Twittering Away Your Morality

USC researchers say Twitter and other fast-moving social networking windows block out our morality. We simply don’t have enough time to process the information and see what rules apply, they claim. The lead author of the study says, in contrast to the rapid-fire digital environment, “We need to allow for adequate time and reflection.” Children are particularly vulnerable because their brains are still developing.

The scientists asked about a dozen study participants to tell stories. Their brains were the scanned as they tried to recall the stories and attached emotions. Details will be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.