Whether you believe it or not, YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels have seamlessly integrated into our daily lives. Recent studies show that the average social media user spends around 1.2 hours each day scrolling through short-form video content like YouTube Shorts, Instagram/Facebook Reels, TikTok, and Snapchat Spotlights.
Spending an average of 1.2 hours a day on short-form content is significant on its own, but when we consider the negative effects it can have on our brain, it becomes an even greater concern. In this post, we’ll explore both the positive and negative impacts of shorts and reels on our lives.
Positive Impact of shorts videos
Let’s begin with the positive side of shorts and reels. Believe it or not, scrolling through short videos does have its benefits, many of which are quite relevant in today’s fast-paced world.
- Quick source of information: Sometimes, we need information on a specific topic quickly, without having to sift through basic details we already know or spend 10–15 minutes reading multiple articles. Short videos are perfect for this—they’re concise, informative, and cut straight to the point without unnecessary formalities.
- Fast paced entertainment: A well-crafted short video can deliver the essence of a story that might otherwise take an hour to tell, all in just 60 seconds. It skips the unnecessary drama and provides pure entertainment in a quick, engaging format.
- Quick news: This is my personal favorite! Mainstream media often takes 30 minutes to explain how a specific event unfolded, and more often than not, it’s just clickbait designed to grab your attention. In contrast, short videos provide quick news updates with the essential details you need.
- Quick dopamine source: This point is a bit controversial, but while scrolling, your brain is often fed with high-quality content. Engaging with a funny or entertaining video can provide a significant dopamine boost, making the experience enjoyable and addictive.
- Forcing you to think: As mentioned earlier, short videos are packed with content within a brief time frame. Since it’s impossible to cover every small detail of a story, they often encourage you to fill in the gaps creatively. This can spark your imagination and enhance your critical thinking skills—provided the content is engaging and worthwhile.
- Reduced ads: Scrolling through short videos generally features fewer ads compared to longer content, making the viewing experience smoother and more enjoyable.
And the list goes on! I don’t want to reiterate all the information available online, so I’ve highlighted only the key benefits. The actual list of advantages is likely longer, and the same applies to the disadvantages.
Negative Impact of shorts videos
All the benefits I’ve shared above are indeed promising, and short video content platforms and creators rely heavily on them. However, these advantages work best in a controlled environment. Let me explain how.
- Lack of control: You have little say over the content you encounter while scrolling through short videos; the AI algorithm determines what you see. This can lead to a passive consumption of content, ultimately making your brain less engaged and more reliant on algorithms.
- You just do it! It’s intriguing to consider: Would you ever choose to watch someone slide glass bottles downstairs, play with slime, or throw rocks into water? the answer is likely not. Yet, while scrolling through shorts, you find yourself watching these types of videos, which ultimately contribute nothing meaningful to your life.
- Half-cooked information: It’s practically impossible to explain any topic in detail in under 60 seconds, leading to the presentation of only partial information. As the saying goes, half-knowledge can be more dangerous than having no knowledge at all.
- Information overload: I like to call it ‘info-bombing.’ Let’s do some simple math: if you scroll through shorts for 15 minutes and the average duration of a short video is 45 seconds, you’ve consumed around 20 videos in that time—each covering random topics. This floods your brain with a significant amount of information, and your mind needs time to process it. Ultimately, this can lead to mental fatigue—all for half-cooked information.
- Brain rewiring: Consuming shorts for an average of 1.2 hours a day can rewire your brain to seek information in 45-second increments. However, true learning doesn’t happen in such short bursts. There is no practical, fun, or easy way to absorb valuable information without effort, dedication, and hard work.
- Reduced attention span: Warning—this one is terrifying! Once your brain begins to expect quick information within 45 seconds, it loses interest in longer tasks, such as reading a book. Your mind will start wandering, generating random thoughts that distract you from whatever you’re currently doing. Forget about enjoying books. Movies with your favorite actors, or lengthy treks—activities you once loved become challenging. Your brain craves information in 45-second bursts, and believe me, realizing this shift is a dreadful feeling.
- 100 mental problems: All the factors mentioned above lead to a tired and exhausted brain, often accompanied by feelings of guilt. Like many other addictions, what started as a source of fun and countless benefits can spiral into anxiety, depression, and a sense of failure.
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As I mentioned, this article is based on the assumption that you consume only 1.2 hours of short videos daily. If your viewing time is higher, the consequences could be even more severe. Everything I’ve discussed here is backed by evidence, with countless studies available online—many of which you may have encountered personally.
Today, in the 21st century, social media is an inseparable part of our lives. Personally, I can’t imagine living without YouTube; it serves as a valuable source of information for me. For others, platforms like Instagram and Facebook also play significant roles in their daily routines, and the list goes on.
NoScroll is designed to block only short video platforms, allowing you to access your favorite social media without distractions. Additionally, NoScroll offers the Curious Plan, which enables you to enjoy short video content while minimizing its potential side effects.
