Do Short Videos Make People More Short-Sighted? Not Really! Watching Short Videos Reduces Delay Discounting Rate

Based on cognitive closure theory, this study examined how short-video use shifts preferences toward later-but-larger outcomes through intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and anxiety. Across two experiments, this research examined the underlying psychological mechanisms. In study 1, 90 participants were randomly assigned to a short-video, article reading, or control condition and completed a delay discounting task. Results indicated that short-video use significantly reduced delay discounting rates, suggesting increased patience for delayed outcomes. In study 2 (N = 141), these findings were replicated. A moderated serial mediation analysis revealed that short-video use alleviates anxiety by reducing IU, thereby enhancing patience. Additionally, holistic thinking moderated the anxiety–delay discounting link, with individuals lower in holistic thinking being more susceptible to anxiety-driven delay discounting. This research provides causal evidence that acute short-video exposure can reduce anxiety and enhance patience, offering new perspectives on the psychological implications of normative short-video consumption.