Scrolling through boredom: University of Toronto study reveals digital dilemma

Switching between TikToks, reels, and shorts may seem like a simple way to alleviate boredom. However, studies from the University of Toronto have shown that this method of consuming digital content only deepens the feeling of boredom.

Researchers from the University of Toronto examined the paradox of scrolling through videos on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts. We often reach for our phones and start "scrolling" due to boredom and a desire for stimulation. However, their findings reveal that rapidly switching between vast amounts of content only intensifies boredom.

A research team led by Dr. Katy Tam conducted seven experiments with over 1,200 participants. An online study involving 231 people found that many believe the ability to skip a video or switch to another will make watching videos less boring. Nevertheless, experiments, the results of which were published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, suggest the opposite may be true.

Data from a group of 166 students showed that participants felt more bored when allowed to skip forward and backward in videos than when they didn't have that option. Additionally, the results of an experiment with 159 students indicated they experienced higher levels of boredom when given a collection of five-minute videos to switch between freely, compared to watching a single ten-minute video.

Interestingly, this effect decreased when a more diverse age group, rather than just students, participated in the same study with five-minute videos and skipping options or a single ten-minute video. Dr. Tam commented to The Guardian: "We hypothesized that people of different ages might have different habits when it comes to watching videos and switching." She added, "How people watch videos and how it affects boredom may differ depending on age and digital media habits, but further research is needed to verify this."

Dr. Tam suggested that it's worth pausing before hitting the skip or forward button and finding a way to focus. She stated, "Our research shows that while people skip or forward videos to avoid boredom, such behaviour may actually make them feel more bored." The researcher explained, "Just as we pay for immersive experiences in the cinema, enjoyment often comes from 'immersing oneself' in videos, not from 'browsing' them."

Source: theguardian.com