Why Can't We Stop Watching Short Videos on Social Media?

The rapidly spreading habit of scrolling through short videos on mobile phones causes time to run out quickly while creating an addiction cycle through the intermittent reward mechanisms of social media platforms. Yeşilay Scientific Committee Member Dr. Süreyya Kitapçıoğlu evaluated the negative effects of this habit on individuals' daily lives and coping methods.

The process that leads to minutes and hours passing quickly while browsing through short videos is explained by the intermittent reinforcer, namely the intermittent reward system used by social media platforms. Yeşilay Scientific Committee Member Dr. Süreyya Kitapçıoğlu states that users are involuntarily exposed to this system and that the transition from one video to another becoming automatic creates an addiction cycle.

Stating that short videos are frequently considered an escape route, the expert emphasizes that this habit reaches a dangerous dimension when it begins to affect sleep patterns, business life, family relationships, and social bonds. It is stated that the situation can lead to a drop in academic success and social isolation in children, and family problems and job loss in adults.

Dr. Kitapçıoğlu suggests tracking daily usage times, turning off notifications, and, if necessary, completely removing the relevant mobile applications from the phone in order to bring this habit under control.