A cross-national study on the excessive use of short-video applications among college students

With the proliferation of short-video apps in life, excessive use has become prevalent and caused significant negative consequences among college students. Short-videos present several differences from traditional social media and games by engaging users in short sessions that allows one to easily manage withdrawal and perform work/play in parallel. As withdrawal and the need for more excessive time characterize key elements of traditional internet and social media addiction, findings from studies surrounding non-short video platforms may not readily apply. These problems call for a renewed study focusing on short-video specific characteristics in order to be relevant. Consequently, this study expands the I-PACE model with individual motivational factors elucidating how the excessive use of short-video apps is formed. A representative sample of college students was recruited from China and United States to present a cross-culture perspective on the relationship between motivation and excessive use. This study contributes to the literature by empirically verifying a theoretical model on short-video apps and by offering useful implications for managing excessive use behavior.