TV Ads Drive Woman to Hospital
A British woman, Carol, found herself in quite an unusual situation—she ended up in the emergency room after encountering an unsettling advertisement for a Samsung smart refrigerator. Her sister turned to Reddit, seeking advice about this bizarre predicament.
In her post, she explained, “My sister, who has schizophrenia, thought she was experiencing a mental crisis because of an ad on an LED screen.” The ad had led her to believe that someone was trying to communicate with her through her smart refrigerator. After feeling overwhelmed, she drove herself to the hospital, where she stayed for two days under observation and had her medication changed.
It wasn’t until her sister returned home days later that she learned the full story. While scrolling through Facebook, she spotted the ad that read, “We apologize for the inconvenience, Carol,” and it was paired with a haunting yellow background. It turned out to be a promotion for an Apple TV series called “Pluribus,” a dystopian thriller featuring a character named Carol, played by Rhea Seehorn.
The sister then reached out to Carol with a screenshot of the ad, which Carol confirmed had triggered her psychotic episode. Understandably, this revelation unnerved her sister. “Is this even legal in the UK?” she expressed her disbelief. “Why would a creepy ad be placed on a smart fridge without considering the audience?” She sought guidance from the Reddit community, admitting that Carol struggles with managing her affairs.
Responses flooded in, with one user sympathizing and suggesting filing a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority. Others recommended disabling the smart features of the refrigerator to avoid any future issues. One commenter even mentioned that while the ad was unfortunate, it likely didn’t cross legal boundaries. However, they emphasized the need for caretakers to be vigilant about the types of media that could trigger anxiety or fear in vulnerable individuals.
Another user brought up the oddity of needing advertisements on a refrigerator. Samsung’s support page outlines how individuals can disable ads on their Family Hub models. Users can adjust settings to avoid these promotions entirely if they choose.
In the end, this situation sheds light on the intersection of technology and mental health, underscoring the responsibilities companies have when advertising their products—especially in an age where smart devices are becoming increasingly prevalent.
