Including cognitive emotion regulation instructions on sensitive-content screens reduces distress

Sensitive-content screens—a type of trigger warning that shows a blurred sensitive image and a warning message—do not reduce people’s negative reactions to distressing social media content, perhaps because these screens do not help people emotionally prepare. Across two studies, we examined whether adding cognitive emotion regulation instructions to sensitive-content screens improves their efficacy as a harm-minimization tool. In Study 1, we trained participants to use distraction and reappraisal then showed them negative images, each preceded by a sensitive-content screen with reappraisal, distraction, or no instructions (within-subjects). After each image, participants rated distress: participants reported lower distress when they received reappraisal or distraction instructions, compared to no instructions. In Study 2, we randomly allocated participants to a distraction or no instruction condition: participants who received distraction instructions reported lower distress in response to images than participants who received no instructions. Therefore, sensitive-content screens in their current format do not help people spontaneously engage in emotion regulation, but adding cognitive emotion regulation instructions to sensitive-content screens can make these screens a more effective harm-minimization tool.