Short-form Video Content and Deficits in Sustained Attention and Attentional Control

Authors: Gianna Armenia, Kelly A. Gair, Brandon E. Gibb

Field of Study: Integrative Neuroscience

Faculty Mentors: Brandon E. Gibb

Easel: 82

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: There is growing evidence that certain types of social media use may have negative effects on cognitive and emotional functioning. One way this may occur is its impact on attention, including sustained attention. The goal of this study was to examine links between social media use and three measures of attentional difficulties incorporating behavioral, neural (EEG), and eye tracking measures of sustained attention. Participants were 75 undergraduate students (69% female, 31% male). Social media use was measured via self-report and attention was assessed via behavioral responses during a standardized behavioral task, neural indices of difficulties inhibiting attention to task-irrelevant emotional stimuli during a computer task, and eye-tracking indices during natural viewing of short-form videos on participants’ TikTok For You pages on their phones. Consistent with prediction, higher levels of social media use is associated and lower levels of sustained attention.