

A new study shows that groups of AI agents can spontaneously create shared ways of communicating and social norms without direct human guidance. Published in Science Advances, the research reveals that large language model teams, when interacting with each other, can converge on a common “language” and collective behaviors. This challenges the idea that AI can only operate as individual tools and suggests they may participate in social systems in surprising ways.

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have found that artificial intelligence (AI) systems can spontaneously develop human-like ways of communicating, forming social conventions and group norms without human direction. Published in Science Advances, the peer-reviewed study demonstrates that groups of large language model (LLM) AI agents like ChatGPT, when communicating together, are capable of building their own shared language and collective behaviors—a finding that could reshape how we think about both AI development and its integration into society (The Guardian).

A growing body of research suggests that constant observation—whether in person or online—can subtly erode our ability to concentrate and remember. Studies indicate that being frequently watched shifts unconscious brain processes, with potential consequences for work, study, and social interactions. For Thai readers, where CCTV usage is widespread and digital monitoring rises in education and workplaces, these findings carry practical significance.

In a world saturated with cameras, data trackers, and social platforms that encourage sharing, the feeling of being constantly watched is hard to avoid. Bangkok and other Thai cities exemplify high surveillance density, and the shift to remote work and online learning has intensified digital footprints. This modern “panopticon” shapes behavior and mental states in ways that extend beyond mere discomfort.

A growing body of scientific research is sounding the alarm on the mental toll of constant surveillance, warning that being persistently observed—in person or digitally—may be subtly eroding our ability to concentrate and remember. Recent studies reveal that the effects go deeper than mere discomfort, reaching into our unconscious brain and potentially impacting our day-to-day lives, including work, education, and social interaction (NewsNationNow, The Hill, LiveScience).

In a world increasingly equipped with surveillance cameras, digital tracking, data brokers, and online platforms where users are encouraged—or pressured—to display their lives, the sensation of constantly being watched is almost inescapable. For Thais, where CCTV cameras are prolific in Bangkok and major urban areas, digital footprints grow daily, and remote work or online coursework is on the rise, these findings hold powerful relevance. Just as the panopticon prison designed by philosopher Jeremy Bentham coerced prisoners into self-monitoring, our modern panopticon of digital and physical observation exerts its own psychological weight.

As Thailand accelerates toward a smarter, more connected future, widespread surveillance—from social media monitoring to CCTV networks and classroom monitoring—raises a timely question: what does this constant gaze do to our brains? Emerging research suggests that continuous observation can affect cognitive performance, emotional wellbeing, and even the way people think and behave. Data from leading institutions indicates stress and vigilance can shift brain resources away from higher-order tasks such as planning, creativity, and learning.

The expanding digital surveillance in everyday life – from social media monitoring to location tracking and ever-present security cameras – may have underappreciated and troubling effects on human brain function, according to a growing body of research highlighted by Live Science. As governments, corporations, and even schools employ increasingly sophisticated surveillance tools, emerging studies suggest such constant observation can disrupt cognitive performance, emotional wellbeing, and may alter fundamental patterns in how people think and behave.