SidestepWhat short videos do to attention
A review of 71 studies with almost 100,000 participants found a link between short videos and weaker attention. What that means, and what the research doesn’t say.
In December 2025, the journal Psychological Bulletin published a meta-analysis of research on short videos such as Reels, Shorts and TikTok. The authors reviewed 71 studies with a total of 98,299 participants, both young people and adults.
What they found
- People who watch more short videos had, on average, weaker attention and found it harder to hold back impulsive responses. The link was moderate.
- The link with anxiety, stress, depression and poorer sleep was smaller, but still noticeable.
- For self-image and self-esteem, they found no overall link.
Interestingly, the link was stronger in studies that measured compulsive use, the feeling that you can’t stop. In studies that measured only time, it was weaker. What matters more than how long you watch is whether you can stop when you want to.
What the research doesn’t say
Most of the included studies are cross-sectional. That means they show a link, not a cause. It’s also possible that people who already struggle with attention or anxiety watch more short videos. The authors themselves write that we need studies that follow people over a longer time.
What to take from this
You don’t have to delete every app. But it helps to remove the part where stopping is hard. On Instagram and YouTube, that’s Reels and Shorts, which play one after another without end.