Major Study Links TikTok & Instagram Reels to Declining Attention Spans, Increased Anxiety
November 18, 2025 – A complete new study analyzing 71 studies and data from over 98,000 individuals has found a significant correlation between frequent consumption of short-form video (SFV) content – like TikTok and Instagram reels – and diminished attention spans, reduced self-control, and increased levels of stress and anxiety. The research, published by the American psychological Association, suggests a “dual-process theory” at play, where repeated exposure to fast-paced content can desensitize users to slower, more demanding cognitive tasks.
According to the study, this habituation “may gradually reduce cognitive endurance and weaken the brain’s ability to sustain attention on a single task.” Together, the platforms’ algorithmically curated rewards can promote “sensitization,” reinforcing impulsive engagement and a craving for instant gratification.
“According to this framework, repeated exposure to highly stimulating, fast-paced content may contribute to habituation, in which users become desensitized to slower, more effortful cognitive tasks such as reading, problem solving, or deep learning,” the study reads.
The findings extend beyond attention, linking excessive SFV use to social isolation, lower life satisfaction, and potential negative impacts on self-esteem and body image – though researchers acknowledge further investigation is needed in the latter area. Poorer sleep, increased anxiety, and feelings of loneliness were also consistently associated with higher SFV consumption.
These side effects, researchers note, mirror those seen with physically addictive substances, leading them to develop a new scale to measure addiction to SFV content for use in future research.
“these findings highlight the importance of understanding the broader health implications of SFV use, given its pervasive role in daily life and potential to impact health, behavior, and well-being,” the researchers state. “By synthesizing current evidence, this study provides a critical foundation for future research to explore understudied health domains (e.g., cognitive health, physical health) and offers insights to guide public discourse and the progress of research-informed approaches for promoting more balanced engagement with SFVs.”
The study’s conclusions echo concerns about the potential for “brain rot” caused by the constant stream of short-form videos,as highlighted by Modernity News.
The full study is available for download from apa.org: https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-89350-001.pdf
