New study to investigate whether “TikTok brain” and “brain rot” can be measured in young people

The impact of screen time on children and young people is the subject of considerable debate. Many people experience greater difficulty concentrating after spending hours watching short videos on social media. In recent years, terms such as “TikTok brain” and “brain rot” have become increasingly common among children and young people, describing the feeling that cognitive abilities are being negatively affected. At the same time, there is a paradox in the fact that many children and young people use social media to “switch off” and take a break. But is it really a break?

There is still a lack of scientific evidence about how the most popular social media platforms affect the brain. Now, Aida Bikic, associate professor at the Research Unit of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital, has received a grant of DKK 4.3 million from TrygFonden for a new research project that will investigate exactly this.

– Social media plays a major role in many young people’s everyday lives, yet we still know surprisingly little about how the pace and format of social media content affect brain function. In this project, we want to investigate this using objective measurements rather than relying solely on questionnaires and self-reported information, says Aida Bikic.

Measuring the brain’s response to social media

The project will investigate how different types of social media content – particularly short, fast-paced videos – affect young people’s attention, memory, cognitive load, emotional engagement and stress levels.

A total of 120 young people aged 15 to 17 will take part in the project. Researchers will measure their brain activity, eye movements and physiological stress responses while they use social media and other media formats, such as videos presented at different speeds.

The researchers will also examine whether fast-paced videos lead to increased cognitive load, reduced concentration and higher stress levels compared with slower-paced content, and how these effects are reflected in the body.

May influence future recommendations for children and young people

The findings will provide new insights into how social media affects young people’s cognitive development and well-being.

The aim is to provide a stronger evidence base for parents, schools, professionals and decision-makers, who are increasingly seeking evidence-based knowledge about the role of social media in the everyday lives of children and young people.

The project is being carried out in collaboration with Thomas Z. Ramsøy from the International Center for Applied Neuroscience.