Does Short Form Video Content Impact Sympathetic Nervous System Arousal?

Presenter

Elizabeth Therese Hanlon

Campus

Westfield State University

Sponsor

Princy Quadros Mennella, Department of Psychology, Westfield State University

Schedule

Session 5, 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A27, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 2 (A21-A40) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

In the past few years, short-form video platforms like TikTok have become increasingly popular, especially among children, adolescents, and emerging adults. Dependency and addiction on Facebook, Instagram, and video games can be developed. Physiological and nervous system changes have been observed in users of social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, and in video game users, similar to those seen in individuals with substance abuse. These changes may also apply to TikTok. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether or not college students, who use TikTok, experience changes in the arousal of their sympathetic nervous system. Participants completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction scale, which we used to group participants as severe, moderate, or low users. In addition, we collected participants’ frequency of TikTok use. Following completion of the scale, participants’ skin conductance, pulse, and heart rate were collected to measure changes in their sympathetic nervous system reactivity, before, during, and after scrolling on TikTok. We plan to analyze whether their reactivity differs by social media addiction category. If we find that there is an increase in sympathetic activity during or after viewing TikTok, particularly in those who score higher on the addiction scale, a link could be drawn between short-form video content and addiction. This would be significant given the fact that the primary users of TikTok are still undergoing development.

Keywords

TikTok, social media, addiction, skin conductance, sympathetic nervous system

Research Area

Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

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