Abstract: Exploring the path of short videos into the ideological and political education of college students from participatory culture is not only in line with the real needs of the changing communication pattern in the Internet era, but also conducive to promoting the effectiveness of network cultural education in colleges and universities. Specifically, participatory culture and short videos are intrinsically compatible in the pursuit of individual expression, encouragement of creation and sharing, and emphasis on collective wisdom, providing a carrier for the function of ideological and political education. However, with the deep intertwining of participatory culture and technical power, the use of short videos in ideological and political education for college students is facing multiple dilemmas, mainly manifested in the following: screen-swiping addiction erodes the ability of cognitive thinking, algorithmic recommendation exacerbates the risk of information cocooning, and the logic of capital spawns a trend of pan-entertainment thinking. In this regard, it is necessary to build a new platform for cultural education in short videos oriented by value leadership; to take methodological innovation as a grip, to inspire the audience to create positive short videos; to take responsibility as the core, to standardize the regulatory mechanism of the short video industry, and to help short videos become an important position for ideological and political education on the network.