University of Bayreuth study links short-video use to youth health risks

Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have conducted a study examining the impact of short-video platforms on the cognitive abilities and emotional well-being of young people. By analyzing 42 scientific studies involving approximately 47,000 participants with an average age of 17, the researchers evaluated data spanning from 2015 to 2025.

The findings indicate that intensive and unstructured use of these platforms—defined as consuming four or more hours of content daily—is linked to various negative effects. The study highlights that the design of the platforms, which utilizes algorithms to maximize user attention, plays a significant role. Specifically, aimless scrolling that replaces sleep, interrupts learning phases, or serves as a spontaneous substitute for breaks is identified as particularly problematic.