Teens today spend much time on social media (社交媒体). Short video apps have made things worse. You can see almost everything on these apps—jokes, role-play, scientific experiments and so on. With continuous scrolling (连续的滚屏), music and fun never stop. You could never find short video apps dull.
Some researchers wondered what influence short video apps might have on teens. A research team interviewed 31 teens between the ages of 13 and 18. The team noted that more than 60% of the teens said they often used short video apps. "The main reason is that short video apps are really good at connecting teens with information that they're interested in and that they can share with their friends," one researcher said.
At the same time, some teens were uncomfortable with the addictive (使人成瘾的) nature of the apps. One teenager explained, "I use them for hours without realizing it, because I just keep scrolling."
Some other teens said that the apps' videos of many perfect faces and lives could hurt their self-respect. "I see someone 's really nice house, cute dogs, or happy family. There's just so much information about those things that I often compare them with what I have in my own life. It makes me a little nervous," said another teenager.
So how can teenagers avoid those bad influences? They can control their addictive habits by reducing their screen time. They can choose a certain time as their "social media time". They can also avoid using their phones for a few minutes and try to enjoy the real world by taking a walk, meeting up with friends, and going on a phoneless adventure.
