Aleks Krotoski
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

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?
more

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.
more

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.
more

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.
more

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.
more

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.
more

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?
more

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.
more

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.
more

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.
more

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?
more

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.
more

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.
more

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.
more

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.
more

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.
more

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.
more

"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.
more

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.
more

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.
more

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.
more

"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?
more

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.
more