As algorithm-driven platforms increasingly mediate young individuals' interactions with mental health discourse, a novel pattern of digital escapism is emerging, rooted in internalized shame and subtle forms of dehumanization. This study examines how AI-curated content on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube reinforces reductive, stigmatizing narratives of mental health that depict individuals as dysfunctional or less human. We contend that such representations not only exacerbate internalized shame but also provoke existential anxiety, leading to avoidance of real-world responsibilities and identity disengagement. Employing a qualitative, constructivist grounded theory approach, we engage young adult participants (aged 18–25) over a two-phase study. In Phase 1, participants maintain digital diaries over two weeks, documenting their emotional and cognitive responses to AI-recommended content related to mental health. In Phase 2, semi-structured interviews explore how participants interpret these algorithmic patterns, particularly regarding feelings of being depersonalized, categorized, or objectified by the feed. Additionally, a content audit of a sample of participants’ social media feeds is conducted to identify linguistic and visual markers of dehumanization, such as portrayals that reduce individuals with mental illness to labels, pathologies, or stereotypes. Analytical methods include grounded theory coding for process and emotional patterns, and Critical Discourse Analysis to interrogate the embedded messages within digital content. This research offers a novel contribution by framing AI not merely as a passive recommender system, but as an active cultural agent influencing self-concept, shame regulation, and existential meaning-making. Findings aim to inform ethical content design, mental health literacy campaigns, and policy interventions that counteract algorithmic dehumanization and support digital spaces that foster psychological dignity and human complexity.

Authors:
Rijita Mukherjee, Christ University, India
Nithy Cecil, Christ University, India
Yeshaswini V, Christ University, India
Akeela P, Christ University, India

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Rijita Mukherjee is currently teaching Bsc. Psychology course at Christ University Bangalore (India). Her primary research interest lies in the field of Human & animal interaction and AAI. She is currently working on interdisciplinary projects.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ rijita-mukherjee-7955b137

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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