Cognitive and mental health correlates of short-form video use

Short vs. long-form video

• Many distinguish sharply between short-form video (SFV: TikTok, Reels, Shorts) and long-form YouTube/lectures.
• Long-form is often described as cognitively demanding, rewarding, and capable of nuance; SFV is described as “junk food”: low effort, instant payoff, rapid context switching.
• Some argue overconsumption and speeding up long-form content can push it toward similar habits, while others insist true addiction to long-form is rare because it’s too time-demanding and less “zappy.”

Autoplay, algorithms, and addiction

• A recurring theme is that the combination of SFV + autoplay + swipe UI is what feels uniquely addictive, more than short length alone.
• Users describe SFV consumption as akin to cigarettes, gambling, or “fentanyl of attention,” with strong feelings of lost focus and impaired ability to tolerate longer content.
• Others report no noticeable harm and see “brain rot” rhetoric as overblown or reminiscent of past moral panics about games.

Causation vs. correlation and effect sizes

• Several commenters stress the study only shows correlations: poorer cognition/mental health may both lead to and be exacerbated by SFV use.
• Personal anecdotes support both directions: people in depression/manic states gravitating to ever-shorter content, and SFV seemingly worsening focus.
• Some question whether reported correlations (around r ≈ −0.2 to −0.4) are strong enough to justify strong causal claims or policy moves.

Content vs. format

• Debate over whether harm comes primarily from content (e.g., rage-bait politics vs. kittens) or the medium itself (fast cuts, constant novelty, context switching).
• One line of argument: even benign content in SFV form trains shallow attention and instant gratification; another: we need better control for content type.

Children, policy, and responsibility

• Many parents ban SFV (and often autoplay) for kids while allowing curated long-form; some compare platforms to tobacco companies and call for regulation.
• Others caution against over-focusing on SFV while neglecting larger lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, overall screen time).

User coping strategies and platform incentives

• Common tactics: browser extensions/userscripts, alternative clients, turning off watch history, IP blocking, or quitting platforms.
• Frustration is high that even paying YouTube Premium users cannot disable Shorts; commenters attribute this to engagement incentives, data collection value, and internal metrics, not user wellbeing.