A research team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has developed a novel system called FoodCensor. (Image courtesy of KAIST)
DAEJEON, May 21 (Korea Bizwire) – In a groundbreaking effort to address the negative impact of food-related content on social media, a research team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has developed a novel system called FoodCensor, which was recognized with an Honorable Mention award at the prestigious Computer-Human Interaction (CHI) conference held in Hawaii from May 11 to 16.
The proliferation of eating shows (mukbang) and food-related content on platforms like social media and YouTube has raised concerns about the promotion of unhealthy eating habits and potential links to obesity.
Addressing this societal issue, the research team, led by professor Lee Sung-ju from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, has devised a real-time intervention system that empowers users to consciously evaluate and control their consumption of digital food content.
Drawing inspiration from the dual-system theory in human psychology, the FoodCensor system recognizes that visual and auditory stimuli from food content can trigger an automatic response, often leading to reflexive viewing habits.
This phenomenon is attributed to the first system, which governs rapid and immediate reactions, akin to the instinctive reaction of jumping out of the way when a car approaches.
To counteract this automatic response, the FoodCensor system temporarily blocks and mutes the food content in real-time, disrupting the initial impulse. It then prompts the user with a decision-making opportunity, engaging the second system, which involves deliberate and conscious evaluation, similar to the process of solving a complex math problem.
Through this intervention, users are encouraged to make a conscious choice about whether to consume the food content, promoting healthier and more mindful viewing habits.
In a three-week study involving 22 participants with eating disorders, the research team found that the FoodCensor system significantly reduced exposure to and consumption of food-related content among the experimental group. Notably, this reduction even influenced the content recommendation algorithms on YouTube.
Participants acknowledged the system’s effectiveness in suppressing automatic responses to food-related content, highlighting its potential as a valuable tool in managing eating disorders and promoting healthier media consumption habits.
Lee emphasized the broader implications of the FoodCensor system, stating, “Beyond merely censoring content, our user-centric content management approach facilitates intentional behavior change.
It can be applied to various types of content, such as violent or explicit material, empowering users to make conscious choices about their media consumption.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
