Study Links Mental Health and Negative Online Content

A recent study from University College London (UCL) has uncovered a harmful feedback loop between mental health and negative online content, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

Published in Nature Human Behaviour, the research indicates that individuals with poorer mental health are more likely to seek out emotionally negative material online, which in turn exacerbates their symptoms.

Led by Professor Tali Sharot, the study utilized data from over 1,000 participants who shared their web browsing histories and completed mental health questionnaires. By employing natural language processing, researchers assessed the emotional tone of the visited webpages. The findings revealed that exposure to negative content significantly worsened participants’ moods.

To address this issue, the research team developed an innovative plug-in tool that provides “content labels” for webpages, similar to nutritional labels. These labels allow users to evaluate the emotional impact of content, promoting healthier browsing habits.

Professor Sharot emphasized that browsing negatively valenced content not only reflects a person’s mood but can actively worsen it, creating a cycle of distress that may hinder mental well-being over time. This groundbreaking study highlights the urgent need for awareness and intervention regarding online content consumption.