Reel addiction found to affect brains like alcohol, nicotine, study suggests

Addiction to short-form video content such as Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok clips may impact the brain in ways similar to substance addictions like alcohol and nicotine, according to new research.

The study ‘Neuroanatomical and functional substrates of the short video addiction and its association with brain transcriptomic and cellular architecture’ published in ScienceDirect, which examined the neuroanatomical and genetic basis of short video addiction (SVA), found that heavy users show changes in brain structure, activity, and gene expression that mirror patterns seen in people with substance dependence.

Researchers reported that individuals with SVA displayed enlarged volumes in brain regions linked to reward and impulse control, including the orbitofrontal cortex and cerebellum. Functionally, areas such as the prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex showed heightened spontaneous activity – both of which are tied to attention and self-control.

On a cellular level, genes linked to SVA were predominantly active in glutamatergic (excitatory) and GABAergic (inhibitory) neurons. These same neurotransmitter systems are central to substance addictions. Disruptions in the balance between excitation and inhibition in the brain have previously been identified as hallmarks of nicotine and alcohol dependence.

The findings suggest that short video addiction is not just a matter of habit or lifestyle, but may involve deep neurobiological mechanisms similar to those triggered by addictive substances like alcohol and nicotine.