Media Department Students Present Seminar on the Psychology of Digital Influence at Mad Institute

On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, a group of third-stage students from the Media Department at Cihan University–Erbil, under the supervision of Assistant Lecturer Dlan Ismael Mawlood, presented a seminar entitled “The Psychology of Digital Influence” at the Mad Institute. They were warmly received by Ms. Darya Abdulrahman, the institute’s supervisor.

The seminar was presented by students Abdullah Amjad Nasser, Yusuf Ahmed Khudhir, and Wadih Wisam Wadih. At the beginning, Yusuf Ahmed highlighted the psychological effects of social media and media programs, referring to the theories of Framing and Agenda Setting. He also explained the difference between classical media, which relies on public broadcasting, and digital media, which is based on interaction, personalization, and direct user targeting.

Next, Abdullah Amjad discussed the mental effects of digital usage, noting that the continuous consumption of media content can affect concentration and attention. He also explained the role of the hormone dopamine in enhancing feelings of pleasure and gratification, which drives users to repeatedly return to and spend more time on social media platforms.

In the final part of the seminar, Wadih Wisam concluded the presentation by analyzing how algorithms work to study user behavior and determine the type of content displayed to them. He emphasized how this process influences the audience’s selection patterns and viewing habits.

At the end of the session, Ms. Darya Abdulrahman expressed her gratitude to the students for their seminar, praising their ability to analyze digital influences from a psychological perspective.