Short format videos are everywhere on the internet. They have technically hijacked almost all the social media platforms. From Facebook to YouTube, every platform is pushing short format videos. These videos last from a couple of seconds to a minute.
While these small bite-sized contents are fun to scroll through, sometimes they are also jam-packed with useful information, and most importantly, there is something for everyone. The more these small videos gain popularity, the more users are attracted towards them. So much so that short format videos have become the go-to for the majority of online users.
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Why short format videos so popular
This widespread adoption also comes with some side effects. Due to the dominance of short format videos, people's attention is moving away from long-form or full-length videos. Because of this, long-form video platform YouTube had to bring in an additional section to their platform called YouTube Shorts to regain its user base.
This shift in priority has been recorded at a global scale and researchers have also found indications of behavioural change in people. The internet has also come up with the term called 'Brain Rot' for this change.
What is brain rot
The term 'Brain Rot' certainly doesn't mean the rotting of an individual's brain cells but a slang term referring to being stuck in a constant loop of unnecessary internet content for a longer period of time, which leads to feeling tired and a lack of ability to focus.
How short format videos affect the brain
Brain-Rot and short format videos have a close relationship, as both are a part of a constantly moving loop. According to a Revere Health report, short format videos tap into the dopamine secretion system (responsible for making a person feel happy) and train it to become responsive to quick rewards. That's why evey short form video ends while building an anticipation to know what the next video holds.
Impact of short format videos
A recent research performed on a large number of short format content platform users underlined how these bite-sized videos affect cognitive ability. It has been found that prolonged consumption of this online content can cause a decline in attention, inhibitory control, and working memory, the skills needed for reading, studying, and problem-solving, the report cited.
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Other side of short format videos
These quick videos may cause Brain-Rot, but they have been proven to be quite effective in spreading complex messages amongst a mass population, gaining quick insight, acquiring new interest in something and developing new skills or finding new ideas. So in a nutshell, short format content also has a good side while consumed in moderation and a systematic manner.
