Short-form video consumption in primary school children: Associations with cognitive control, ADHD symptoms, and academic achievement

Short-form videos (SFVs) on platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts are increasingly common in children’s daily media routines, but their impact on cognitive and academic outcomes remains unclear. This study examined associations between SFV use, cognitive control, ADHD symptoms, and academic performance in 376 primary school children from Bern, Switzerland. Children completed tasks assessing cognitive control, reading, and math, while parents reported on children’s SFV use, ADHD behaviors, and sociodemographic variables. According to parent reports, children watched SFVs on average eight minutes per day. SFV consumption was associated with lower reading performance and higher inattentive behaviors and learning problems, but not with cognitive control, math performance, or hyperactivity-impulsivity. Lower parental education predicted higher SFV use. These findings suggest that even modest SFV exposure may relate to attentional difficulties and reading challenges, highlighting the importance of balanced media routines for children’s development.