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What studies have actually found about short-video feeds. Every record names its source, its study design and its limitations, and keeps the source’s finding apart from our reading of it.

Controlled experiment studies on addictive design

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  1. Short-Form Videos Degrade Our Capacity to Retain Intentions: Effect of Context Switching On Prospective Memory

    Chiossi, F.; Haliburton, L.; Ou, C. et al.
    Proceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (ACM), pp. 1–15

    In a small lab study in Germany, 60 young adults were interrupted for 10 minutes during a task. Those who scrolled TikTok during the break became much worse at remembering to do something they had planned. Those who used Twitter, watched one YouTube video or rested did not. The authors think the quick switching between short videos is the reason, but the study is small and early.

    Design
    Controlled experiment
    Year
    2023
    Where
    Germany
    Topics
    Addictive design, Attention
    Limitations recorded

  2. Viewing personalized video clips recommended by TikTok activates default mode network and ventral tegmental area

    Su, C.; Zhou, H.; Gong, L. et al.
    NeuroImage, 237, 118136

    Researchers scanned the brains of young TikTok users in China. Videos picked for each person by TikTok's recommendations lit up parts of the brain linked to reward and self-focused thinking more than videos not picked for them. In a survey, users with more signs of problem use reported less self-control. Brain activity alone does not show addiction or harm.

    Design
    Controlled experiment
    Year
    2021
    Where
    China
    Topics
    Addictive design, Algorithmic recommendation, Digital behaviour
    Limitations recorded

A study is published here only after its source is identified and verified, its design classified, its finding checked against the original, and its limitations recorded. How we judge evidence