en.Wedoany.com Reported - Researchers including Celso Camilo, a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) in Brazil, have launched the "Mente Figital" project to explore the impact of hyperconnectivity on mental health and help the public identify risks of digital dependence. The project focuses on how algorithms and artificial intelligence systems enhance user engagement by organizing content, recommending videos, and personalizing digital experiences, potentially leading to continuous stimulation and psychological exhaustion.
According to DataReportal's "Digital 2026" report, the number of global internet users has surpassed 6 billion, with approximately 5.8 billion active social media accounts, of which over 2.4 billion people regularly use generative AI tools. In Brazil, there are about 185 million internet users, accounting for 86.9% of the population, and 150 million active social media identities, making the country one of the world's significant digital markets.
As technology expands access to information and services, researchers have observed an increase in phenomena related to hyperconnectivity, such as difficulty leaving phones aside, frequent notification checking, and discomfort when offline—behaviors categorized as "disconnection anxiety." Camilo points out that digital platforms use complex technological resources to enhance user attention retention, while the public's understanding of this process and its impacts is highly asymmetric. He believes that digital dependence is no longer just a personal behavioral issue but also involves topics such as public health, education, and technological development.
Camilo states that people are currently living in a "Figital" world where the physical and digital merge, with boundaries between the two dimensions disappearing, and life occurring simultaneously in both. Based on this, researchers from fields including artificial intelligence, psychiatry, education, and human behavior have jointly created the "Mente Figital" project, aiming to translate scientific findings into accessible language to help the public recognize the risks of digital dependence.
The project's initial plan includes a podcast featuring experts from multiple disciplines, discussing the impact of technology on attention, well-being, and mental health. As a next step, the team plans to develop self-assessment tools to help users identify signs of excessive digital environment use, such as loss of control over online time, mood swings, sleep impairment, decreased productivity, and effects on interpersonal relationships. For the experts involved in the project, the development of artificial intelligence makes this discussion even more necessary, but the goal is not to view technology as a threat, but rather to understand its behavioral impacts and use technology more consciously in an interconnected society.
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