Smile, you're being filmed! How remote monitoring unconsciously modifies our behavior

Beyond perceptual reactions, continuous surveillance has consequences for mental health, already potentially affected by social networks and screens. The feeling of being constantly observed amplifies existing disorders such as social anxiety or psychosis. These pathologies, characterized by hypersensitivity to gaze, find favorable conditions in an environment saturated with cameras. Research highlights that the presence of surveillance devices reinforces this perception, even in mentally healthy individuals.

This phenomenon is based on deep cognitive biases. Humans tend to feel like they are being watched, even without tangible proof. The study participants testify to this: although they knew they were being observed and consented, they did not report significant stress. Yet their performance was impaired unconsciously. This gap between subjective perception and objective reaction raises the question of adaptation to an increasingly observed world. We get used to being watched, but at what cost?

On a social level, these changes can redefine our interactions. Facial signals are essential in human communication. If surveillance modifies our perception, it could alter the way we understand others. Experts warn of the possible consequences, particularly in educational or professional environments where cameras are multiplying. The gaze of a machine does not replace that of a human, but it influences our behavior in unpredictable ways.