The Relationship Between Short-Form Video Use and Sustained Attention

Short-form video platforms such as TikTok are accused of negatively impacting users’ ability to sustain attention. In our study, we investigate the relationship between short-form video use and sustained attention. Participants (N = 385) of our study completed a real-time response task and provided self-assessments of attention. According to our results, the s short-form video use is related with attentional deficits. We suggest complementing media literacy with the notion of attention literacy and will discuss the latter as an option for further research in a world with an increasing number of choices to face when it comes to the distribution of attention.