The rise of short-form videos has transformed how children interact with digital content, presenting potential risks to their mental health and development. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, Douyin, and YouTube Shorts have captivated hundreds of millions of users under the age of 18, with their rapidly personalised feeds becoming a dominant aspect of many young people’s daily lives. While these apps offer quick entertainment and connection, their design often leads to compulsive scrolling behaviors that can disrupt sleep, attention, and relationships.
Short-form videos, typically lasting between 15 and 90 seconds, are engineered to satisfy the brain’s craving for novelty. Each swipe promises new content, triggering immediate rewards that can be hard for users to resist. This design minimizes natural breaks, making it challenging for children to reset their attention. A 2023 analysis of 71 studies involving nearly 100,000 participants revealed a moderate link between heavy use of short-form videos and diminished inhibitory control and attention spans.
Effects on Sleep and Mental Health
One significant area of concern is sleep. Many children engage with screens when they should be winding down, with bright lights delaying melatonin release, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep. The emotional highs and lows from rapid content consumption exacerbate this issue, making it difficult for the brain to settle. Recent findings indicate that excessive short-form video use correlates with poorer sleep quality and increased social anxiety among teenagers.
The constant exposure to curated lifestyles and peer images can also heighten feelings of inadequacy. Children may internalise unrealistic standards of popularity, appearance, or success, which can lead to lower self-esteem and heightened anxiety. While these effects are evident across all forms of social media, younger children are particularly vulnerable due to their less developed self-regulation and identity formation.
Risks of Inappropriate Content
Research predominantly focuses on adolescents, but younger children, who are more impressionable, face unique dangers. The design of short-form video apps facilitates exposure to inappropriate content, including violent footage and harmful challenges. These clips can autoplay without context or warning, presenting sudden shifts from humorous to disturbing content, which can be especially jarring for developing minds.
Not every child reacts the same way; those with anxiety, attention difficulties, or emotional sensitivity may be more susceptible to compulsive scrolling and its subsequent mood effects. Some studies suggest a cyclical relationship where children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) gravitate toward rapid content, and in turn, heavy use may exacerbate symptoms that hinder self-regulation.
In addition, children who are experiencing bullying, stress, or family instability may resort to late-night scrolling as a coping mechanism. This reliance on digital distractions can deprive them of opportunities to engage in creative play, learn to tolerate boredom, and develop healthy emotional responses.
Encouraging Positive Digital Habits
There are promising developments as governments and educational institutions start to prioritize digital wellbeing. In England, new statutory guidelines advocate for integrating online safety and digital literacy into school curricula. Some institutions have implemented restrictions on smartphone usage during school hours, while organizations like Amnesty International are calling for platforms to enhance safety measures, including improved age verification and algorithm transparency.
At home, fostering open conversations about digital habits can empower children to cultivate healthier relationships with technology. Parents are encouraged to watch videos together, discuss the allure of certain content, and explore the emotional impacts of what they consume. Establishing family routines, such as keeping devices out of bedrooms and setting limits on screen time, can significantly protect sleep and reduce late-night scrolling.
While short-form videos can be entertaining and engaging, it is crucial to recognize and address the potential risks they pose to children’s wellbeing. With thoughtful support, responsive policies, and safer platform designs, children can enjoy these digital experiences without compromising their mental health or development.
This article was contributed by Katherine Easton, Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Sheffield.
