Abstract
This study investigates the impact of AI-generated videos published on YouTube channels on human emotional well-being. As AI tools increasingly automate scriptwriting, narration, and visual production, the research problem addressed is how AI-generated videos affect viewers' emotional well-being, focusing on emotional authenticity, empathy, and self-reported psychological states. A mixed-methods design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches was employed. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 150 respondents selected through stratified quota sampling (50 from each of the Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara districts of Sri Lanka's Western Province), supplemented by semi-structured interviews with eight residents selected through purposive sampling. Two AI-driven YouTube channels, Aura Play and Sri Lankan Footprint, were used as case-study sources. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS; qualitative data were analyzed thematically. It was hypothesized that AI-generated videos negatively affect emotional well-being. Findings indicate that such videos often lack the emotional depth and authenticity of human-created content, reducing emotional connection and contributing to fatigue, digital mistrust, and compulsive viewing behavior among viewers. Survey results showed that 74 percent of respondents found AI-generated videos less emotionally genuine than human-made videos, 68 percent trusted their information less, 64 percent felt mentally tired after consecutive viewing, and 81 percent preferred that channels clearly label AI-generated content. Interviews with eight residents revealed three themes: authenticity fatigue, emotional flattening, and awareness without avoidance. Younger respondents were especially drawn to fabricated-event content. The risks appear to stem less from AI technology itself than from engagement-driven commercial incentives, pointing to the need for clear labelling, platform accountability, and media literacy education, particularly for younger viewers.
Keywords
- Artificial Intelligence
- AI-Generated Videos
- YouTube Content
- Emotional Well-Being
- Viewer Engagement