Work

Tapped In or Tapped Out? The Role of Content, Immersion, and Self-control in Continued Use of Short-Video Platforms

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Short-video platforms use algorithms to keep people engaged, but these same systems can also leave users feeling mentally drained. This study examines how different content characteristics are associated with users’ experiences of enjoyment and fatigue, and how these psychological states relate to their intention to continue using the platform. Using survey data from TikTok users, the study reveals distinct pathways for voluntary and involuntary engagement. On the enabling route, perceived entertainment was positively associated with enjoyment, which in turn was linked to continuance intention. Focused immersion did not significantly mediate this relationship, suggesting that enjoyment drives usage even without deep absorption. On the inhibiting route, information overload, redundancy, and narrowing were positively related to user fatigue. Most critically, the study identified a circuit breaker mechanism regarding self-regulation: higher levels of fatigue were associated with reduced social media self-control failure, effectively overriding the habit loop of compulsive scrolling. Overall, the findings indicate that fatigue and enjoyment are differently related to continuance intention, highlighting how cognitive strain and hedonic experience coexist in shaping user responses. These results offer insights into how digital environments may be designed to better support healthier patterns of engagement.

Source: Computers in Human Behavior Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.chbr.2026.100976

Authors: Rachel X. Peng, Ryan Yang Wang

Institution: Louisiana State University

Language: English

Topic: Impact of Technology on Adolescents

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,880