Introduction: Short-video platforms like TikTok are increasingly popular among adolescents, raising concerns about problematic use impacting mental health and daily functioning.


Purpose: This review aims to map current evidence regarding prevalence, risk and protective factors, and conceptualizations of problematic short-video use (PSVU) among adolescents.


Method: A systematic scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Eight databases were searched for peer-reviewed empirical studies on adolescent PSVU published between 2015 and 2025. Studies focusing on individuals aged 10-19 and assessing PSVU were included. Data were extracted and factors were synthesized using Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory (EST) framework.


Results: Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria, predominantly from China. Most studies used cross-sectional quantitative designs, with a few qualitative and longitudinal studies. Reported prevalence of PSVU among adolescents ranged from about 7% to over 40%, reflecting differences in definitions and measurement tools. Using Bronfenbrenner's EST, risk and protective factors influencing PSVU were systematically categorized across multiple ecological levels: individual (e.g., psychological distress, poor self-control), microsystem (e.g., family dynamics, peer influence, school environment, academic pressure, bullying), and exosystem (e.g., nature exposure, community environment, platform information and system quality). This ecological categorization provides a comprehensive understanding of the multifactorial influences on adolescent PSVU. Conceptual ambiguity and methodological heterogeneity were noted across studies.


Conclusions: PSVU among adolescents is a multifaceted behavior influenced by diverse ecological factors. Future research should standardize definitions, adopt validated measurement tools, diversify methods including qualitative and longitudinal studies, and explore under-researched ecological levels. Findings inform the development of multi-level interventions that engage coordination among individuals, families, schools, communities, and broader stakeholders to prevent adolescent problematic use and promote digital well-being.