Swiping through videos online to combat boredom might ultimately lead to greater feelings of boredom and lower satisfaction with the content, as indicated by recent research.
Swiping through videos online to counteract boredom could actually increase feelings of boredom and decrease overall satisfaction with the content, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association.
The research involved seven experiments with over 1,200 participants, including U.S. adults and students from the University of Toronto. In initial experiments, participants opted to switch between online videos when they felt bored and anticipated that this method would reduce their boredom compared to watching videos to completion.
However, findings revealed that “digital switching”—which includes watching short clips or fast forwarding through videos—made participants feel even more bored, stated Katy Tam, PhD, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto. This study was published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
“For a more enjoyable video experience, it’s better for viewers to focus on the content and limit their digital switching,” Tam advised. “Just like spending more for a richer experience at the movies, immersing oneself in online videos instead of flipping through them leads to more enjoyment.”
In one part of the study, all participants watched a 10-minute YouTube video without the option to skip ahead. In another part, they were allowed to switch among seven five-minute videos within the same 10-minute period. Participants reported feeling less bored and found watching the full video more satisfying, engaging, and meaningful compared to switching between various clips.
Similar outcomes were noted in another experiment where participants watched a 10-minute video without interruptions, but could fast-forward or rewind a 50-minute video in another segment lasting 10 minutes.
“Digital switching may render online video content feel trivial because viewers lack the time to engage with and comprehend what they are watching,” Tam explained.
Watching brief videos on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook has become a common way to pass the time, particularly as smartphone usage grows. Many individuals go to great lengths to escape the uncomfortable or empty feelings often associated with boredom. Prior research indicates that to escape boredom, some people might resort to harmful behaviors, impulsive shopping, self-inflicted electric shocks, extreme political beliefs, or counterproductive work practices.
This study did not explore whether shorter attention spans may lead to increased boredom or the phenomenon of digital switching. Since many participants were college students from Canada, the findings may vary based on age or familiarity with digital media, and may not reflect the broader U.S. population.
Although many people quickly reach for their smartphones while waiting in lines or in elevators, earlier studies suggest that smartphone use often increases boredom and diminishes enjoyment in social settings. Digital switching could be a similar contributor to boredom, potentially leading to negative mental health effects. Chronic boredom has been linked to symptoms of depression, anxiety, aggressive behavior, and risk-taking tendencies, Tam pointed out.
