Introduction to Short-Form Videos
The average person spends one hour and 16 minutes daily watching short-form videos. In the twenty-first century, technology is a big part of society. Recently, a new form of entertainment has been rising in popularity. This new form of entertainment is short-form videos that are usually 10-60 seconds long, with an extensive range of topics.
Children worldwide are hooked on this short-form entertainment form because of its highly addictive characteristics and wide range of topics, allowing all children with different interests to engage with videos.
There are many platforms that children use nowadays, due to the fact that many companies are now creating their own short-form content platforms because of the booming success that these platforms have gained. Some of the most popular platforms include TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.
Impact on Attention Span
Because of the rapid pace of short-form videos, a study made by Microsoft showed that the average time a person spends on any given screen was 2 minutes and 30 seconds in 2004, while in 2023 the average time has gone down to 47 seconds.
One main reason short-form videos have negatively affected people’s attention spans is because they give instant satisfaction and enjoyment. Rather than longer videos where the video stays on one topic for a longer period and gradually comes to a conclusion, short-form videos have instant gratification and conclude within seconds, giving quick shots of dopamine.
Effects on Students
Many students frequently use these short-form platforms between classes and in their free time to de-stress from the often chaotic environment that they are in. While these platforms can be a useful tool to destress and relax, they also have a negative effect on students.
I believe that short-form content has definitely hurt the younger generations as many children watch hours of short-form videos a day, degrading their attention spans, which directly affects their school performance. As many school assessments require longer periods of concentration on a singular subject, the shortened attention span of many students can affect performance over time making the quality of work worse as time goes on.
