(NewsNation) — Social media has reshaped the way we use the internet and look at content, but a recent study has revealed that it’s also reshaping our brains.
Findings from the American Psychological Association have tied short-form video content from apps such as TikTok and Instagram’s Reels page to what researchers call brain rot.
Researchers analyzed data from 98,299 participants across 71 studies, and from that data discovered that the more short-form content a person watches, the poorer cognitive performance they had when it comes to attention and inhibitory control, which are skills that can help us stay focused.
They found that it affects all age groups who engage heavily with content from TikTok and Instagram.
“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,” researchers wrote.
Researchers added that excessive short-form video consumption also stimulates the brain’s reward system, reinforcing habitual use. The study suggests that “excessive” SFV consumption can lead to social isolation, lower life satisfaction, and even self-esteem and body image.
Increased use of the apps was also tied to poorer sleep, increased anxiety and loneliness. All those side effects have also been linked to the side effects of physically addictive substances, furthering the researchers’ point that engaging with short-form content is addictive and damaging.