Archive · 28 Nov 2025
Doom-Scrolling Short Videos Linked to Mental Health Issues
Scientists studied how watching lots of short videos on apps like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok affects our brains.
They found that scrolling through these videos for a long time can make people feel sad, anxious, and lonely.
It can also make it harder to pay attention.
The videos are designed to keep us watching by making our brains release a chemical called dopamine, which can make us feel happy but also addicted.
This addiction can lead to more serious mental health problems.
The study looked at data from almost 100,000 people and found that many of them had these issues after watching too many short videos.
Scientists analyzed data from 98,299 participants across 71 studies to understand the impact of short-form videos (SFVs) on mental health.
Watching short-form videos endlessly can lead to poor mental health, including depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness.
High consumption of SFVs is linked to poorer attention spans and cognitive health.
The continuous cycle of swiping and receiving new content triggers dopamine release, creating a reinforcement loop that contributes to addiction.
Short-form videos are widely used not just for entertainment but also in education, political campaigns, advertising, and consumerism.
- Who
- Scientists and researchers analyzing social media platforms
- What
- Impact of doom-scrolling short-form videos on mental and cognitive health
- When
- Study analyzed existing data, no specific date mentioned
- Where
- Across various social media platforms
- Why
- To understand the effects of short-form video consumption on mental health and cognitive functions
- Study Participants
- 98,299
- Number of Studies
- 71
- Mental Health Issues Linked
- Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Loneliness
- Cognitive Health Impact
- Poorer Attention Span
- Platforms Analyzed
- Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok