Paper by Dr. Hila Chalutz-Ben Gal Published in CHBR

A new study by Dr. Hila Chalutz-Ben Gal and her co-researchers, Engineering Graduate Student Mr. Oriel Singer and Dr. Alon Sela, has been published in Computers in Human Behavior Reports. 

Digital Interface & Human-Computer Interaction: A Coping Mechanism During Emergencies

The study's findings indicate that during a crisis such as war, consuming digital media through social networks is not merely a source of information. "In times of emergency, the network becomes a unique digital interface that helps people cope with uncertainty, maintain a sense of control, and even strengthen individual resilience," says Dr. Chalutz-Ben Gal. "The findings particularly highlight the important role of human-computer interaction in Apps and social platforms in shaping the coping experience during emergencies."

Technology as a Psychological Anchor

The study drew on more than 320 Israeli respondents, who reported their news consumption habits and social media behavior, their smartphone use behavior during the first months of the war; they also reported their quality of life and resilience levels during that period. The researchers examined the relationship between digital media consumption behavior across various social platforms, focusing on the unique ways in which technology serves not only to transmit information but also to shape human responses to it. "The central finding is that, contrary to what was previously known, wartime news consumption via social media leads to higher levels of resilience and improvement in quality-of-life indicators," Dr. Chalutz-Ben Gal clarifies.

At the same time, one of the study's most notable aspects is the distinction between conscious, intentional, and active use of the interface vs. automatic and unaware use. The researchers found that unconscious scrolling patterns and unaware usage habits were associated with a decline in quality of lif, highlighting the importance of purposeful Interface Design, including control over information updates frequency, to avoid information overload. "This finding is significant from a human-computer interaction perspective: it was found that not only the content of information matters, but also the specific mode of users consumption, because this affects the users’ emotional response. This has a unique and individual impact on personal resilience during wartime," emphasizes Dr. Chalutz-Ben Gal.

Information Overload and Community Volunteering

The study also found that volunteering for the greater good during the war reduced information overload and users' dependence on news consumption via social media and helped protect their personal resilience. "Community activity can serve as a complementary anchor to what social networks offer, and can reduce the constant need to seek out information," explains Dr. Chalutz-Ben Gal. "In this manner, the study effectively offers a new reading of the role of digital interfaces and applications during emergencies: not merely a risk of information overload and anxiety, but also a platform that, when used correctly and intelligently, leads to resilience and quality of life, even during difficult times."