Introduction
Today, short-form video platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and many more are widely used worldwide. Designed with personalized recommendation algorithms and content that is only 1-2 minutes long, these platforms deliver constant hits of stimulation for the brain. Yet, the excessive consumption of these short-form videos is linked to both negative physical and mental health issues, which includes attention deficits, withdrawal, and lower self-control. This study investigates how short-form video content affects executive functioning by using EEG (Electroencephalogram) recordings, a safe, painless medical test that records the electrical activity of your brain using small metal discs that are attached to your scalp.
Methods
The participants were chosen through social media advertisements on WeChat, a social media app used in China. Candidates had to confirm that they used mobile phones in order to qualify for this study. The requirements were that they had to be between 18 and 65 years old, with no history of a neurological disorder or mental illness. They must have had no substance abuse as well. Candidates were excluded if they had severe reactions to sensory stimuli (which includes flickering lights, electromagnetic radiation, or auditory stimuli).
In total, the final cohort of participants that were chosen was 48 young adults, who were 35 females and 13 males. The mean age was around 21.8 years of age. Participants completed the MPSVATQ (Mobile Phone Short-Form Addiction Tendency Questionnaire), the SCS (Self-Control Scale), and the ANT (Attention Network Test) to find the results for their hypothesis. During these tests, researchers used 64-channel EEG data that tracked brainwave activity as participants participated in these tests. The MPSVATQ evaluated participants' level of dependence, craving, and patterns observed related to their usage of short-video platforms. The SCS measured self-regularity impulsivity. Lastly, the ANT focused on the three factors of executive control, which were attention, their alert system, and orientation, during the experiment.
Results
A significant negative correlation was found between the MPSVATQ and the pre-frontal theta power (slow electrical brain impulses) during the tasks given to the participants. The correlation was calculated through a mathematical r value, which was -0.395 and 0.007. This link was not tested during the resting phase of the EEG experiment. With the SCS testing, the r value scores were -0.320 and 0.026.
When it came to the activity of Theta Waves (a type of slow electrical activity that is ongoing in your brain), individuals scored higher on short-video addiction tendencies. Yet, this phase of activity was only present during active cognitive tasks, and not observed during EEG recordings. This suggests that the brain functions normally when at rest, but struggles to process focused tasks properly.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size with a strong gender imbalance, which was predominantly female. Additionally, the cross-sectional design that tests the variables in this hypothesis could not be established as a cause-and-effect relationship. It remains unclear whether consuming short-form content degrades the prefrontal cortex of the brain and if it degrades over time, including the overall executive functioning of the brain.
Conclusion
By engaging with short-form video content on social media or on any other platform, it can be linked to problems that are correlated with executive functioning. These findings highlight how support should be needed for those who would be facing withdrawals or negative side effects if they let go of consuming this content. Additionally, it concludes that digital literacy, self-regulation strategies, and potential support mechanisms should be utilized by those who consume short-form video content on social media, especially if there is an observation that an individual would be attached to it.
