SCCEI Seminar Series (Spring 2025)

Friday, May 2, 2025 | 1:45 pm -3:05 pm Pacific Time
Goldman Room E409, Encina Hall, 616 Jane Stanford Way

Flick, Click, and Sick: Mental Health Risks of Short-Video Platforms

This study examines the causal impact of short-video platforms like Douyin on mental health in China since 2016. Using city-level data on platform adoption and 4G expansion, combined with individual panel data from the China Family Panel Studies, we identify causal effects by focusing on pre-2016 mobile internet users in high-4 G-penetration cities. Our findings reveal significant mental health deterioration among affected individuals, with stronger depressive symptoms emerging over time. Effects are most pronounced among vulnerable populations: rural residents, youth, the elderly, and those without college degrees, with rural left-behind youths and the elderly showing the most severe outcomes. We identify four key impact channels: (1) heightened social comparison and inequality perception, with affected users reporting lower perceived income and greater awareness of societal inequality; (2) altered time use, including reduced work hours, sleep, and exercise; (3) declining non-cognitive abilities and physical health, evidenced by lower self-reported health status and increased doctor visits; and (4) weakened interpersonal relationships, demonstrated by decreased time and attention affected adults devote to parents and/or children. These findings highlight the unintended consequences of digital innovation on mental health, particularly for vulnerable demographics, and offer important insights for policymakers balancing technological advancement with public health considerations.

Please register for the event to receive email updates and add it to your calendar. Light refreshments will be provided.

About the Speaker 
 

Ting Chen is an associate professor in the Department of Accountancy, Economics and Finance (AEF) at Hong Kong Baptist University. She obtained her Ph.D. in Social Science from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2015. Her research specializes in political economy, economic history, and long-term development economics, with a focus on assessing the effectiveness and economic impact of China’s historical and current policies. Her works have been published in Economic Journal and Quarterly Journal of Economics. She serves as the associate director of the Centre for Business Analytics and the Digital Economy (CBADE)  in the School of Business. She is the associate editor of Pacific Economic Review and Regional Science and Urban Economics.

Questions? Contact Xinmin Zhao at xinminzhao@stanford.edu