Short-form video use and attention patterns

A meta-analysis of 98,299 participants across 71 studies has found moderate correlations between short-form video use and cognitive performance measures. People who use platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts more frequently tend to score lower on attention and inhibitory control tests.

Researchers theorise these patterns may reflect habituation and sensitisation processes described in Groves and Thompson's 1970 dual-process theory. The theory proposes that our nervous system responds to repeated stimulation through two competing processes: one that decreases our response over time (habituation) and one that heightens it (sensitisation). When stimuli are sufficiently intense, sensitisation can dominate.

If short-form video exposure does create sensitisation effects through algorithm-driven, high-intensity content, this could make it harder to sustain attention on slower-paced or less stimulating tasks—potentially affecting everything from reading comprehension to problem-solving that requires extended focus. However, the correlational nature of this research cannot establish cause and effect. The patterns observed could mean platforms affect attention, or that people with certain attention characteristics prefer these platforms, or that other factors are at play entirely.

Some longitudinal experiments in the review showed no significant changes following short-form video use, adding complexity to the picture. The research also found weaker associations with stress and anxiety, but interestingly no links to body image or self-esteem. This contrasts with findings from other social media research and may reflect the diverse range of content and creators on short-form video platforms. Most studies focused on attention and inhibitory control, leaving other cognitive areas like memory and reasoning largely unexplored.

Source: Nguyen, L., Walters, J., Paul, S., Monreal Ijurco, S., Rainey, G. E., Parekh, N., Blair, G., & Darrah, M. “Feeds, feelings, and focus: A systematic review and meta-analysis examining the cognitive and mental health correlates of short-form video use.” Psychological bulletin, 151(9), 1125–1146.