Scrolling through social media to alleviate boredom may exacerbate negative feelings, study finds

According to a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, researchers from the University of Toronto have found that scrolling through social media to alleviate boredom may actually exacerbate the feeling.

The research indicates that behaviors like fast-forwarding or switching between videos can lead to increased boredom and a less satisfying viewing experience.

Despite the abundance of digital content, boredom has been on the rise among young people. This trend is concerning, as boredom is linked to negative mental health outcomes, including depressive symptoms and poorer academic performance.

The study involved two experiments with around 1,200 participants, who found that watching a single video without interruptions was more engaging and meaningful than switching between multiple videos.

According to the researchers, boredom is closely tied to attention; when people frequently switch content, they fail to fully engage with any single piece, leading to a search for more stimulating material.