Are short videos making you dumber and causing insomnia? A study involving 90,000 people reveals the hidden costs.

Short video platforms like TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts have become an indispensable part of modern life. However, a systematic review and meta-analysis covering nearly 100,000 participants and 71 studies shows a significant association between excessive use of short videos and health issues such as reduced attention and emotional instability. The research results provide a clearer picture of the relationship between social media use and brain health, prompting people to think about how to interact with these platforms more balanced.

Short videos are trending, and their influence extends beyond entertainment.

Short-Form Videos (SFVs) were originally focused on entertainment, but they have now widely infiltrated areas such as education, political propaganda, and consumer marketing. These types of videos quickly capture users' attention through algorithmic recommendations and an infinite scroll interface design, while also increasing people's engagement.

Research indicates that while this design enhances user engagement, it also raises concerns about “digital addiction” and mental health. The high frequency and stimulating content of short videos may have long-term effects on the brain's cognitive processing abilities.

Heavy use is moderately associated with cognitive decline.

This meta-analysis led by Griffith University in Australia integrated data from 14 studies, showing a moderate negative correlation between the use of short videos and overall cognitive function (r = -0.34). Among them, attention (r = -0.38) and inhibitory control (r = -0.41) were most significantly affected.

Research indicates that repeated exposure to fast-paced, highly stimulating short video content may lead users to exhibit “impatience” and “decreased focus” when engaging in slower-paced activities that require sustained attention, such as reading or problem-solving.

Algorithm reward mechanism, weaken self-control

Short video platforms enhance users' “instant gratification needs” through real-time feedback and dopamine stimulation. This design is similar to reinforcement learning, causing people to tend to scroll continuously and form habitual usage. This type of high-frequency stimulation not only weakens users' tolerance for long-term tasks but may also diminish the function of brain areas responsible for control and focus, such as the prefrontal cortex. Research further indicates that this dual effect of “habituation + sensitization” reduces the brain's tolerance for activities that require effort and delayed feedback.

Mental health in the red light: Anxiety and stress are most affected.

In 61 studies examining the relationship between short videos and mental health, the overall results indicate a slight to moderate negative correlation between the two (r = -0.21). In particular, anxiety (r = -0.33) and stress (r = -0.34) showed the most significant effects, while depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness also exhibited weak negative correlations.

Moreover, if the time spent on short video platforms is concentrated before bedtime, it may disrupt the secretion of melatonin, affect sleep quality, and further weaken psychological regulation ability.

Self-esteem and body image have unclear effects: diverse content may be key

Surprisingly, short video usage is not significantly associated with self-esteem or body image. Researchers speculate that this may be related to the increase of diverse and positive body image content on the platform, in contrast to past social media that emphasized appearance comparisons.

Research also indicates that the types of interactions users have on the platform vary greatly with the content viewed, and these variables may affect individuals' psychological responses. Future studies should further distinguish between different types of content (e.g., positive reinforcement vs. beauty anxiety) to clarify these inconsistent results.

Age is not a determining factor; both adolescents and adults are affected.

It is worth noting that research found no significant moderating effect of age on the relationship between short video usage and health. In other words, whether teenagers or adults, excessive use of short videos may have similar negative effects.

This is slightly different from the common belief that teenagers are more easily influenced by social media, and it shows that the “universal appeal” of short video platforms may have effects that transcend age groups.

Different usage methods affect health outcomes

Further research found that the measurement indicators of “short video addiction” have the strongest correlation with psychological and cognitive health, while studies that rely solely on duration or frequency of use as assessment criteria show a relatively weaker correlation. This indicates that addictive tendencies (such as loss of control and inability to stop using) reflect potential health risks more than just the amount of time spent using.

In addition, “general platform users” (those who use multiple short video platforms) show a stronger negative correlation compared to users who only use TikTok, indicating that cumulative use across multiple platforms may exacerbate its health impacts.

This article “Are Short Videos Making Us Dumber and Causing Insomnia? A Study of 90,000 People Reveals the Hidden Costs” first appeared in Chain News ABMedia.