They are no longer a light distraction, but a constant background in the lives of many children: online videos, the short ones, those that invade TikTok, Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, now shape the way young people spend time, communicate and form opinions. They also relax.
They are platforms that appear super dynamic, fun and “close” in content, offering immediate access to trends and, it seems, relationships. But their design leads to prolonged scrolling sessions that are difficult to interrupt, especially for those who have not yet developed full self-control.
They were not designed with children in mind, yet they are now an integral part of their daily lives.
When use becomes problematic
He says it very well Katherine Eastonprofessor of Psychology at the University of Sheffield, in an article on The Conversationaccording to which for some pre-adolescents short videos can help them explore their identity, cultivate interests or maintain friendships, but for the majority the incessant flow of content interferes with sleep, reduces space for reflection and takes time away from meaningful interactions.
The problem is not only How much time you spend in front of the screen, but as you use it. Problematic use emerges when scrolling becomes compulsive, automatic, and difficult to stop. In these cases, concrete effects begin to appear on mood, attention, academic performance and social relationships.
Short videos – generally between 15 and 90 seconds – are built to stimulate the brain’s need for novelty. Each swipe promises something different: a joke, a shock, a surprise. The reward system activates immediately, without waiting.
Unlike other content, the feed does not offer natural pauses. Over time, this can weaken your ability to concentrate and impulse control. A 2023 review, based on 71 studies and nearly 100,000 participants, found a moderate correlation between intensive use of short videos and reduced attention and behavioral inhibition.
Goodbye sleep
One of the areas most affected is sleep. More and more children and teenagers use smartphones in the evening hours, when the brain should slow down. The light from screens delays the production of melatonin, making it more difficult to fall asleep.
But it’s not just a question of light: the rapid alternation of emotions, typical of short videos, keeps the brain in a state of hyperactivation. Some studies show that, in adolescents, excessive use of this content is associated with worse sleep quality and increased social anxiety.
Sleeping poorly means being more irritable, less resilient to stress and having greater memory difficulties. For children already under pressure, a vicious cycle is created that is difficult to break.
In addition to sleep, the bombardment of images of “perfect” peers and lives with attention to the smallest details amplifies social comparison. Younger people may internalize unrealistic standards of popularity, beauty and success, with negative effects on self-esteem and emotional well-being. A risk that concerns all social media, but which in short videos is accentuated by the speed and intensity of the experience.
The little ones are the most vulnerable
Most studies focus on adolescents, but – underlines the piece of Easton – younger children are even more exposed. They have a less developed capacity for self-regulation and a more fragile emotional identity, which makes them particularly sensitive to the recall of rapid and intense content.
Then there is the issue of involuntary exposure to inappropriate content. In short videos there is no context, there is no warning, there is no time to prepare. A single swipe can take you from funny content to violent images, dangerous challenges, or sexual material, before your child can even look away.
Even when this content is not illegal, it may be age-inappropriate. The algorithms learn quickly: just a few seconds of viewing are enough for similar content to be presented more and more frequently. It is this combination – immediacy, emotional intensity, absence of real filters – that makes short videos particularly problematic for younger people.
Not everyone reacts the same way. Children who experience anxiety attacks, attention difficulties or emotional instability seem more prone to compulsive scrolling and subsequent mood swings. Some research suggests a circular link: kids with ADHD are often attracted to fast-paced content, but intense use can accentuate the very symptoms that make self-control difficult. And not only that: even those who experience stressful situations, bullying, family conflicts or sleep little are inclined to use night scrolling as an emotional escape strategy.
Childhood is a crucial period and what is true is that, rather, it is necessary to learn to manage boredom, uncomfortable emotions and relationships, but with something else. When every empty moment is filled with quick stimuli, precious opportunities are lost: fantasizing, inventing games, talking with family members, letting thoughts wander.
Unstructured time is essential for developing internal focus and self-regulation skills. Without it, these skills risk weakening. And it’s time to realize it.
