New Study: Video Scrolling Online Has Unexpected Effects on Your Health

Jumping from one video to another on social media won't relieve your boredom and may have negative consequences for your mood and mental health.

You wake up, grab your phone, open your favorite social media app, and start watching video after video. Who hasn't gotten caught up in this simple yet addictive habit?

Researchers from the University of Toronto in Canada recently conducted a study on how compulsive video watching online affects people. The study involved several experiments with over a thousand volunteers.

In some of the experiments, participants could switch to a new video whenever they got bored. Surprisingly, the researchers found that changing to new content didn't have the desired effect, boredom didn't go away. In another experiment, participants watched a ten minute YouTube video without the option to switch to another video or speed it up. Those who watched the entire video without interruptions reported a more enjoyable viewing experience than those who constantly switched to new videos.

The researchers concluded that constant switching prevents users from fully enjoying the content. "If you want to get more out of your video experience, it's much better to try to focus on the content and minimize frequent switching," said Katy Tam, one of the study's authors.

Experts also noted that longer videos are more effective at engaging viewers and increasing their audience. However, platforms like TikTok are designed for very short videos. People who frequently use these apps may experience a decline in their mental well being. The purpose of a task is often forgotten if that task is interrupted, a phenomenon that is particularly common when watching short videos, as shown by numerous studies in cognitive psychology.

According to recent data from Statista, the average American spends more than an hour a day watching TikTok videos, second only to the time spent listening to music on Spotify. With millions of users, the U.S. ranks among the top countries for TikTok usage.

It's not all doom and gloom though, by becoming more careful of our viewing habits, we can counteract these negative effects. Taking regular breaks from screen time, choosing longer form content, practicing mindfulness while watching can help us enjoy our time online more fully and maintain better mental health.