Improving Online Accessibility for Individuals with Photosensitive Epilepsy

Abstract

Content with flashes, bright colors, and repeated patterns can cause seizures and migraines when viewed by people with photosensitivity. Exposure to seizure-inducing content is a serious risk in online environments, as evidenced by documented instances of people with photosensitivity being exposed to seizure-inducing material while playing video games or using social media.My thesis focuses on improving online safety and accessibility for people with photosensitivity by measuring the prevalence of seizure-inducing content online, developing new tools for detecting seizure-inducing content, and constructing a broad framework for protecting against seizure-inducing content at the level of content creators, platforms, and content consumers. Through this work, I hope to help build a better understanding of the current state of photosensitive risk online and contribute new solutions for mitigating seizure-inducing content with minimal adverse effects on the browsing experience for users with photosensitivity.