Author(s)

Jing An ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, 999078, China

Corresponding Author

Jing An

ABSTRACT

This study analyzes how short-video platforms systematically capture and sustain user attention through interface design, algorithmic recommendation, and feedback mechanisms, thereby inducing addictive behaviors. Integrating design analysis and behavioral psychology theories, it dissects the complete pathway from fluid interactive experience to the formation of neurological tolerance. The study finds that platform architecture fosters user dependence through instant gratification and cognitive restructuring, while design choices under capital logic often neglect individual well-being, leading to social alienation and declined self-regulation. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity to address the ethical responsibility of platform design and strike a balance between technological governance and user autonomy. Interventions should start from the design source to mitigate the social and individual risks caused by excessive immersion.

KEYWORDS

Attention Capture; User Addiction; Short-Video Platforms; Design Ethics; Behavioral Dependence

CITE THIS PAPER

Jing An. Designed Captivity: A Study on Attention Capture Mechanisms and User Addiction on Short-Video Platforms. Advances in Educational Technology and Psychology (2026). Vol. 10, No. 2, 66-71. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/aetp.2026.100210.

REFERENCES

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