Cyberpsychology Research Group

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Cyberpsychology Research Group

A team of researchers at USYD exploring the impact of consumer technology on human behaviour.

The Cyberpsychology Research Group (CRG) at The University of Sydney was established in 2017 as Australia’s first formal research team to investigate the impact of consumer technologies (such as smartphones, video games, social networking, wearable technology, VR and AI) on human behaviour. CRG members teach in a range of undergraduate and postgraduate units and supervise Honours, Masters and PhD level students.

18/09/2026

📢 New book chapter alert!

CRG chair Dr Andrew J. Campbell and CRG member Emma van der Schyff | Research Fellow have contributed a new chapter to The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Cyberpsychology exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and well-being.

As AI technologies become increasingly embedded in everyday life, questions about their impact on human well-being have become more important than ever. This chapter examines how AI is influencing psychological and social aspects of well-being, drawing on perspectives from psychology, cyberpsychology, public health, and technology studies.

The chapter explores a wide range of AI applications, including machine learning systems, recommender algorithms, generative AI tools, and affective computing technologies designed to recognise and respond to human emotions. The authors argue that AI should be understood not simply as a technological innovation, but as a socio-technical system shaped by human values, cultural contexts, design choices, and governance structures.

The chapter highlights both the opportunities and challenges associated with AI. While AI has the potential to enhance well-being through innovations in healthcare, education, accessibility, and digital support, it also presents risks relating to privacy, bias, autonomy, misinformation, and psychological vulnerability. By providing a balanced and evidence-based overview, the authors emphasise the importance of ongoing interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure AI is developed and implemented in ways that support human flourishing.

This chapter contributes to a rapidly growing area of cyberpsychology research and provides a valuable resource for understanding how AI may shape individual and societal well-being in the years ahead.

Van Der Schyff, E.L., Campbell, A.J. (2026). Artificial Intelligence and Well-Being. In: Fullwood, C., Branley-Bell, D., Orchard, L.J., Limniou, M., Stefanova, V. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Cyberpsychology. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52643-5_290-1

17/09/2026

📢 New publication alert!

CRG Chair Dr Andrew J. Campbell and leadership member recently collaborated with Alex Pessoa on a publication exploring the use of publicly available social media content in sensitive adolescent research.

The paper examines how researchers can responsibly leverage publicly available social media posts as a valuable source of qualitative data when investigating sensitive topics affecting adolescents. Drawing on previous research involving young women whose intimate images had been shared online without their consent, the authors reflect on the methodological and ethical considerations of using adolescent-generated social media content in research.

The study highlights several advantages of using publicly available online content for adolescent research. Social media platforms can provide young people with a safe space to share and document adverse experiences, allow users to edit and carefully curate their content before posting, and capture authentic and spontaneous accounts in their own words. These characteristics offer researchers unique insights into adolescent experiences that may be difficult to capture through traditional research methods.

At the same time, the paper discusses important methodological and ethical challenges, including issues relating to privacy, consent, interpretation, and researcher responsibility. The authors provide practical reflections to help guide future researchers seeking to use social media data ethically and effectively when studying sensitive topics involving young people.

This work contributes to the growing field of digital research methods and highlights the potential of social media platforms to offer meaningful insights into adolescent experiences while navigating complex ethical considerations.

Pessoa, A. S. G., Macedo Muniz, H. K., van Breda, A. D., Amon, K., & Campbell, A. J. (2026). Leveraging the Use of Publicly Available Social Media Posts for Sensitive Adolescent Research: Methodological Insights. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 25. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069261442337

16/09/2026

📢 New publication alert!

2024 Honours graduate Lillian Li (supervised by CRG lead members and ) has recently published her first paper from her Honours project 👏🏼

The study explored how health professionals engage with their peers through online platforms and communities. Surveying 119 health professionals, the study examined patterns of platform use, types of online interactions, digital competency, social connectedness, and well-being. Participants used an average of 3.4 online platforms, with Facebook, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp being the most commonly used.

The findings revealed that health professionals engage with peers in different ways depending on the platform, with both active and passive forms of participation playing important roles. A key factor driving engagement was participants' confidence in using digital technologies and their ability to leverage the knowledge and expertise shared within online communities.

The study also found that broader use of online platforms was associated with greater feelings of social connectedness, highlighting the value of online communities for professional networking, information exchange, and peer support.

These findings demonstrate the growing importance of online communities in supporting health professionals and provide valuable insights into strategies that may help enhance professional engagement, collaboration, and connectedness in the digital age.

Li, L., Forsyth, R., Ridout, B., & Amon, K. L. (2026). Health Professionals’ Peer Engagement in the Digital Age: Exploring the Use of Online Platforms and Communities. Digital Humanities and Society Studies, 2(1), 35–57. https://doi.org/10.54963/dhss.v2i1.2381

08/12/2025

A heartfelt congratulations to the most recent graduand from the Cyberpsychology Research Group, Dr Emma van der Schyff! 👩🏻‍🎓 Supervised by CRG members Professor Andrew Campbell, Dr Rowena Forsyth, and Dr Krestina Amon, Emma’s thesis, “Videogaming and Social Capital: Investigating Online Relationships and Friendships in Digital Communities”, examined how videogames can strengthen social capital and support mental health in online communities. Rather than focusing solely on the risks of technology, her research demonstrates its potential to enhance collaboration, cultural engagement, mental health, and social connection when used thoughtfully. Her achievements highlight the importance of exploring how online communication platforms can foster meaningful and healthy engagement across society.

Passionate about bridging behavioural science and innovation to design inclusive, evidence-based interventions that promote mental health in digital spaces, Emma is now a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Acquired Brain Injury Communication Lab

Congratulations, Emma! We look forward to future collaborations and celebrating all your upcoming achievements!

11/11/2025

Congratulations to CRG Leadership member Dr. Rowena Forsyth for recently being awarded the Sydney Early-Mid Career Academic Network (SEMCAN) Good Mentor Award.

The Award is a competitive, University-wide scheme that recognises and rewards outstanding mentors. Over 180 nominations were received and following a 3 stage review process, Rowena was 1 of 10 individuals who received the award.

Rowena was nominated by her recently completed PhD. student, Emma van der Schyff.

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

25/07/2025

The CRG proudly spotlighted emerging voices at last week through a series of engaging student poster presentations.

PhD candidate Jacob Szloch contributed Scammed to Damned: Scoping Review of Secondary Victimisation and Institutional Attitudes Towards Online Scam Victims, exploring how victims of online scams face systemic challenges and the need for more empathetic institutional support.

PhD candidate Stephanie Habak shared her work on Scam Compliance and Grooming: A Taxonomy of Early Warning Signs, a timely investigation into the psychological patterns that precede online exploitation.

CRG alumnus Dr. Matthew Naylor presented his poster on the Exploration of Virtual Reality Environments as an Evidence-Based Stress Reduction Activity in the Workplace Setting, offering insights into how immersive tech can support employee wellbeing.

It’s inspiring to see the next generation of cyberpsychologists shaping the field with curiosity, rigour, and purpose. The future looks bright!

23/07/2025

A memorable week at last week, with the Cyberpsychology Research Group presenting their work throughout the program.

CRG leadership members Dr. Rowena Forsyth and Dr. Krestina Amon presented as a duo on their project: Professional-personal boundary negotiation and access to professional networks in health professionals’ use of online communities, unpacking the balance of professional identity and interaction in online spaces.

Assoc. Prof. Brad Ridout brought compelling data from IDCARE’s Cyberpsychology Support Centre in his talk Cybercrime Victimisation and Mental Health, highlighting the emotional toll of digital threats and how support structures can help.

Recent PhD graduate, Dr. Emma van der Schyff, explored Videogaming and Social Capital, revealing the power of gaming communities to cultivate real-world connection and social support.

We were also lucky to have Professor Alex Pessoa return to Sydney from the Federal University of São Carlos to present two of his works. His first presentation, Non-Consensual Disclosure of Intimate Images in Adolescence, unpacked the resilience, agency, and healing processes of survivors—highlighting both the complexity of harm and the power of recovery. His second talk, Addressing Online Violence Against Adolescents, explored a feasibility study aimed at equipping parents and professionals to better protect young people in digital spaces, showing a snippet of a video resource being used in the study, featuring our own !

21/07/2025

The CRG made its mark at last week! From chairing multiple sessions to presenting their work, the team had a strong presence throughout the program.

Special shoutout to the CRG Chair - - not only a conference convenor but also an outstanding emcee who did a fantastic job keeping the event vibrant, engaging, and seamlessly on track!

The CRG is proud to be a group shaping the future of cyberpsychology!

30/06/2025

Very important panel discussions were held today at the "Children & Screens" event organised by AFRAN (Australian French Association for Research and Innovation Incorporated).

Topics of the risks and benefits of children using technological devices (Panel 1), AI and digital tools in education (Panel 2), and the regulation on children's access to screens and media (Panel 3) were covered from a range of national and international researchers, educators, police force, and the voice of the youth.

Panel 1 was chaired by CRG lead

04/04/2025

📢 New publication alert!

2024 Honours graduate Sonia Tint was supervised by Dr. Melissa Brunner and CRG lead member and has recently published her first paper from her Honours project 👏🏼

The study explored how Instagram is used by people with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and how TBI is discussed on the platform. Using a mixed-methods research design, content analysis was conducted on the top 100 posts, identifying four categories: Promotional, Motivational, Educational, and Life Experiences. Further analysis of selected posts revealed themes of Sharing their Stories, Navigating Challenge, Anticipating More, and Building Community. The study concluded that Instagram helps people with TBI connect and share experiences, while organisations and health professionals use it to provide information and promote services. However, health professionals are under-utilising Instagram for promoting social interactions and advocacy. The overall sentiment in the community was supportive and positive, suggesting that integrating Instagram into TBI rehabilitation could help reduce social isolation.

Tint, S., Amon, K. L., & Brunner, M. (2025). Healing is a community: an exploratory study of content on Instagram. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2025.2480166

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THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Sydney, NSW

Website

https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/our-research/research-centres/cyberpsychology-research-group.html

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