Study Finds Instagram Reels, TikTok Linked to Attention Issues, Doomscrolling Among College Students

Boston University research highlights how short-form video platforms impact mental wellness and academic focus.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 4:34pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a tangled web of neon-lit circuit boards, wires, and digital interfaces, conceptually representing the complex and immersive nature of short-form video platforms and their impact on attention and mental wellness.As short-form video platforms continue to dominate young adults' digital lives, the cognitive and psychological impacts of their addictive design features are coming into sharper focus.Boston Today

A recent study by Boston University's Digital Wellness Initiative has found that college students who spend more than 90 minutes daily on Instagram Reels or TikTok report significantly higher levels of fragmented attention and difficulty sustaining focus during academic tasks. The research also identified higher rates of doomscrolling, social comparison, and appearance-related anxiety among users of these short-form video platforms.

Why it matters

As Instagram Reels and TikTok continue to dominate how young adults consume news, entertainment, and social connection, the tension between engagement and wellness has become a growing concern for researchers and campus health advocates. The findings underscore the need for greater awareness and potential regulatory approaches to address the cognitive impacts of these platforms, particularly on adolescent development.

The details

The study, which has been tracking social media use among undergraduates since 2023, found that the algorithmic feeds and variable reward schedules employed by Instagram Reels and TikTok can trigger repeated dopamine release and reinforce compulsive checking behaviors. Over time, this can weaken prefrontal cortex regulation, making it harder for users to disengage even when they wish to do so.

  • The article was released in April 2026.
  • Boston University's Digital Wellness Initiative has been tracking social media use among undergraduates since 2023.

The players

Boston University's Digital Wellness Initiative

A research group at Boston University that has been tracking social media use and its impacts on college students since 2023.

Her Campus

A media publication that featured the findings from the Boston University study on the comparative effects of Instagram Reels and TikTok.

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What’s next

Several universities have begun integrating digital literacy modules into first-year orientation programs, and Boston University has launched a pilot initiative called 'Reclaim Your Focus' that includes workshops on algorithmic awareness, intentional scrolling, and alternative leisure activities.

The takeaway

While no definitive consensus exists on whether Instagram Reels is 'better' or 'worse' than TikTok from a mental health standpoint, the evidence suggests that neither platform is neutral in its cognitive effects. Ongoing research from academic institutions will be critical in informing both public awareness and potential regulatory approaches to digital wellness in the years ahead.