In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital media consumption, short-form videos have emerged as a dominant force, captivating billions worldwide through platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. While these platforms offer endless streams of entertainment, a growing body of research is uncovering a darker side to this digital phenomenon: addiction. Recent studies highlight the complex emotional mechanisms driving our seemingly compulsive need to keep watching. Among these, tension and subjective anxious affect—emotional states traditionally associated with stress and worry—appear crucial in predicting why users find it so difficult to disengage from short-form content.
Short-form videos, typically lasting between 15 seconds and a few minutes, capitalize on rapid-fire visual and auditory stimuli designed to maximize engagement. Unlike longer formats, these clips require minimal time commitment and deliver instant gratification through evocative narratives, humor, or social validation. This immediacy perfectly aligns with human cognitive biases toward reward-seeking behaviors, creating a seductive loop where users repeatedly scroll and consume content. Yet, the addictive potential of these platforms is not just a function of design; it is intricately tied to how viewers emotionally respond to these stimuli in real time.
Groundbreaking research conducted by Li, Zhao, Feng, et al. sheds light on the emotional triggers underlying short-form video addiction. Their comprehensive analysis identifies tension—an internal state characterized by psychological strain and arousal—and subjective anxious affect, which reflects one’s personal experience of anxiety, as central predictors for why certain individuals become psychologically tethered to these brief videos. Counterintuitively, rather than pure excitement or joy, it is these less pleasant emotional states that appear to sustain engagement and drive compulsive watching behaviors.
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To understand this dynamic, it is critical to appreciate the psychological interplay between tension and video engagement. When viewers experience heightened tension, they may instinctively turn to short-form videos as a means of momentary distraction or emotional modulation. The brief, fast-paced nature of these clips allows for immediate shifts in focus, offering temporary relief from cognitive discomfort. However, this relief is short-lived, and the tension often resurfaces or worsens, prompting users to consume more content in an attempt to quell their unease. This cyclical pattern eventually morphs into a compulsive habit, deeply ingrained within the brain’s reward circuits.
Subjective anxious affect further compounds this addictive cycle. Unlike general anxiety, subjective anxious affect pertains specifically to an individual’s perception and internalization of anxious feelings in a particular context. The research indicates that viewers who report higher levels of this subjective anxious affect are more susceptible to short-form video addiction. These emotionally vulnerable individuals may unconsciously seek refuge in the rapidly changing narratives and social interactions embedded within short videos, momentarily alleviating anxious thoughts but also reinforcing reliance on continual viewing as a coping mechanism.
The neurological underpinnings of this process are fascinating. Short-form videos activate dopamine pathways linked to reward anticipation and receipt, much like other addictive stimuli. When tension and anxiety heighten, these pathways become hyper-responsive, creating an amplified craving for stimulation. This neurochemical feedback loop mirrors patterns observed in substance use disorders, providing a biological basis for behavioral addiction to digital content. Importantly, the intermittent and unpredictable nature of new content delivery mimics gambling’s variable reward schedules, exacerbating compulsive viewing tendencies.
Moreover, the social aspect of short-form video platforms cannot be overlooked. Engagement metrics such as likes, comments, and shares provide immediate validation that reinforces usage. For users experiencing tension or anxiety, social affirmation can serve as a crucial emotional salve, further entrenching their dependence on this medium. The research notes that subjective anxious affect may also heighten sensitivity to social feedback, making these platforms emotionally potent spaces for vulnerable users.
The implications of these findings are significant for mental health professionals, policymakers, and digital product designers. Recognizing tension and subjective anxious affect as core emotional predictors of short-form video addiction suggests that interventions need to address these internal states rather than merely targeting screen time or usage frequency. Therapies aimed at improving emotional regulation and resilience could help at-risk individuals regain control over their consumption habits.
Furthermore, digital platforms themselves bear responsibility in mitigating the risks associated with addictive design. Incorporating features that allow users to monitor emotional triggers and receive prompts encouraging mindful engagement could be instrumental. Transparent algorithms that do not exploit anxiety or tension for profit may offer a more ethical pathway forward in the short-form video ecosystem.
From a broader societal perspective, the study invites reflection on how modern digital habits intersect with human psychology under stress. In an era marked by unprecedented global challenges—pandemics, economic uncertainty, and social fragmentation—tension and anxiety are pervasive. The allure of short-form videos as quick emotional relief must be critically examined to prevent long-term psychological consequences and to foster healthier digital environments.
While short-form videos provide undeniable entertainment and social connection opportunities, the research underscores the importance of understanding the emotional architecture fueling their addictive potential. By identifying tension and subjective anxious affect at the heart of this phenomenon, the study offers a nuanced framework that transcends simplistic notions of screen addiction. It encourages a more empathetic, evidence-based approach to digital wellbeing, recognizing users not as mere addicts but as individuals seeking temporary respite from complex emotional landscapes.
In conclusion, the addictive pull of short-form videos arises not simply from their design or availability but from deeply rooted emotional processes involving tension and anxiety. As users navigate a digital world saturated with fleeting stimuli, the challenge lies in balancing engagement with emotional health. Future research and innovation must prioritize this balance, empowering individuals to enjoy digital content without falling into compulsive patterns that undermine their mental wellbeing. This pioneering study paves the way for such efforts, highlighting the intricate human emotions that keep us glued to our screens late into the night.
Subject of Research: Emotional predictors of short-form video addiction, specifically focusing on tension and subjective anxious affect.
Article Title: Why We Cannot Stop Watching: Tension and Subjective Anxious Affect as Central Emotional Predictors of Short-Form Video Addiction
Article References:
Li, S., Zhao, T., Feng, N. et al. Why We Cannot Stop Watching: Tension and Subjective Anxious Affect as Central Emotional Predictors of Short-Form Video Addiction. Int J Ment Health Addiction (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-025-01486-2
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1007/s11469-025-01486-2
Keywords: Short-form video addiction, tension, subjective anxious affect, emotional predictors, digital media, mental health, behavioral addiction, dopamine pathways, emotional regulation
Tags: cognitive biases in media engagementcompulsive behavior and social validationemotional mechanisms of digital mediaemotional responses to short-form videosengagement strategies in digital entertainmentimpact of TikTok on viewer behaviorinstant gratification in media consumptionpsychological effects of short video platformsrapid-fire visual stimuli effectsresearch on digital content addictionshort-form video addictiontension and anxiety in video consumption