How To Check Videos For Flashing Lights

Before I watch videos, I have to check with someone to see if the video contains any flashing or strobe lights. This can seem like a question that is nearly impossible to answer, since flashing and strobe lights seem to be everywhere- the lights on a school bus, the fire alarm, and even camera flashes can be disorienting to someone who is photosensitive. Luckily, I have had many awesome friends and teachers who check videos for me ahead of time to ensure that I don’t get any migraines from whatever we are watching. Today, I will be sharing how to check videos for flashing lights to see if they could trigger an adverse medical reaction such as a seizure, migraine, or vertigo.

Background

Photophobia and photosensitivity are terms used to describe adverse reactions to bright lights, strobe lights, or flashing lights, which can include eye pain, headaches, nausea, seizures, dizziness, discomfort, or other symptoms. Some people may have photophobia or photosensitivity but will involuntarily fixate on flashing lights or bright lights, making it difficult or impossible for them to look away.

Examples of medical conditions that can be affected by photosensitivity or experience negative effects from flashing lights include:

Autism/ADHD/Sensory Processing Disorder
Chiari malformations
Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI)
Epilepsy
Flicker Vertigo
Migraines
Motion sickness
Neurological conditions
Non-epileptic seizures
PTSD
Visual impairments, inclusive of both low vision and blindness
Visual Processing Disorder

Not everyone who has these diagnoses will experience photosensitivity, but it is a known trigger for some people with these conditions. In my case, I experience photophobia and photosensitivity connected to visual impairment (low vision) and Chiari Malformation, and my reactions vary from eye pain from bright lights to feeling disoriented or having a migraine triggered by strobe or flashing lights.

I am not advocating for the removal of flashing and strobe lights from existence, I am sharing how I personally avoid a known medical trigger for me and how I ask people close to me to help me in doing so.

Potential triggers

Outside of obvious triggers like full screen strobe lights and rave scenes, here are some less obvious sources of flashing lights in video content that can trigger an adverse reaction.

Older videos

Many black-and-white videos contain floaters and changing lighting conditions that resemble flickers of light, especially in historical videos like those found in archives. As recording and audiovisual technology has improved over time, so has the clarity of videos, which dramatically reduces the potential issues mentioned above. While this trigger may only be relevant for people with severe sensitivities to flashing lights, it’s still important to note and can be remedied by showing the highest resolution video available.

Weather

I was watching a video in one of my classes that my teacher said they had checked beforehand. Unfortunately, they didn’t realize that flashes of lightning are the equivalent of nature’s strobe lights. I ended up in the nurse’s office not too long after a lightning storm came up. After that, I started asking specifically if there was lightning in any of the videos we would be watching. I also would ask about fireworks, though those are less common.

Flashing backgrounds

Many movies that feature scenes with police cars in the background, nightclubs, or concerts have blue, white, and red flashing lights going off in the background. These may be very obvious or hidden in the background, but making a note of flashing background scenes is an easy way to ensure that every scene is accounted for.

Anything that explodes

When I was in seventh grade, my class watched a movie that featured several gunshots, bombs, and similar weapons being discharged rapidly. This created a large amount of flashing lights. While I didn’t realize it at the time, I ended up feeling very disoriented and felt sick. At the time I thought it was just because of the blood in the movie. Guns, explosions, cannons, and other weapons flash when used, so make sure to check for scenes like this in videos.

Camera flashes

Rooms filled with journalists and paparazzi often contain several camera flashes going off in short intervals which simulates strobing lights. While one camera flash may not trigger a reaction, it’s still important to note camera flashes due to the white lights.

How to warn people about flashing lights in videos

Provide as much information about the types of lights as you can

Before sending me a video, my friend sent me a message telling me about the video. There was a scene with slow blinking yellow lights that took up half the screen. Since slow flashing lights don’t trigger a reaction for me, I thanked them for the warning and watched the video. In a different situation, I was told there was a scene in a video with fast flashing red and blue lights, which are more likely to trigger migraines. I declined to watch that video since it was more likely to trigger a reaction.

Write down when the scenes begin and their length

For a video in one of my assistive technology classes, the professor told us there were two scenes that contained flashing lights. The teacher provided timings (such as 1:47 into the movie) as well as information about the scene that came up right before the lights so students could close their eyes if needed. They also told us the line of dialogue that followed the scene so we would know when it was safe to look up.

Have an audio signal to warn about lights

One of my friends who is sensitive to flashing lights due to a brain tumor asked their teacher to give an audio signal such as a beep before there are scenes with flashing lights or rapidly moving images, and then another beep after the scene ends. They liked this method because it was discreet and the teacher didn’t mind doing it. In a similar example, my college basketball game has flashing lights before the game and the announcer yells “lights out” about five seconds before they begin so that people can close their eyes if they want to, and then my friend lets me know when the lights end by tapping my shoulder.

How many lights are too many?

Some movies have several scenes with flashing lights that are either very long or integral to the plot or understanding of the video. Alternatively, there may be flashing lights in the background of several scenes. In these situations, my teachers would present me with the following options:

Watch the video with my eyes closed and just listen to the audio, preferably with audio description turned on
View the video outside of class, where I can turn on a screen curtain or adjust the lighting in my space
Read a transcript of the video
Complete an alternative assignment that involves reading an article or similar content
If the video is for “fun”, go to a different classroom/part of the school or otherwise leave the room.

How To Check Videos For Flashing Lights

Background

Related links

Potential triggers

Older videos

Weather

Flashing backgrounds

Anything that explodes

Camera flashes

Related links

How to warn people about flashing lights in videos

Provide as much information about the types of lights as you can

Write down when the scenes begin and their length

Have an audio signal to warn about lights

How many lights are too many?

Related links

More tips for checking videos for flashing lights

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