Let’s face it, the technologies we invented that we thought would usher in an information age utopia instead drove a good bit of the next generation mad.
You could blissfully ignore them if not for the fact that they are running amok fomenting Islamic jihad, chopping off body parts, gluing themselves to roadways and famous works of art, and assassinating CEOs.
Fortunately, they’re not all crazy. Enough of them will hopefully step up to keep Western Civilization running so we’ll have something to eat when we enter our dotage.
For the rest, MIT’s Affective Brain Lab has developed a web plug-in to help the psychologically challenged stop driving themselves into spirals of despair. Dubbed Digital Diet this browser extension assesses the psychological valence of websites and news articles to steer fragile users away from anything that might make them feel bad. You see, social science researchers have determined that negative online content makes mental health struggles worse. This can throw sufferers into a doom loop wherein the worse they feel, the more they seek negative information. Next thing you know they’re shaving their heads and taking vows of celibacy.
If you’re one of these poor unfortunates give Digital Diet a try! And if that doesn’t work stay tuned for Digital Lobotomy, still under development with clinically insane volunteers from MIT’s GCWS program.
Story suggested by MIT News