Woman Hospitalized After Ad on Samsung Smart Fridge Causes Psychotic Episode
Samsung offers a variety of smart fridge models equipped with screens. With screens comes the possibility of displaying advertisements. This became a reality in September when Samsung announced it would start showing ads on its smart fridge screens.
Just two months later, a woman with mental health challenges experienced a severe reaction to one of these ads. She felt as though someone was trying to communicate with her through her Samsung smart fridge. In truth, the fridge was simply displaying an advertisement for a show on Apple TV+. This incident led to her hospitalization.
Details of the Incident Leading to Hospitalization
The story was shared on Reddit by the woman’s sibling. The woman, who has a medical diagnosis of schizophrenia, has a history of psychotic episodes and takes medication to manage her condition. The ad that triggered her episode featured a bright yellow background with the words, “We’re sorry we upset you, Carol.”
Coincidentally, the woman’s name is also Carol. This caused her to believe that the fridge was sending her a personal message. The fear and confusion led to a psychotic break, forcing her to check herself into the hospital. She was admitted for two days, during which doctors monitored her condition and adjusted her medications.
Carol’s sibling later saw the same ad on Facebook and sent her a photo of it. Carol confirmed that this was the ad she had seen on the fridge, which triggered her psychotic episode. The ad promoted “Pluribus,” a new and increasingly popular show on Apple TV+. The message in the ad ties into the show’s current storyline. While harmless to most viewers, the ad understandably caused distress to Carol, especially since she was unaware that her fridge could display advertisements.
How to Manage Ads on Samsung Smart Fridges
Samsung made it possible last month to turn off ads on its smart fridges. Given the potential impact on users like Carol, it is advisable to use this option. Turning off ads on at least one frequently used screen can help avoid similar distressing experiences.
In summary, this case highlights the unexpected consequences that can arise from advertisements on smart home devices. For individuals with mental health challenges, ads like the one Carol saw can cause significant distress. Samsung’s option to disable ads provides a way to prevent such incidents in the future.
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Source: original article.