WWho hasn’t fallen into the entice of doomscrolling on Instagram nowadays? For a lot of, it has turn out to be greater than only a favorite pastime; it has virtually turn out to be a brand new passion. A latest dialog with an AI-powered psychological wellness centre United We Care, revealed that it might influence the psychological well being and behaviours of each adults and kids.
With Consideration Deficit Hyperactivity Dysfunction (ADHD) diagnoses on the rise globally, there may be rising concern over the position of social media platforms, notably short-form content material, behind this development. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental situation that makes people seem stressed, impulsive, and unable to focus for lengthy hours.
The recognition of short-form content material platforms like TikTok is plain. Research present that such content material will get 2.5 occasions extra engagement than long-form movies, and entrepreneurs are curious about investing on this format for its capacity to seize viewers’ consideration. Nonetheless, regardless of its effectiveness in driving engagement, the format has drawbacks.
In an unique interview with AIM, Sourav Banerjee, co-founder of United We Care, raised considerations over the adverse influence of short-form content material platforms on psychological well being, notably in relation to ADHD.
Banerjee questioned whether or not TikTok is the precise area for psychological well being conversations. “The basic situation lies within the format itself. In contrast to long-form content material that encourages focus, deeper engagement, and layered pondering, short-form content material is superficial. Each 30 seconds, the content material compulsively modifications, leaving no room for substantial engagement or thought improvement,” he mentioned.
He additional lauded the Indian authorities’s choice to ban TikTok, describing it as a crucial step not just for knowledge privateness but in addition for safeguarding psychological well being. Nonetheless, Banerjee mentioned that banning one platform shouldn’t be sufficient. The bigger ecosystem of social media and AI-driven content material requires regulation to stop a technology from rising up with diminished focus and what he described as “zombie-like behaviour.”
Social Media’s Affect on Psychological Well being
One other trigger for concern is the consumption of misinformation on platforms like TikTok. A analysis paper titled ‘TikTok and Consideration-Deficit/Hyperactivity Dysfunction: A Cross-Sectional Examine of Social Media Content material High quality’ revealed that whereas TikTok is extensively used to share psychological well being data, practically half of the ADHD-related movies analysed had been discovered to be deceptive.
This poses dangers to each public understanding and scientific care as misinformation spreads unchecked. Moreover, social media platforms use proprietary algorithms that target rising person engagement and will promote movies that don’t essentially mirror correct well being data. A latest systematic evaluation discovered that the prevalence of well being misinformation was excessive throughout nearly all social media platforms.
Banerjee harassed the pressing want to deal with this problem by enhancing content material moderation and making certain that solely correct, evidence-based psychological well being data is disseminated on-line.
AI is the Solely Reply
Youngsters usually lack the flexibility to tell apart proper from fallacious, and so the onus of guiding them via life’s challenges lies with dad and mom. On the one hand, kids lack real human interplay with units like telephones and laptops launched early. On the opposite, they face communication boundaries and may’t share their issues with their dad and mom.
Reflecting on these challenges, Banerjee mentioned, “AI can be utilized to facilitate these communications. Moreover, we will implement bulk screening to determine potential psychological well being points early on. As an illustration, in Telangana, we lately launched a instrument for two million college students and their dad and mom to higher perceive and deal with points like drug and alcohol use amongst youngsters. This can be a advanced problem, nevertheless it’s important to deal with it head-on.”
He added that a couple of month in the past, they launched an initiative with the Telangana authorities to assist dad and mom perceive if their youngsters are vulnerable to dependancy. They’ve additionally partnered with faculties to assemble extra data.
“If we merge these two sources of data, together with suggestions straight from the kids, we would stand a greater likelihood of addressing these points. My level right here isn’t to argue whether or not AI is superior or inferior to people; somewhat, the straightforward truth is that we at the moment haven’t any different option to successfully deal with these challenges with out AI,” he mentioned.
Banerjee harassed that whereas there are important considerations with AI, given its potential, it may well additionally assist clear up particular issues. AI can function a platform for individuals to be heard. It may pay attention, display screen for points, and supply rapid, related options.
The publish Brief-Type Content material Fuels Rise in ADHD Diagnoses Amongst Children appeared first on Analytics India Journal.
