July 26, 2026 | Source: Asian Scientist | by Kasturi Das

AsianScientist (Jul. 26, 2026) –Have you ever caught yourself scrolling through social media, comparing your life with strangers, and wondering why it leaves you feeling anxious or inadequate? According to a new review, the problem may not simply be social media, or even you. Instead, it could stem from a mismatch between the world our brains evolved for and the fast-paced, hyperconnected society we now live in.

Researchers from James Cook University, Singapore, and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) argue that many of today’s psychological challenges — including stress, loneliness and constant competition — can be better understood through the idea of evolutionary mismatch.

Their review, published in Behavioral Sciences, stated that the human brain evolved for a world of familiar faces, immediate threats and small social groups. And while human societies have changed dramatically over the past few centuries, the human brain has not evolved quickly enough to keep up.