Psychologists have figured out why you get so bored scrolling through Tiktok and Instagram

[JoelR]

This is fascinating:

Our research shows that while people fast-forward or skip videos to avoid boredom, this behavior actually increases boredom,” Tam explained to CNN.

A fear of missing out or looking for the next best thing is keeping us in unhealthy cycles. “Boredom is closely linked to our attention,” she continued. “We feel bored when there’s a gap between how engaged we are and how engaged we want to be. When people keep switching through videos, they’re not fully engaging with any one video, and are instead searching for something more interesting.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91176971/tiktok-youtube-instagram-switching-boredom-worse-psychology-study

[JoelR]

What does this mean for forums? 

Less distractions and more focus on the subject at hand leads to more fulfillment.  Maybe we ought to be simplifying and stripping away the extra stuff that isn't part of the core discussion: things like the sidebar, the footer, the extra widgets, etc.  That leads to the constant searching for the "next best thing" rather than focusing on what's in front of the user.  

With that said, we have to fight for the attention to begin with.