Low-resolution online videos are less likely to influence opinion and also more likely to dissuade viewers from engaging with future content, research by Oregon State University scientists shows.

Years into the grand experiment of personalized digital marketing, most of us have had the experience: You search for a product — or just casually mention it. Suddenly, ads for that exact item stalk you across apps, websites, and social media. The targeting may be technically impressive, but it can feel unsettling.

That uneasy sentiment is the center of new research by Wayne Hoyer, professor of marketing at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. He finds that when digital personalization crosses perceived boundaries, it triggers a powerful emotional response, which he calls “creepiness.” That response can backfire on digital marketers by materially reducing consumers’ willingness to buy.

Language barriers are a major obstacle to accessing mental health care for those in the US who have difficulty communicating in English. But despite increasing demand, mental health services in Asian languages are rare—and in some places, in decline, according to a new study published in JAMA Health Forum.

Analyses conducted by researchers at the Federal University of São Carlos showed that the condition can be easily reversed through simple stimuli and strategies, reinforcing the need for programs aimed at this population.

About The Study: The findings of this study show a broad increase in insufficient sleep across all demographic groups, driven largely by increasing reports of very short sleep (5 hours or less). Notably, insufficient sleep increased as much or more among students without behavioral risks, suggesting that structural and environmental factors affecting most adolescents, rather than specific behaviors such as electronic media use, substance use, or sedentary activity, are contributing to wide spread sleep loss. These trends highlight the need for population-level rather than targeted interventions.