Short-form videos are addictive. The quick dopamine rush that people experience from these videos keeps people coming back for more. However, time is limited. No one can reverse time, but these videos keep people watching and addicted to their phones. How can a student manage something very addictive when it’s so close at hand?
Short-form videos are purposely designed to feed people videos that are entertaining and that relate to the users. The dopamine rush gained is something so addictive that it can make people easily distracted from the things that are more important.
Social media platforms like TikTok and especially Instagram have people hooked on watching their short videos. Also many students like junior Dayyan Assim use both social media platforms.
When it comes to the contents of the short-form videos, it’s a mixed bag. They are basically the “Wild West” of endless content that is specifically designed to hook audiences. Sometimes these videos are funny and lighthearted, or they’re extremely dark and grim.
“I feel like you can really come across anything, and sometimes it can be a terrorist meme, and then next it can be a six-seven joke, and sometimes it can even be a combination of both,” senior Lila Bryant said.
With how abundant short-form videos are and how easy it is to come across them, it has affected students’ attention spans. Mostly, it has impacted students more negatively than it has positively affected them.
“When you’re used to short-form videos, it makes it easier to get distracted, “senior Cato Chen said.
Short-form videos impact students’ attention span as well as their motivation to do homework. Oftentimes, students would rather do anything else besides homework, and with how accessible short-form videos are, with them being on their phone, students can easily get distracted.
Teachers are feeling the full force of the shorter attention spans of students. Nowadays, it has become harder for teachers to keep their students focused on the lessons and actively engaged. Schoolwork and lessons are long compared to the instant gratification of short-form videos.
“I didn’t really teach before short videos, so I’m not sure if I have a comparison. But I imagine yes because of the attention span and the need to be on your phone, it is like the need to be on social media,” teacher Jessie Lopez said.
There are some benefits of short-form videos as well. While the videos might impact someone’s attention span for the worse, they give people something to talk about. These videos can bring laughter within a friend group and bring people closer together because they have something to talk about and relate to.
“When I am with my friends, when I show them a video that I found funny, they also find it funny, and we talk about it. I love laughing,” senior Alec Jones said.
What’s important to keep in mind when watching short videos is to keep track of time and not waste too much time watching videos. While they are entertaining to watch with friends, there can be more important things that people can do with their time, like homework. It is important to manage screen time and have some sort of boundary set so as not to be stuck on addictive videos.
“It is important to set a reminder to keep yourself off of your phone screen, like having a screen time limit,” sophomore Xavier De La Cruz Trujillo said.
Moderation is key, and managing time properly is crucial. These short videos don’t seem to be harmful, but they actually can be. Use techniques like how De La Cruz Trujillo sets up a screen time limit to avoid falling into addiction. Time can never come back, so spend time on things that really matter.
