In 2018, the app TikTok was first launched in America. TikTok offered users an endless stream of 10-30 second videos that made other apps feel dull and uninteresting. Soon, many other companies such as YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat created their own short video platforms. Now, short form content has a grasp on the world, but this has led to decreased focus, especially in teens.
TikTok and all other short-form platforms are created to be addicted by design, and it has worked. In 2022, 1.6 billion people used short-form content. “I began using TikTok during the pandemic to not be bored. I quickly became addicted to it, and now I spend close to 2 hours a day on the app,” said senior Prajay Gutti.
In physiological terms, this addiction is caused by random reinforcement. Short-form videos are addictive because the user expects to get a reward in the form of an entertaining video. This causes quick dopamine spikes in your brain and leads to an addiction to these videos. This concept is borrowed from slot machines and other gambling methods. Every time a user swipes up, they expect a funny video. Even when the video isn’t entertaining, users keep swiping in hopes that the next one will be more entertaining. This causes users to stay on the app for large amounts of time.
This addiction has led to a decrease in focus and attention spans among teens. A study conducted by Microsoft showed that after just 20 minutes of using TikTok, users reported a significant decrease in attention span and memory.
“After downloading TikTok, I’ve noticed that my ability to focus on things has decreased. Before I began watching short-form videos, I used to actively read books. Now, I find myself struggling to turn the pages because of how slow the pacing of the books is,” stated senior Becca Hahm.
While short-form content revolutionized how content is consumed around the world, it also raises important questions about the focus of future generations. Quick entertainment comes at a price: the ability to stay focused. The rise in this content is a result of society’s dependence on technology. While short-form content is undoubtedly here to stay, it ultimately falls on the user to navigate it responsibly and avoid the associated dangers.
