Did you know that mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, watching reels, or bingeing TikTok videos might affect your brain in the same way alcohol does?
A review published in NeuroImage suggests that short-form videos can impact the brain similarly to intoxicating substances. Neurologists are raising concerns about how this affects attention, memory, and brain stimulation, advising caution for heavy users.
Watching Instagram Reels, TikTok clips, or YouTube Shorts might seem harmless, but constant scrolling isn’t just a time-wasterit could be damaging your brain. Neuroscientists warn that the effects of endless scrolling are more serious and worrying than most people realize.
Research shows that frequent exposure to short videos activates brain circuits in ways similar to receiving a reward after a challenge or praise for a job well done. This “reward effect” is comparable to the stimulation seen in alcohol or gambling addiction.
Chinese scientists have gone so far as to call short-video scrolling a global risk. In China, users spend an average of 151 minutes per day scrolling, with 95.5 percent of internet users regularly engaging with these platforms. This behavior not only threatens attention span, sleep, and mental health but may also increase the risk of depression.
Other studies have linked short-form videos to negative effects on attention span, cognitive skills, and even short-term memory.
If your daily routine includes endless swiping, it might be time to pause and consider what that habit is doing to your brain.
