With the blurring of the digital platforms of the boundaries between the public and the private, it reveals increasing evidence of how continuous exposure to the painful content via the Internet caused a silent mental health crisis, especially among young people.
According to the “News Medical” website, the continuous use of social media platforms makes young users more vulnerable to images and videos of violence and electronic harassment, which may cause them psychological suffering, unlike traditional media.
What is digital or secondary shock?
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The term secondary strain (STS) refers to emotional and psychological distress resulting from indirect exposure to shocks, and this disorder is usually noted in individuals who witness the suffering or interaction of others with sympathy.
As for the indirect shock, it involves deeper and longer changes in the individual’s view of the emotional and cognitive world as a result of repeated secondary exposure, and the indirect shock develops through exposure to the shocking experiences of others.
Digital platforms expand the scope and severity of secondary shocks, through the wide participation of pictures, videos and stories related to violence, in addition to losses and disasters, without any pods or warnings, and this regular exposure may increase the risk of anxiety, intimidated ideas and emotional anesthesia, and the post -traumatic disorder is still a major concern regarding mental health in the digital age.
Scientific evidence of psychological effects
Several studies have confirmed that individuals, especially young people, who are constantly watching annoying images or videos on the Internet may be anxious and depressed, sleep disturbances, annoying ideas, or symptoms similar to PTSD, as they activate watching the content of the tonsils and tension response systems, which in turn increases hyperdise, emotional numbness, organizing disorder, and has been organized These effects continue even after the danger from the individual has disappeared, especially if it lacks strong social support or acclimatization skills.
The “devastating scroll”, which refers to the compulsive consumption of painful news or media, has emerged during the Korona 2019 Fire of the Virus of the 2019, this type of prolonged exposure to electronic shocks can lead to a significant deterioration in mental health and satisfaction with life.
People are most at risk
Young people are especially at risk, due to psychological distress caused by digital or secondary shocks as a result of their continuous development, increased emotional sensitivity, excessive exposure to social media, as permanent users of social media platforms are more likely to face annoying images, inconveniences online, or comparison of peers, which may lead to anxiety, depression and low self -esteem. The individual’s ability to develop a syndrome vary Psychological trauma (STS) of age, personal history of shocks, and psychological flexibility, as people with previous shocking experiences, limited ability to adapt, or weak social support are more likely to be affected by indirect shock exposure.
Prevention of the negative effect of platforms on mental health
Digital toxins disposal include conscious or temporarily abstaining from the use of digital platforms, as it has been proven that the interventions of digital toxins significantly reduce the symptoms of depression, but their effects on tension and satisfaction with life and mental health in general are not clear.
Other effective interventions include mental vigilance practices and behavioral cognitive techniques, which help individuals organize their emotional responses and develop healthy digital habits, and behavioral therapy can treat compulsive scroll, negative thinking patterns, and digital accreditation, while promoting intellectual alertness deliberately aware of the present moment.
The features of the applications, such as content warnings, screen time, and use followers, enable users to manage their exposure to content and make conscious options, and the lines integrated with these features can help reduce the psychological effect of disturbing content.
Scientific knowledge, that is, the ability to understand digital health risks and evaluate reliable sources, is no less important, and enhancing awareness of how to allocate algorithms to content and enhancing interaction rings is very important to enable individuals to build flexibility and restore control of their digital experiences.
