Adolescent Addiction to Short Video Applications in the Mobile Internet Era

Adolescents' short-form video addiction and sleep quality: the mediating role of social anxiety

BACKGROUND

Adolescence is a critical period for individual growth and development. Insufficient sleep adversely affects adolescents' physical development, blood pressure, vision, and cognitive function. This study examined the effect of short-form video addiction on adolescents' sleep quality, as well as the mediating role of social anxiety, to identify methods for improving adolescents' sleep quality in the Internet era.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was conducted in this cross-sectional study on 1629 adolescents recruited from three high schools. Their short-form video addiction, social anxiety, and sleep quality were evaluated using corresponding scales. Pearson correlation analysis was carried out to analyze the relationships among short-form video addiction, sleep quality, and social anxiety. Mediating effect analysis was constructed using AMOS 20.0 statistical software.

RESULTS

Participants' sleep quality score is 6.12 ± 3.29 points. The detection rate of sleep quality among them is 31.06%. Short-form video addiction, sleep quality, and social anxiety are significantly correlated (r = 0.439, 0.404, 0.457, P < 0.001). The direct effect of short-form video addiction on sleep quality is 0.248, accounting for 62.4% of the total effect. The indirect effect exerted through social anxiety is 0.149, accounting for 37.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep disorders are very common among Chinese adolescents. Short-form video addiction is positively correlated with adolescents' sleep quality and social anxiety. Social anxiety partially mediates the relationship between short-form video addiction and sleep quality. The adverse effects of short-form video addiction and social anxiety on the sleep quality of this group must be minimized. Schools are recommended to implement measures to promote sleep quality among adolescents.

Compliance and alternative behaviors of heavy gamers in adolescents to Chinese online gaming restriction policy

Background and aims

In 2021, China implemented a policy to prevent adolescents from excessive online gaming, with the goal of encouraging healthier leisure activities.

Methods

Three months after this policy was implemented, we conducted a study involving 430 Chinese adolescents who regularly played online games for over two hours daily before the policy. We collected their responses to the restriction, including their compliance with the policy, engagement in undesirable alternative behaviors (e.g., watching short videos), and engagement in desirable alternative behaviors (e.g., playing sports). We also collected data on individual factors, parental technology interference, and feelings of restriction to use as predictors for behaviors, including those related to violating the restriction or watching short videos.

Results

A small percentage of heavy gamers violated the restriction by renting others' game accounts (3%) or using a family member's identity (14%), while 59% of the sample shifted to watching short videos. Heavy gamers who lived in rural areas, spent more time on online games prior to the policy, did not feel restricted from playing online games, and experienced parental technology interference were more likely to violate the restriction. Females or those lacking stable hobbies were more inclined to watch short videos.

Conclusions

Although the policy restricted heavy gaming, it has also led to increased short video use. Policymakers could explore alternative approaches, such as developing infrastructure that supports outdoor leisure activities in rural areas, encouraging parents to model responsible technology use behaviors, and guiding adolescents to cultivate positive hobbies in their leisure time.

YouTube/ Bilibili/ TikTok videos as sources of medical information on laryngeal carcinoma: cross-sectional content analysis study

BACKGROUND

YouTube, a widely recognized global video platform, is inaccessible in China, whereas Bilibili and TikTok are popular platforms for long and short videos, respectively. There are many videos related to laryngeal carcinoma on these platforms. This study aims to identify upload sources, contents, and feature information of these videos on YouTube, Bilibili, and TikTok, and further evaluate the video quality.

METHODS

On January 1, 2024, we searched the top 100 videos by default sort order (300 videos in total) with the terms "laryngeal carcinoma" and "throat cancer" on YouTube, "" on Bilibili and TikTok. Videos were screened for relevance and similarity. Video characteristics were documented, and quality was assessed by using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT), Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI), Global Quality Score (GQS), and modified DISCERN (mDISCERN).

RESULTS

The analysis included 99 YouTube videos, 76 from Bilibili, and 73 from TikTok. Median video lengths were 193 s (YouTube), 136 s (Bilibili), and 42 s (TikTok). TikTok videos demonstrated higher audience interaction. Bilibili had the lowest ratio of original contents (69.7%). Treatment was the most popular topic on YouTube and Bilibili, while that was the prognosis on TikTok. Solo narration was the most common video style across all platforms. Video uploaders were predominantly non-profit organizations (YouTube), self-media (Bilibili), and doctors (TikTok), with TikTok authors having the highest certification rate (83.3%). Video quality, assessed using PEMAT, VIQI, GQS, and mDISCERN, varied across platforms, with YouTube generally showing the highest scores. Videos from professional authors performed better than videos from non-professionals based on the GQS and mDISCERN scores. Spearman correlation analysis showed no strong relationships between the video quality and the audience interaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Videos on social media platforms can help the public learn about the knowledge of laryngeal cancer to some extent. TikTok achieves the best flow, but videos on YouTube are of the best quality. However, the video quality across all platforms still needs enhancement. We need more professional uploaders to ameliorate the video quality related to laryngeal carcinoma. Content creators also should be aware of the certification, the originality, and the style of video shooting. As for the platforms, refining the algorithm will allow users to receive more high-quality videos.

From temperament to YouTube: exploring the link between childhood temperament, YouTube usage patterns, and emotional/behavioral problems among children

BACKGROUND

YouTube is a widely used video sharing and social networking platform among children and adolescents. However, research on YouTube usage among this population remains scarce. Specifically, studies on factors that influence children and adolescents' usage are clinically significant but largely lacking. Additionally, few studies have examined the association between usage and emotional/behavioral problems, which is fundamental to smartphone research. Therefore, this study explored the relationship between early childhood temperament, subsequent YouTube usage patterns, and emotional/behavioral problems.

METHODS

The Kids Cohort for Understanding Internet Addiction Risk Factors in Early Childhood (K-CURE) is the first long-term prospective cohort study in Korea aimed at understanding the long-term effects of media exposure on young children. The study included 195 children aged 8-11 years enrolled in the K-CURE study. Caregivers, predominantly mothers, who voluntarily participated during their visits to community centers for children's mental health in Korea's major cities, completed a detailed self-administered survey. Childhood temperament was measured in 2018 when the children were 5-8 years old. Subsequent YouTube usage patterns and emotional/behavioral problems were assessed in 2021. Data were analyzed using frequency analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

The study found that 21.0% of children started using YouTube before age 4, with the most common onset age being 8-9 years (30.3%). These children used YouTube on average 4.8 days per week for 68.5 min per day. Early childhood persistence was negatively associated with the subsequent YouTube usage duration, and the age at first YouTube use was negatively correlated with subsequent usage frequency. Furthermore, a younger age at first YouTube use and higher usage frequency were significantly associated with increased emotional/behavioral problems.

CONCLUSIONS

In the YouTube environment, where content is automatically recommended based on user preferences, traits related to usage patterns may be associated with persistence, which is linked to self-regulation. Considering the current trend where children use smartphones, contents frequently for very short durations, our findings highlight the importance of self-regulation in the media usage of children who are still developing. Additionally, our results provide fundamental information for future YouTube studies and illustrate similarities and differences between smartphone and YouTube research.

Characteristics, hotspots, and prospects of short video research: A review of papers published in China from 2012 to 2022

In recent years, due to the increase in their global popularity, short video applications have become an important topic of research. The number of users has now exceeded one billion in China; accordingly, Chinese researchers have conducted many studies on short videos. Their findings can serve as important references for both theoretical research on and the practical development of short videos worldwide. In this study, we used bibliometrics method and the CiteSpace application to analyze the content of 2163 representative research papers on short videos published in China from 2012 to 2022. The number of such papers is increasing annually in China; moreover, several core groups of authors and research institutions focusing on short video research have already been formed. Some popular topics of research on these videos include the main characteristics of short videos, phenomenon of media convergence based on short videos, and application scenarios of short videos. Over the years, research on the popular short video application Douyin has been increasing, as well. The research results indicate that issues such as the marketing of short knowledge videos, standardized management of short video platforms, and impact of these videos on the education of college students are expected to become popular subjects of scholarly research in the near future.

Research on the mechanism of short video information interaction behavior of college students with psychological disorders based on grounded theory

BACKGROUND

The utilization of short videos by individuals often leads to the emergence of information exchange behavior. Previous studies have shown that certain students with psychological disorders exhibit addictive tendencies towards short video-related software. Therefore, it is essential to address the psychology and behavior of college students with psychological disorders while engaging with short videos. This study aims to explore the mechanism of short video information interaction behavior among college students with psychological disorders.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 college students afflicted by psychological disorders in a prefecture-level city in Henan Province, China from September to December 2022. Based on the Grounded theory, we encoded 30 text materials across three levels to explore the mechanism of short video information interaction behavior among college students with psychological disorders, and subsequently build a model framework.

RESULTS

The findings of this study suggest that college students with psychological disorders exhibit negative cognition tendencies that can lead to strongly negative emotions, excacerbated by a lack of social support. These adverse factors collectively drive the consumption of short video content in this demographic, providing a virtual environment where they can fulfill their unmet social needs. Therefore, the mechanism governing short video messages interaction among college students with psychological disorders encompasses negative cognitive tendencies, negative emotions, lack of social support, post-video-watching behaviors, and the gratification of social needs within the confines of a virtual environment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study comprehensively analyzes the motivation and complexity of college students with psychological disorders in short video interaction. Although short videos provide this group with some ways of self-expression and emotional support, they still have a negative impact on their physical and mental health. The short video interaction of college students with psychological disorders is affected by many factors, including their negative cognitive tendencies, negative emotions, lack of social support, post-video-watching behaviors, and the gratification of social needs within the confines of a virtual environment. These findings deepened our understanding to the mechanism of short video information interaction behavior among college students with psychological disorders, also provided us with guidance on facilitating the proper use of short video and maintaining the mental health. In future researches, researchers can discuss more about intervention measures to help this demographic cope with the challenges from short video interaction.

Effects of internet addiction and academic satisfaction on mental health among college students after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in China

Background

Internet addiction (IA) among students, worsened by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has become a social problem with the digitalization of school learning and many aspects of daily life. However, few studies on IA have been conducted among students after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in China.

Method

This large-sample, cross-sectional, online survey was conducted to explore the characteristics of IA and the association among IA, academic satisfaction, and mental health problems from December 14, 2022 to February 28, 2023 in Sichuan, China. All participants (N = 22,605) were students in colleges and universities, recruited via their teachers and professors.

Results

Of all the participants, 14,921 (66.0%) participants had IA. Participants with IA were more likely to have depression symptom, anxiety symptom, insomnia, and lifetime suicidal ideation. In addition, participants with severe IA had significantly higher rates of mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidal ideation) than those with mild IA. A significant IA-by-academic satisfactory-interaction on mental health was identified: participants with higher level of IA showed particularly severe symptom of depression, anxiety and insomnia when affected by low satisfactory of academy (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study reveals that IA has a significantly negative impact on mental health among college students after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in China. IA and academic satisfaction have interactive impacts on mental health problems among students. Further educational and health policies and psychosocial interventions should be developed to reduce IA and enhance academic satisfaction for improving students' mental health.

Understanding social media: how its popularity could be used to advance medical education in stroke care?

The wide availability of social media (SM) has revolutionized human interactions and education in different settings (e.g., household, workplace, academic, hospitals). Nearly 60% of the global population spend a daily average of over 6 h of screen time. By facilitating audio, video, and interactive material, SM has reshaped users' perceptions, choices, and communication. The science behind SM can be explained by the activation of the brain reward pathways which explains the success of SM platforms lead by user-generated content (i.e., TikTok). Our understanding of SM user's interests, mode of access, time spent with screens, and internet are critical to advance medical education by applying new learning technologies to advance medical education and stroke care. For example, the top 20 most visited websites and the most searched hashtags on TikTok in 2022 did not include any health-related topics, reflecting a challenging competition for attention of different segments of the population. We must overcome current gaps in medical education such as increased curricular activities, increasingly demanding tasks, differences in personal preferences between residents and faculty members, etc. New strategies using more engaging learning technologies and SM platforms (e.g., stroke simulations, interactive diagnostic and therapeutic decisions, tracking user's attention to assess knowledge transfer) are needed. This would allow a more effective delivery of educational content by stimulating the curiosity and participation of students, patients, and physicians offering more rewarding experiences across the continuum of stroke care.

Physical activity reduces internet addiction among "post-00" college students: The mediating role of coping styles

Objective

To explore the role of coping styles (CS) in mediating the relationship between physical activity (PA) and internet addiction (IA), and to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of IA among Chinese "post-00" college students.

Methods

A total of 410 university students from five universities in Anhui Province were surveyed using the Chinese Internet addiction scale, the Coping Styles Scale for Chinese University Students, and the International Physical Activity Scale Short Form.

Results

(1) Boys are better than girls in PA. However, there was no significant difference between male and female students on CS and IA. (2) PA was positively correlated with CS (r = 0.278, p < 0.01), PA was negatively correlated with IA (r = -0.236, p < 0.01), CS was negatively correlated with IA (r = -0.560, p < 0.01). (3) PA was negatively predicted IA (B = -0.198, p < 0.01), PA was positively predicted CS (B = 0.986, p < 0.01), CS was negatively predicted IA (B = -0.065, p < 0.01). (4) CS plays a partially mediating role between PA and IA, with a mediating effect proportion of 48.33%.

Conclusion

PA can improve IA not only directly for university students, but also indirectly by increasing CS. The intervention for IA of "post-00" college students can start by increasing PA and improving CS.

Exploring the effect of use contexts on user engagement toward tourism short video platforms

With tourism short video platforms' increasingly fierce competition, retaining existing users and improving engagement has taken on greater theoretical and practical significance. Based on the self-system model of motivational development, this study, involving an empirical analysis of 252 user data samples, establishes a research model to determine how the use contexts affect users' psychological process and finally lead to behavioral engagement. In particular, four use contexts of tourism short video platforms are proposed-namely, information acquisition, leisure and entertainment, attention obtainment, and social interaction. Different use contexts differ in the degree to which they satisfy users' three psychological needs, thus influence their attitudinal engagement and behavioral engagement. The research results can provide theoretical and practical references on how to improve user engagement toward tourism short video platforms.