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Short-form video platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts use an effective tactic to maximize the time their users spend on the platforms: They feed one video after another into an algorithmically generated feed. As you scroll, new content loads automatically. This creates an endless loop of ever-changing content with no discernible end.

A study by Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) has quantified the negative effects of these recommender systems on people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), who, among other things, experience impairments in executive functions such as impulse control, time management and self-regulation.

The researchers, led by Elisabeth Lex from the Institute of Human-Centred Computing, define the phenomenon of the "engagement trap" as a state in which algorithms capture users' attention so effectively that the ability to deliberately stop using the service is systematically undermined.

"By the 'engagement trap,' we mean a situation in which (video) recommendations are, on the one hand, perceived as highly relevant, but, on the other hand, people find it very difficult to tear themselves away from the screen and consciously control their own behavior."

They lose control over when to stop and put their cellphones away—and, unfortunately, this particularly affects people with ADHD, according to Lex.

The results of the study, which involved 302 participants, highlight significant differences in the user experience between groups with and without ADHD.

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