One after one, short-form videos play. The temptation seems never-ending. Short-form videos can stimulate the brain to release dopamine and create a feeling of reward. However, the so-called positive emotions (such as novelty, fun, etc.) that short videos reward us are over in a flash. We can’t stop watching them because as soon as our eyes leave those videos, we immediately fall into discomfort. Although it doesn’t feel good to continue swiping through videos, the immediate feeling caused by stopping is even worse. The only choice is to continue. What finally stops us is often through strong external pressure (such as someone telling us to put down our phone).
The flash of short videos and the novelty of the content stimulate the sharp rise in brain dopamine levels. The catch is the dopamine level will also fall shortly after. This drop is not back to the normal level (before the brain is stimulated), but lower than the usual level. This “dopamine-deficit” state in the brain makes the body and mind uncomfortable, causing feelings of restlessness, depression, and anxiety.
To get rid of these feelings immediately, we will naturally continue watching short-form videos, seeking more flashes and screen stimulation. All to get out of the dopamine-deficit state as soon as possible. The result is like drinking salt water: the next short video makes the dopamine rise last for an even shorter time, and then its level drops back even lower, giving a more painful feeling. This compels us to swipe through the videos faster, and thus a vicious circle is formed.
How can you escape the cage of short-form videos? First, remind yourself that the pain when you stop watching short-form videos is a physiological reaction of the brain after being interfered with by artificial images. Only by stopping this kind of visual stimulation can the pain dissipate. By stopping for a few minutes, this uncomfortable feeling will disappear. Second, immediately put down your phone so it is no longer in sight.
If you want to get relief faster, you can do two things: 1) Go out for a walk and look around; 2) Do something with your hands, such as picking up things, handling food, etc. Practical things that utilize your hands and feet can speed up the return of dopamine to normal levels.
Written by: Dr. William Chui
Originally posted on: HKEJ Health
Translated by: Cheuk Long Chan
