Proactive Control or Passive Addiction: The Joint Effects of Technical and Social Factors of Short Video Applications on Cyberloafing in the Workplace

In the digital age, short-video platforms such as TikTok and Douyin have become increasingly embedded in daily work environments, raising concerns about their role in facilitating cyberloafing—employees’ use of the internet for non-work purposes during work hours. Drawing on socio-technical systems theory, this study develops a model examining how technological features (e.g., personalized recommendation, mobile access) and social influences (e.g., coworkers’ norms, informal acceptance) jointly shape cyberloafing. The results of an empirical survey (N = 310) among workplace employees show that system quality and information quality have no significant direct effects, while prescriptive norms and descriptive norms positively influence cyberloafing. Moreover, users’ proactive control and short video addiction serve as important mediators. This study integrates technical and social factors to explain employee cyberloafing on short-video platforms, extending research beyond traditional media. It highlights rational and irrational pathways, offering insights into workplace behavior and practical implications for managing digital distractions.