Photosensitivity

A neurological condition in which exposure to flickering light patterns, flashing graphics, or rapid luminance changes triggers physiological responses including seizures, migraines, nausea, dizziness, and disorientation. Photosensitive epilepsy, the most dangerous form, affects an estimated 3-5% of people with epilepsy and can be triggered by digital content such as GIFs, videos, interface animations, and even advertising. In extreme cases, seizures can lead to sudden unexpected death. WCAG Success Criterion 2.3.1 addresses photosensitivity by setting thresholds for flashing content, but these guidelines are often insufficient for the range of user-generated content encountered on modern social media platforms.