It's a common habit for us all – when we get bored, we take our phones out and start scrolling through videos. The infinite content available online makes it easier for us to have access to the type of content we want to watch. Sometimes, the applications fix the algorithms based on our watching habits.
This makes it difficult for us to come out of the loop of scrolling through videos. It is usually seen as a habit to kill boredom – however, a recent study states that it can make our boredom worse. The research was done by the University of Toronto to study the interesting habit of people to watch entertaining videos as a way of killing boredom.
However, the study showed that this habit can end up intensifying boredom. Katy Tam, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto and lead author of the study, said that the way to gain entertainment from watching videos and not end up intensifying our boredom is by staying focused on the content and minimising digital switching. ALSO READ: Can’t stop scrolling? Here’s how to frame a nutritious digital meal plan What is digital switching? Digital platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Netflix have revolutionised how we consume content.
In these applications, people go through short videos which may or may not capture their attention. Sometimes, people scroll through videos to find something interesting and stimulating. This habit – also known as digital switching - instead of killing boredom, can mak.