The Cost to Scroll: Short-form Video Use and Episodic Memory

Authors

Chen, K. K., Miller, D. S., Nguyen, K. K., Wagner, A. D., Tran, T. T.

Abstract

Short-form video platforms expose users to rapid streams of novel content; these features are posited to place heavy demands on cognitive processes. In a preregistered online study, we used device-reported screen time to examine whether short-form video use is associated with sustained attention and episodic memory in participants aged 18-24 yrs (N = 502). During a sustained attention task, participants made indoor/outdoor decisions on scene stimuli, with 90% frequent trials and 10% infrequent trials; the subsequent surprise recognition test assessed memory for these items. Among participants with device-reported TikTok or Instagram use (N = 398), short-form video use was not associated with attention performance. By contrast, greater short-form video use was associated with poorer episodic memory; this relationship was driven by poorer recognition of infrequent-category items. These findings connect heavier short-form video consumption with poorer episodic memory in young adults, showing how daily digital habits co-vary with memory function.

Preprint server: bioRxiv
The authors list and abstract were imported from bioRxiv on 16 Oct 2026.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this preprint? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.