Name, department, year:
Adrienne Wood, Department of Psychology, 7th year
Hometown:
Kansas City
How are you connected to TYDE?
I’m the co-chair of the Internal Seed Grant Committee and a member of the Steering Committee. Some of my research is also supported by TYDE.
What is your research about? What parts of it are the most exciting to you?
My lab studies the social behaviors that help people connect, such as shared laughter and conversation. We also study the strategies people use to become connected when they join a new community, like a new college or a new city. With the support of TYDE, we’ve been looking at how first-year students balance staying digitally connected with friends from home and making new in-person friends at UVA. We’re also developing a digital tool to help people more effectively achieve their friendship goals. I love the work we get to do because it is fascinating (laughter is way more complicated than you’d expect!), relatable (who doesn’t want to have better friendships?), and meaningful (loneliness is bad for people and for society).
How do you use digital technology in your daily life?
I am not really on social media because I find it takes too much of my time without making me happier, but that does mean that I have a harder time keeping up with the lives of acquaintances and old friends. I listen to a lot of podcasts and go down weird YouTube rabbit holes—right now I can’t stop watching reaction videos where visual effects artists critique bad CGI in movies.
Are there any online trends or influencers you think are particularly innovative?
This isn’t really a trend or an influencer, but I love the streaming platform Dropout. They create amazing comedy content that features a lot of up-and-coming talents.
In your opinion, what are the main challenges that young people face navigating the world of digital technology and/or social media?
I won’t speak for young people, I’ll speak for a medium-age person (myself): my phone prevents me from letting my brain rest. I can’t just stand in a coffee line, sit at a stop light, or wait for frozen peas to cook in the microwave. I must immediately get my phone out and read something. The constant stimulation and task-switching often leaves me feeling overwhelmed and depleted, yet it’s a hard habit to kick.
In your opinion, what are some of the benefits and opportunities offered to young people by the world of digital technology and/or social media?
You can learn about anything and connect with anyone. If I wanted to become a Finnish-speaking candle maker, I could start today. How cool is that!?
What do you wish people knew about youth mental health and digital technology?
I wish everyone (myself included) could find a way to move a bit more mindfully through digital space. Not necessarily use it less, but use it with intentionality rather than being yanked around by push notifications and algorithms.
If you were the U.S. digital technology czar, what kinds of policies would you recommend to help young people thrive?
I would encourage device-free classrooms unless a learning activity calls for computers or a student needs a device for accessibility reasons. I see how difficult it is for even college-aged students to stay focused on a lecture, classroom discussion, or activity when they have the entire internet at their fingertips. I think we all struggle to pay attention when devices are present—if I have my laptop out to take notes while watching a talk or in a meeting, I find myself automatically opening a browser window or my email app without even meaning to. Our devices are an essential, enriching, and often fun part of our lives, but I think it’s healthy to take time away from them and be fully present in our immediate environments.
