Binge-watching music videos for joy? Unveiling the therapeutic effects and rules behind watching

Young adults are often captivated by online videos, much like bees to honey. It raises the question of how to strike a balance between promoting healthy viewing habits while respecting individual freedoms. We also wondered whether binge-watching videos truly brings viewers joy. And what is the optimal duration to watch in order to boost happiness? In our study, we used four categories of music videos (MVs) sourced from YouTube: (1) All-Time Fastest Music Videos to One Billion Views, (2) All-Time Most Viewed MVs worldwide, (3) All-Time Top 24 Hour Music Debuts (Kpop), and (4) Recent Top Ranking MVs in Hong Kong. Through an online survey, participants watched the top 5 MVs in each category, with only their preferred category being displayed. The results of the ANOVA test suggest that young adults should view a maximum of four MVs to sustain changes in mood and energy levels. Exceeding this threshold may cause the positive effects to diminish. Moreover, our findings suggest that by selecting MVs that start with a positive mood, and intersperse mood variations throughout the viewing experience, individuals can effectively elevate their mood and energy levels.