一刷短视频就停不下来？

俺也一样。

上完一天课，明明累到不行，可是只要打开短视频，萎靡的精神就开始振奋，忍不住一个接一个刷下去。

Tik Tok CEO周受资在接受听证的时候，有议员询问：你自己的孩子有没有使用Tik Tok？

周受资回答：我的孩子不用Tik Tok，由于他们住在新加坡，新加坡法律规定该应用程序没有13岁以下儿童版本。

为什么有些国家在青少年使用短视频方面要求这么严格？

由于有研究发现，常刷短视频会影响大脑发育。其中，以下几方面的影响最明显：

Drastically reduces memory and attention

大大降低了记忆力和注意力

drastically / ˈdræstɪkli/ adv.极其，超级

Binging on an endless stream of 15-to-30-second-long videos slashes our attention span like no other type of media can do: and the fact thatregular users spend hours more on average on TikTok compared to more traditional social media platforms only adds up to the problem.

沉醉于无穷无尽的15到30秒长的视频削减了我们注意力的持续时间，这是其他类型的媒体无法做到的：与更传统的社交平台相比，普通用户在短视频平台上平均消耗的时间更多，这一实际只会使问题加剧。

binging on 沉醉于

slash / slæʃ / v.大幅度削减，大大降低

attention span 注意力的持续时间

Short-term memory and the ability to concentrate are also affected. Devoted TikTokers report that they are unable to focus on longer video formats anymore (let alone reading a book or doing homework!). 50% of users admit that they find longer videos “stressful”. The platform has indeed introduced longer video formats of up to 10 minutes earlier in 2022 in an attempt to diversify their advertising palette(选项): but marketers are aware that super short videos continue to be the most engaging content type for young audiences. In 2022, the optimal length of TikTok videos is estimated to fall between 21 and 34 seconds.

短期记忆和专注的能力也受到影响。短视频平台的死忠粉说，他们无法专注于较长的视频（更不用说看书或做作业了！）。50%的用户承认他们发现看较长的视频“会带来压力”。该平台的确 在2022年上半年推出了长达10分钟的长视频格式，尝试使他们的广告类型更多样化：但营销人员意识到，超短视频依旧是最吸引年轻受众的内容。2022年，短视频平台上视频的最佳长度缩短到约21秒到34秒之间。

let alone 更不必说

introduce v.首次引入（某物）

diversify / daɪˈvɜːsɪfaɪ / v.（使）多样化，（使）不同

marketer n.市场营销人员(market + -er)

optimal / ˈɒptɪməl / adj.最佳的，最适的

Other social platforms begin to feel “slow” and boring, compared to this fast-paced app that serves new content at the flick of one’s thumb.

其他社交平台开始变得“缓慢”和无趣，相比之下，这个快节奏的应用程序只需轻轻一滑就可以提供新内容。

Addictive by design

为成瘾而做的设计

TikTok’s feed is created addictive by design. Unlike other social platforms that mostly serve us content from people or brands we already follow, the micro video app revolves around the feature of the endless scroll(显示滚动装置), pumping outalgorithm(算法)-based recommendations for entertaining videos by all sorts of unknown “creators”. The content-detection algorithm is purposely developed and constantly refined to match users’ interests and keep them on the platform for as long as possible.

短视频平台的内容订阅源设计得让人上瘾。不像其他社交平台，主要为我们提供已经关注的人或品牌的内容，而短视频应用围绕着无止境滑动的功能，用基于算法的推荐方式不断推荐各种不认识的“创作者”创作的的娱乐视频。为匹配用户的兴趣，内容检测算法要专门开发和不断改善，让他们尽可能长时间地留在平台上。

pumping out 排出；泵出

refine / rɪˈfaɪn / v.改善，改善

In this sense, TikTok a platform driven by social voyeurism(窥视癖). One study found that user generated content is the most addictive type of content for young people who practically come on the app to binge on the lives of strangers.

从这个意义上说，短视频平台是一个由社交窥视癖驱动的平台。一项研究发现，用户制作的内容是年轻人最容易上瘾的内容类型，他们实际上是在该应用上尽情为陌生人的生活狂欢。

TikTok operates on the psychological principle of random reinforcement: the endless video stream is addictive by itself, simply because we expect to get a reward (in the form of a funny video, followed by a shot of dopamine(多巴胺) in the brain) any second now. Dopamine spikes happening in quick succession is what makes TikTok similar to gambling: research shows that addiction gradually shrinks the human brain.

短视频平台是基于心理学的随机强化原理运作的：无穷的视频流本身就会令人上瘾，由于我们期望目前的每一秒都能获得奖赏（以搞笑视频的形式，刺激大脑中的多巴胺分泌）。多巴胺急剧增加，快速连续产生，是使短视频平台类似于赌博的缘由：研究表明，上瘾会使人的大脑逐渐缩小。

reinforcement / ˌriːɪnˈfɔːsmənt / n.加强，加固(re + inforce + -ment)

a shot of 少量

spike v.迅速提升，急剧增加

succession / səkˈseʃ(ə)n / n.连续不断的物

This MRI study shows that online game addiction leads to structural atrophy(萎缩) in the frontal(额部) cortex(大脑皮层 ). Another research indicates that visible atrophy takes place in the brains of children aged 9-10 who use smartphones for more than seven hours per day (that may seem like a lot, but recent data shows that the average screen time is on the rise, totalling 4-6 hours for children aged 8-12 and over 8 hours for teenagers since the pandemic started).

这项核磁共振成像研究表明，网络游戏成瘾导致额叶皮质结构萎缩。另一项研究表明，每天使用智能手机超过7小时的9到10岁儿童大脑中出现了可见的萎缩（这个时间看起来好像很长，但最近的数据显示，平均屏幕使用时间正在上升，自疫情开始以来，8到12岁儿童每日屏幕使用时间总计为4到6小时，青少年超过8小时）

structural / ˈstrʌktʃərəl / adj.结构（或构造）上的

screen time （看电视、打游戏或电子设备的）屏幕使用时间

Perpetuates(使持续) boredom

人们感到无趣的时间变长了

boredom / ˈbɔːdəm / n.厌烦，无趣 (bore + -dom)

With its entertainment-focused algorithm kept in constant learning mode based on each individual user’s preferences, TikTok has the power to relieve boredom almost instantaneously(即刻). This comes at a price though: a decreased ability to keep oneself entertained without the app, followed by an increased dependence on the app. One study found that proneness(倾向) to boredom in children and adolescents is linked to increased access to technology, which further fuels digital addiction.

由于专注于娱乐的算法会根据每个用户的偏好持续调整，短视频平台几乎可以立即缓解你的无趣。但这是有代价的：没有这个应用，一个人让自己保持开心的能力下降了，接下来，你就对该应用越来越依赖。一项研究发现，儿童和青少年的无趣倾向性与接触技术的机会增加有关，这进一步增强了数字成瘾。

come at a price 需要付出代价的

fuel v.刺激，加剧

Affects reading skills

影响阅读技巧

Our brains digest visual information faster than text. This is why videos will always eclipse text-based information online, while the development of reading skills in children will lag(落后于) behind their social media activities. Still, TikTok is even more detrimental(不利的) for the honing(训练) of reading habits in younger users than most of the other social media platforms: simply because the platforn does not include text at all.

我们的大脑理解视觉信息的速度比文本快。这就是为什么视频总是令网上的文本信息黯然失色，而孩子阅读技能的进步落后于他们的社交活动。尽管如此，对于年轻用户在阅读中的训练，短视频平台比多数其他社交平台更有害：只由于这个平台上根本不含文本。

digest v.理解，领悟

eclipse / ɪˈklɪps / v.使黯然失色

We are far from dumping the blame on TikTok entirely though: all of the so-called “traditional” social media platforms have started copying the addictive features of the micro video app in order to lure younger audiences with catchy video content. YouTube introduced Shorts, Instagram ramped up their Reels, all aiming to clone the TikTok experience and stay relevant.

不过，我们没有把责任完全推给短视频平台：所有所谓的“传统”社交平台都开始复制短视频应用的令人上瘾的功能，以便用令人喜爱的视频内容诱惑年轻观众。YouTube推出了 Shorts，Instagram推出了 Reels，它们都想复制短视频平台的体验并保持演化。

far from adv.远非

dump / dʌmp / v.乱堆，乱放

catchy adj.（曲调或口号）悦耳易记的；易使人上当的

lure v.引诱，诱惑

Social media is shifting in an attempt to capture our ever-eroding(侵蚀) attention with even smaller bits of easy-to-digest content: and it is up to us users to be aware of all the pitfalls.

社交媒体正在发生变化，尝试用更小的易于理解的内容来吸引我们不断被侵蚀的注意力：我们用户有责任意识到所有的陷阱。

capture v.吸引，引起

pitfall / ˈpɪtfɔːl / n.隐患；陷阱(pit + fall)

你常刷短视频吗？