Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology conducted research on the impact of negative text, photos, and videos on human mental health. The results showed that such content worsens the condition of individuals with mental health issues.
To analyze what types of information internet users focus on, over a thousand individuals were studied. Their usage of various web pages and the emotions evoked during this process—such as anger, fear, sadness, or joy—were assessed through specialized algorithms.
Participants in the study initially spent 20 minutes a day on the internet for 5 days, and then increased this to 30 minutes. During this time, the scientists evaluated the texts on the web pages used. Additionally, participants recorded the emotions they felt online in questionnaires.
It was found that users in a good mood tended to choose positive and non-harmful content, while those in a bad mood showed more interest in negative materials that evoked feelings of fear.
Based on these findings, researchers developed a special plugin called "Digital Diet." This program allows filtering search results on the internet based on three criteria: emotions (positive or negative), knowledge (level of understanding of the information), and usefulness. This tool helps users limit negative content and direct them towards positive information.
"People with mental health issues often seek negative information, which exacerbates their condition. We hope that Digital Diet will help them refrain from negative content," say the researchers.
