Swiping through videos when you’re bored makes you even more bored
Swiping through videos on your phone when you are bored can exacerbate the malaise instead of fixing it, a study has found.
The habit of flicking from one video to another is increasingly ingrained in society with the advent of short-form video content such as YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and TikTok.
It has seen a boom in so-called “doomscrolling” where individuals spend several hours aimlessly flicking through these short clips.
Scientists at the University of Toronto in Canada investigated if switching from one video to another can help cure boredom, but instead discovered it makes it worse.
‘Small but noticeable’ increase in boredom found
The study consisted of experiments involving more than 1,200 participants where people either watched one longer video, or they had the ability to fast forward or switch to different ones.
Dr Katy Tam, study author at University of Toronto, told The Telegraph: “In our experiments, we provided participants with five-minute videos that they could switch between.
“Instagram Reels and TikTok videos are shorter and faster-paced, but people engage in similar switching behaviour with them. It is possible that our findings could apply, but further research is needed to confirm this.
“It is difficult to quantify exactly how much more bored a person feels when they engage in switching. We found small but noticeable increases.”
She advised those looking for a more enjoyable experience to commit themselves to a single video and not to move on or fast forward as this can make the content feel “meaningless”.
“If people want a more enjoyable experience when watching videos, they can try to stay focused on the content and minimise digital switching,” she said.
“Just like paying for a more immersive experience in a movie theatre, more enjoyment comes from immersing oneself in online videos rather than swiping through them.”
Less bored when watching one video
In one experiment with two segments, all the participants watched a 10-minute YouTube video without having the option to fast forward. In another segment, they could freely switch through seven five-minute videos within 10 minutes.
Data show the participants felt less bored when they watched the single video.
They reported the viewing experience to be more satisfying, engaging and meaningful than when they switched through different videos.
There were similar findings for another experiment where participants watched a 10-minute video in one segment but could fast forward or rewind through a 50-minute video for 10 minutes in another segment.
The study is published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
It did not examine whether short attention spans contributed to any increases in boredom or digital switching.
Dr Tam said that because the participants in several experiments were Canadian college students, the findings may differ by age or experience with digital media.
She added: “Even though many people are quick to grab their smartphones while waiting in line or riding in an elevator, previous research has found that smartphone use increases boredom and undermines enjoyment in social situations.
“Digital switching may be a related source of boredom, which could have negative mental health consequences.”