Do YouTube and TikTok Shorten Attention Span?

Updated – Originally published April 13, 2023

We’ve all been there — watching a YouTube video and staring at the countdown on the right corner. 5…4…3…2…1…SKIP ADS! We can’t click that little button fast enough to skip the ad.

When Tiktok ads appear between user videos, we are eager for them to finish so we can scroll past.

We now fast forward through commercials while watching TV. And streaming services with commercials? To avoid them, we’ll pay extra.

One of the biggest developments in recent years is short-form video — also known as “shorts.” These bite-sized videos are usually under 60 seconds long and filled with fast cuts, music, and visual effects designed to grab attention instantly.

It’s a big departure from how video content used to be. Decades ago, most films or shows unfolded slowly, with long takes and minimal editing. (Here’s a great explainer article on how editing styles have changed over time.)

Now, shorts dominate nearly every platform: TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram and Facebook Reels — even Amazon has them.

But how have these tech features impacted kids? How has the increase in screen time affected a child’s ability to focus?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have relied heavily on computers to accommodate distance learning. Kids are spending more time than ever on screens. You may be wondering what is the average attention span of a child (or teenager). Recent data shows that when you factor in both school and leisure, the average attention span by age suggests that teens can easily be on devices for over 10 hours a day — and sometimes even 14. 

We’ll dive deeper and learn about the effects of social media on our attention span and how it’s making society less patient and more demanding.

Does Social Media Shorten Attention Span?

An attention span is the amount of time a person can concentrate mentally on a particular activity. So does social media affect attention span? Well, since social media platforms entered our world about 20 years ago, the average attention span has dropped by 1/3 from 12 seconds to 8 seconds.

Media Multitasking

Think about the last time you worked at a computer. Were you also on your phone, listening to music, checking texts, viewing social media, checking the clock, viewing the weather, and trying to work . . . simultaneously? 

This is a common occurrence in our daily lives and it has a name: media multitasking.

Media multitasking has been associated with ADHD, mind-wandering, and impulsivity. Heavy media multitasking also correlates with difficulties falling asleep and achieving less sleep overall. 

A study of 12-16-year-olds found that heavy media multitaskers did worse on standardized tests, were less efficient learners, and struggled with growth mindset.

Media Constantly Evolves to Keep Our Attention

Businesses today have to consider consumer attention span and make modifications to grab and hold our attention. Here are some examples of these adjustments:

Commercials and Ads

30-second commercials used to be the norm. Today, 15 seconds is the most common length of a commercial. 

Songs

Pop songs averaged 3:30 in length in 2020, becoming shorter by 20 seconds compared to 5 years prior. 

Click-bait Articles

Online, we are enticed by flashy distractions. You may be on a news site, and in the lineup you’ll find article titles and photos that promise juicy details, but fail to deliver when you click and read.

Often, the title or image has nothing to do with the article whatsoever. Either way, we find ourselves off-task and delivered-up to advertisers by social media. 

Shorter Videos

Short-form video platforms such as TikTok, and Instagram Reels have grown in popularity. The maximum video length for a video created through the TikTok app used to be  60 seconds, and videos created off the app and then uploaded could be no more than three minutes long.

TikTok has since updated its limits to allow videos up to 10 minutes when recorded in-app, and up to 60 minutes if uploaded. But the short-video culture has already taken root and anything over three minutes feels like it needs an intermission.]

Shorter Content, Shorter Attentiveness

While shorter commercials and songs may not seem like a big deal, short videos are actually shown to decrease collective attention span and impact memory. 

In other words, these increasingly shortened pieces of content have weakened children’s ability to sustain focus.

Continuous Stimulation

Our society has gotten used to YouTube’s autoplay feature — which allows videos to continuously play after the current one is over. It’s a smart tactic on their part because it keeps viewers on the platform.

TikTok has a “For You” page that feeds us targeted videos based on our past viewing history. It’s hard to stop watching when videos curated to our interests appear as soon as the last one ends.

Our very behavior has been altered because of YouTube’s strategy to keep us on screens.

Personalization

The autoplay feature is not random, but rather carefully orchestrated by TikTok to maximize their profits by keeping us on the platform. Algorithms learn what the viewers like and then offer personalized videos that will likely keep us engaged.

Watching these carefully curated videos activates the reward centers of the brain which are areas also linked to addiction. These same areas don’t light up when watching non-personalized videos. 

Is TikTok Bad for Your Brain?

The effects of TikTok on attention span are a real worry for many parents. With its short-form videos — often cited in Tiktok attention span statistics — kids’ brains quickly adapt to rapid visual changes.

This makes many ask: is YouTube bad for your brain by comparison, or how do YouTube shorts affect the brain when both platforms deliver a constant stream of stimulation?  Some TikTok trends move so quickly that they’re over before a parent even knows they exist.

TikTok’s fast, looping clips train the brain to expect quick dopamine hits, which can make it harder to engage with slower or more effortful tasks — like reading, studying, or even having a focused conversation.

Since our brain’s prefrontal cortex — the part responsible for decision-making and impulse control — isn’t fully developed until around age 25, kids struggle to regulate their access to these videos.

Some even speculate on whether watching short videos affects attention span or if extensive use of YouTube Shorts could contribute to symptoms similar to ADHD.

YouTube’s Grip on Focus

While TikTok may have kicked off the short-form trend, YouTube wasn’t far behind. So can YouTube Shorts cause ADHD? Not per se, but YouTube Shorts now deliver similar fast-paced, vertical content — showing a clear YouTube shorts attention span impact that contrasts with watching long videos, which some argue can even help improve focus. This short form content effect on attention span is evident in how quickly users switch content and sometimes develop YouTube addiction symptoms.

What’s more, even long-form YouTube content has evolved. Creators often edit their videos for maximum speed — cutting out pauses, overlaying graphics, and front-loading jokes or cliffhangers to keep viewers watching.

And then there’s autoplay. When one video ends, the next begins without a pause. This non-stop stream makes it harder for kids to disengage and gives little room for reflection or boredom — two things critical to developing attention span and creativity.

Even platforms designed for younger audiences, like YouTube Kids, use recommendation algorithms that encourage binge-watching. This constant stimulation can reinforce a habit of passive scrolling over active thinking.

Research supports these concerns. A study published in the International Journal of Science and Research found a negative correlation between time spent watching short videos and academic performance among secondary school students. Students who spent more time watching short-form videos, such as YouTube Shorts, tended to have lower exam scores, indicating that high short video consumption can adversely impact academic achievement due to reduced attention span.

How Reels Keep Us Hooked

Instagram and Facebook Reels were Meta’s answer to the TikTok boom. These short, vertical videos are integrated directly into the feed — even from accounts your child doesn’t follow. It’s not just a place they go to find content anymore; it’s content that finds them.

Reels auto-play and their constant scroll makes many wonder whether scrolling decreases attention span. One swipe leads to another, each video designed to entertain, shock, or impress in under 60 seconds. This seamless, addictive loop is not only a hallmark of TikTok but also creates what some call a ‘tiktok brain’ effect across platforms.

The constant novelty can overload the brain’s reward system, making slower-paced activities like reading or homework feel dull by comparison. Over time, kids may struggle to focus on anything that doesn’t offer instant stimulation.

Even though Reels might feel less intense than TikTok, the impact is often similar. The format is nearly identical, and the addictive scroll pattern is just as potent — especially for younger users whose impulse control is still developing.

The High of Social Media

While watching customized videos, a rush of dopamine — a neurotransmitter that plays a role in the reward center of the brain — is released and we are rewarded with a feeling of happiness or euphoria.

Once the video stops, the dopamine stops. What goes up, must come down. This leads to a dopamine deficit, and that’s where people can experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Information Overload

Living in the digital age, we have to contend with more distractions and information than ever before; it’s like being a kid in a candy store — so many choices! When we are overwhelmed with information, our attention span decreases. We are also left with little time to wonder about things.

Screen Time

Scrolling through popular social media and quickly switching between YouTube videos is a very common pastime for children and adults.

Kids are spending more time than ever on screens. One of the unintended consequences has been a decrease in attention span at an even younger age.

Unfortunately, these rapid changes in attention and increased screen time affect our brains and have been linked to memory loss, depression, anxiety, and stress.

Distractions

The speed of today’s technology has accustomed us to instant gratification and distractions. We are constantly being bombarded with information and ads. In fact, the average person today sees between 4,000 to 10,000 ads a day, compared to 500 to 1,600 ads a day in the 1970s.

How Can Parents Help?

The good news? Kids’ attention spans aren’t doomed. While short-form videos are here to stay, parents can help kids build healthy habits that support focus, self-regulation, and real-world engagement.

Parents can be honest with their children about how social media captures our attention, and empower kids to use tech in positive ways by teaching them about targeted ads and curated videos feeds.

Try restricting social media use to a designated time period — and consider strategies on how to improve attention span after TikTok or YouTube doomscrolling by scheduling regular tech-free moments.

You can even try:

• Watching a few videos together and talking about them afterward
• Encouraging kids to create their own videos offline — like stop-motion or storytelling
• Using a timer or visual cue to set healthy limits on scrolling

Some families protect bedrooms or the dinner table as phone-free areas of their home. As a result, dopamine levels will remain more stable, and impulsive behavior can be mitigated.

There are also internet-free devices options out there to eliminate the hassle for kids who aren’t ready for social media.

Together, parents and kids can develop a plan to replace digital media with far more interesting and rewarding experiences than when we default to devices.

Digital Media Replacements

• Read a book
• Play an instrument
• Practice a hobby
• Exercise
• Clean
• Go play outside
• Talk to a family member
• Take the dog for a walk

Coming up with ideas ahead of time will make the decision easier to follow through with when faced with this impulse.

How to Improve Attention Span

Having a strong attention span can be beneficial for productivity, collaboration, and relationships. The good news is that we can improve our attention span with some simple at-home exercises. 

Tech isn’t the enemy — but it does require intention. By staying involved, asking questions, and offering alternatives, parents can help kids learn to manage their attention in a fast-moving world. The ability to focus isn’t something we’re born with — it’s a skill we can build, together.

Licensed medical and mental health professionals offer tremendous support as ADHD, depression, and anxiety coupled with the impact of screen time all challenge our ability to stay focused.

What questions do you still have? Let us know in the comments below.