A new brain imaging study suggests that people who report symptoms of addiction to short-form video platforms—such as TikTok or Instagram Reels—may be less sensitive to financial losses and make faster, more impulsive decisions. The findings, published in NeuroImage, show that this lower sensitivity to losses is associated with distinct brain activation patterns during decision-making, particularly in regions involved in evaluating rewards and guiding behavior.
Behaviors associated with addiction—such as substance use and gambling—are linked to a reduced ability to weigh potential costs and benefits. Individuals with these behaviors often prioritize short-term rewards over long-term consequences. While much attention has been paid to these traditional forms of addiction, the rise of short-form video platforms has introduced a new category of potentially harmful digital habits. These apps provide a continuous stream of highly tailored content that can trigger dopamine release and encourage repeated use.
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