Aleks Krotoski
Social psychologist, broadcaster and journalist. She writes and broadcasts about technology and interactivity, and she presents Digital Human on BBC Radio 4. She is the author of Untangling the Web: What the Internet is Doing to You.
Recent articles by Aleks Krotoski
Why snow days are still vital in a post-COVID world
These last few years have been tough on everyone. We should make the most of an opportunity to frolic in the snow (or veg out on the sofa).
A beginner's guide to the metaverse: What it is, how you can access it and more
Facebook recently changed its name to ‘Meta’ in order to position itself at the forefront of a new digital frontier called the metaverse. But what the heck is the metaverse, and what can it offer us mere mortals who do not inhabit the shiny Silicon Valley bubble?
Why Google is just a massive to-do list
It’s the world’s most popular search engine, but ultimately, it’s just helping us to tick off our intentions.
SkyMall was Amazon before Amazon... and before the internet
You can thank an in-flight catalogue, not the internet, for the emergence of convenient same-day deliveries.
Swear by chicken soup to cure a cold? Be careful – folk cures can have a dark side
Folk cures and old wives’ tales are seemingly innocuous, but there is a downside to believing in them.
Got a big decision to make? What the vampire allegory tells us about change
None of us can peer into the future to see how life-changing decisions will pan out, but we can find joy in our new lives once we make the leap.
Don't be fooled – there's nothing new about the metaverse
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg might be getting excited about the metaverse, but the idea is nothing new.
WFH and digital detoxing: The tech trends to look out for in 2022
Technology has transformed our lives in the last couple of years. Will it continue to do so as we ring in 2022?
Internet celebrity has entered a dangerous new territory
Any of us can build a following online, but a large band of followers can make it tricky to navigate the turbulent waters of the digital world.
It's time to accept that we don't need to return to the office
We shouldn’t have to force ourselves to contend with a commute or an office, if they no longer work for us.
The net is no substitute for folk wisdom
Every culture on Earth, and even some groups of animals, have traditions and rituals for sharing knowledge vital for survival.
Food shortages: Would the national psyche handle running out of tea?
Worker shortages and the pandemic have left our supermarket shelves emptier than usual. What will it mean if supplies of our favourite drink start to dwindle?
The case for cash: Why we still need paper money
The modern, cashless way of paying with a simple tap of our phones has edged out some of the most vulnerable members of society.
The unique bond between a Paralympian and their guide
Why would an athlete choose to be a guide for a Paralympian? It's not just about winning.
Find Satoshi: The 14-year game of hide and seek, finally solved by the internet
A puzzle that remained unanswered for more than 14 years has now been solved, thanks to technological leaps in image searching.
How a publicity stunt created an online social network in the 1980s
Hands Across America started with people holding hands... but that's not all it did.
How to make the internet great again… according to the experts
Is it time to reboot the web? Digital experts – including the web's creator, Tim Berners-Lee – reveal how we can get the internet back to its honourable roots.
How Discord groups are bringing back "the good old days" of the internet
A safe space for friends to meet online is vital for our psychological and social wellbeing during lockdown.
"Too much of our technology builds walls, instead of bridges... We need to take responsibility for our digital future"
Algorithms have turned the online world into an echo chamber. Let’s welcome back diversity, critical thinking and a sense of community.
Your brain is temporal soup: How past narratives trap our future thoughts
By repeating the mistakes of the past, we’re dooming the future. It’s time to come up with some new ideas.
Today’s digital tech doesn’t replace human interaction – and that will lead to innovation
The disruption COVID-19 has brought to the internet will bring about new world order that will be greater than anything ever invented before.
The internet has banished the night - but we need it back
The middle of the night is when we can unleash unrestrained creativity. The always-on internet is depriving us of it.
Aleks Krotoski | "We are hungry for face-to-face contact. Psychology has shown that virtual contact is just as good... or even better"
Who would have thought that you can feel a real and important connection with someone you’ve never met in the flesh?
Hitting the wall | Lockdown is tough, but there are ways we can alter our mindset and endure this challenging situation more successfully
There are handy lessons we can learn from people who live on the edge of physical, social and psychological reality.