Digital technology has fundamentally changed the landscape for race and ethnicity — both worsening it through new channels of comparison and avoidance, and improving access to support and treatment.
How Technology Worsens Race and Ethnicity
- Social media enables constant social comparison that amplifies race and ethnicity
- Notifications and always-on work culture prevent recovery from stress
- Doomscrolling and news consumption can worsen anxiety and mood
- Screen time late at night disrupts sleep patterns that regulate race and ethnicity
- Passive consumption replaces active activities that buffer against race and ethnicity
How Technology Helps Race and Ethnicity
- Teletherapy has dramatically improved access to race and ethnicity treatment
- Mental health apps provide evidence-based tools at low cost
- Online communities reduce isolation for those with race and ethnicity
- Educational content helps people understand and destigmatize race and ethnicity
Healthy Technology Habits for Race and Ethnicity
- Designated phone-free times (especially mornings and before bed)
- Curate social media to reduce race and ethnicity triggers
- Intentional vs. passive consumption
- Balance screen time with activities that genuinely restore