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  • 16 minutes ago
For weeks, Iranians were cut off from the outside world. Internet shutdowns are used by governments as a tool, but they can have a severe impact on people's mental health, as studies show.
Transcript
00:00Getting information, contacting friends, our daily lives depend on the internet a lot.
00:05When it's taken away from us, it can even affect our health. Here's how.
00:09Blocking access to the internet is a tool used by governments to regulate information flow inside countries.
00:15In Iran, the shutdown recently lasted about one month, the longest in its history.
00:20Mental health experts warn about increasing stress, anxiety and the emotional strain this can cause.
00:26A study from Bangladesh helps explain why. It was conducted after a nationwide internet shutdown in 2024.
00:33The result? Around 72% of respondents reported distressing emotions like hopelessness.
00:39Almost everyone said their daily life and routines were disrupted, and around 13% even mentioned suicidal thoughts.
00:47Similar mental health impacts have been documented in studies from India as well.
00:51Researchers found that losing digital communication cuts people off from social support and makes access to mental health resources harder.
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