Binge-watching on TikTok vs Netflix Differences in experiences and outcomes of extensive short- vs long-form video use

Open Access
Authors
Publication date 06-2026
Journal Acta Psychologica
Article number 106940
Volume | Issue number 266
Number of pages 11
Organisations
  • Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG) - Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR)
Abstract

Watching short-form videos, such as those on TikTok, has become a widespread media habit, raising concerns about their potentially addictive nature. Similar concerns were previously discussed in relation to extensive TV series use on streaming platforms such as Netflix, commonly referred to as binge-watching. In this paper, we extend the definition of binge-watching to short form videos and investigate how experiences and outcomes differ between binge-watching short-form videos on social media and long-form content on video streaming platforms. We conducted a survey with 415 participants and found that short-form video use is associated with more negative self-evaluations, reduced recovery from daily stressors, and lower well-being compared to long-form video use. We also explored potential mechanisms underlying these differences and discuss avenues for future research.

Document type Article
Note With supplementary material.
Language English
Published at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106940
Other links https://osf.io/w8nkm/?view_only=c1b914829121496f8ee16eeaa5502079
Downloads
1-s2.0-S0001691826007419-main (Final published version)
Supplementary materials
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