Here is the relevant bit from the article. SFV = short form video:

SFV type emerged as a significant moderator of the association between SFV use and mental health, with general SFV use demonstrating stronger negative associations than TikTok-specific use. A potential explanation for this finding is that general SFV use often reflects engagement across multiple platforms, which has been associated with elevated mental health risks. For example, Primack et al. (2017) found that individuals using 7–11 social media platforms had over three times the risk of depression and anxiety compared to those using only 0–2. Accordingly, general SFV use likely reflects more diverse and frequent exposure to short-form content, including across platforms that integrate SFV features (e.g., Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts). This broader pattern of general SFV use highlights the need to conceptualize SFV engagement beyond TikTok alone, particularly as users commonly migrate between platforms. The recent (temporary) banning of TikTok in the United States, for instance, prompted a surge of “TikTok refugees” shifting to alternatives like RedNote and Lemon8 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2025). Yet “general SFV use” may also refer to a single platform, raising concerns about measurement precision. It is therefore important for research to clearly specify which platforms participants use and whether engagement spans multiple apps. As SFV features become increasingly integrated across the social media landscape, research and public health efforts should consider cumulative SFV exposure rather than focusing on individual platforms in isolation.