August 20th 2024.
When we are feeling bored, a common solution is to scroll through videos on our favorite social media platform. However, recent research suggests that this habit may actually be making our boredom worse. Dr. Katy Tam, a postdoctoral fellow of psychology at the University of Toronto, explains, "Our research shows that while people may fast-forward or skip videos to avoid boredom, this behavior actually increases boredom." Not only does it make our viewing experience less satisfying and engaging, but it can also have negative impacts on our mental health and well-being.
It's easy to assume that with the plethora of entertainment options at our fingertips, boredom is a thing of the past. However, studies have shown that boredom is actually on the rise among young people. This is concerning because it has been linked to issues such as depression, poor academic performance, and even aggressive behavior. To further investigate the role of video-watching in boredom, researchers conducted two experiments on approximately 1200 individuals.
In the first experiment, participants watched a 10-minute video without the option to switch or fast-forward, followed by a 10-minute period where they could switch between shorter videos. In the second experiment, participants watched a 10-minute video and then had the option to fast-forward or rewind through a longer video. Interestingly, while participants predicted that the option to switch or fast-forward would make them less bored, they reported afterwards that they found watching one video all the way through to be more engaging, satisfying, and meaningful.
According to Dr. Tam, this is because boredom is closely linked to our attention. When we are bored, there is a gap between how engaged we are and how engaged we want to be. By constantly switching through videos, we are not giving our full attention to any one video and are instead searching for something more interesting. This can become a never-ending loop, leading to feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction.
However, boredom is not always a negative emotion. Dr. Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center, explains that like anger or sadness, boredom can be a motivational signal. It can encourage us to change what we are doing and seek out more meaningful and rewarding activities. Viewing boredom as a shortcoming can lead to feelings of guilt and pressure to constantly seek out more exciting content. Instead, we should use it as an opportunity to reflect on what truly gives our lives meaning and fulfillment.
To avoid getting stuck in the cycle of scrolling through videos out of boredom, it's important to be intentional with our media use. Take your time before hitting the fast-forward or skip button and try to stay focused while watching videos. Just like we pay for an immersive experience in a movie theater, true enjoyment often comes from fully engaging with the content. It's also important to be mindful of our moods while using media and to recognize when a positive experience may turn negative. By practicing intentionality and mindfulness, we can break free from the endless scroll and find more fulfillment in our media consumption.
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